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Uploaded By: PRESIDENT on October 24th, 2015

Joseph Jean-Paul Robert Rousseau - Born July 26, 1940 in Montreal, Quebec is a retired Canadian professional ice Hockey right winger.

Rousseau started his career with the St. Jean Braves of the Quebec Junior Hockey League in 1955-56 where he led the league in scoring, and won the scoring title with 53 goals and 85 points in 44 games. The next season, Rousseau moved on with the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens. Rousseau helped the team reach the 1957 Memorial Cup finals where they would play against the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters. The Canadiens took their opponents to a game 7 where they lost 3-2. This would not deter the Canadiens as they returned to the Memorial Cup again in 1957-58, but this time their coach would be Scotty Bowman. Rousseau and his team won the Memorial Cup this time as they beat the Regina Pats in 6 games, in one of the most competitive finals in the history of the fabled Cup, Rousseau played with and against many future NHL teammates. The Canadiens and the Regina Pats were both stocked with players destined to play for le bleu, blanc et rouge. The Western Pats featured such future NHL stars as Terry Harper, Bill Hicke and Red Berenson while Rousseau's Hull-Ottawa mates included Jean-Claude Tremblay, captain Ralph Backstrom and Gilles Tremblay.

In 1960, Rousseau was loaned to the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, the team that would represent Team Canada, at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. Canada would finish with a silver medal at the tournament, while the USA won gold and the Soviets took the bronze. Rousseau put in four goals in a 19-1 rout of Japan and later scored a key marker in a crucial 6-5 win over Sweden, and finished with 5 goals, 4 assists in seven games.

In 1960-61, Rousseau earned his first chance in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens. Rousseau played in 15 games earning 3 points with the Canadiens. His style of play earned him a full spot on the roster with the Canadiens next season. He scored 21 goals and had 45 points during his first season, and was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as top rookie in the NHL that year. After winning the Calder, Rousseau had a less productive year as he scored 37 points only. In 1963-64, Rousseau scored 25 goals and had 56 points. Rousseau also had a 5 goal game against the Detroit Red Wings on February 1, 1964.

The Canadiens reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1964-65 against the Chicago Black Hawks. The series would go to 7 games, where the Canadiens would emerge victorious, giving Rousseau his first Stanley Cup win. Rousseau was also invited to the 1965 All-Star Game.

During the 1965-66 NHL season, Rousseau registered 78 points and tied with Stan Mikita for second overall in the scoring race. His hard work earned him a spot on the NHL Second All-Star Team that season. Rousseau would help the Canadiens defend their Stanley Cup title as they beat the Detroit Red Wings in 6 games.

The Canadiens would return to the Finals for a third straight time in Canada's Centennial year of 1966-67. However, Rousseau and his team could not accomplish the three-peat as they were beaten by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 6 games.

Montreal was back on top in 1967-68 and 1968-69 with the skillful winger playing a prominent role once again. Following a 24-goal performance in 1969-70, Rousseau was deemed expendable as the Canadiens began to introduce a few younger players into the lineup. He was traded to Minnesota North Stars, where he spent the 1970-71 season.

In June 1971 Rousseau was sent to the New York Rangers, where his career was rejuvenated. Playing with Bruce MacGregor and Ted Irvine, he scored 21 goals and helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup finals, where Rousseau had a total of 17 points during the Rangers' run. They lost to the powerful Boston Bruins, but it was Rousseau's third-period goal that stunned the Boston Garden crowd and forced a sixth game in Madison Square Garden.

Rousseau retired from the NHL in 1974-75 with 245 career goals, 458 assists and 27 playoff goals, 57 assists.

- Memorial Cup champion — 1958 (with the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens)
- EPHL Second All-Star Team — 1961
- Calder Memorial Trophy — 1962
- NHL All-Star Games — 1965, 1967, 1969
- NHL Second All-Star Team — 1966
- Stanley Cup champion — 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 (with the Montreal Canadiens)

Sourced from http://collectionscanada.gc.ca. Credited to Louis Jaques.

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