Bobby Rousseau

Joseph Jean-Paul Robert Rousseau (born July 26, 1940) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL), most notably for the Montreal Canadiens. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1962 as NHL Rookie of the Year.

Bobby Rousseau
Born (1940-07-26) July 26, 1940 (age 83)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight178 lb (81 kg; 12 st 10 lb)
PositionRight wing
ShotRight
Played forMontreal Canadiens
Minnesota North Stars
New York Rangers
National team Canada
Playing career1958–1975

Playing career

edit

Early career

edit

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 with 53 goals and 85 points in 44 games. The next season, Rousseau moved on with the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens. Hull-Ottawa reached the 1957 Memorial Cup final against the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters losing game 7 3–2.[1] The Canadiens returned to the Memorial Cup in 1957-58 defeating the Regina Pats in 6 games.[2]

Olympic medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Canada
1960 Squaw Valley Ice hockey

In 1960, Rousseau was loaned to the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, the team that represented Canada at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley.[3] Canada finished with a silver medal, while the USA won gold and the Soviets bronze. Rousseau scored 5 goals, 4 of which came in a 19–1 victory over Japan, and 9 points in 7 games during Canada's Olympic run.[4]

NHL career

edit

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. During his first full NHL season in 1961-2, he scored 21 goals and 24 assists and was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the top rookie in the NHL that year.[5] Rousseau had a less productive 1962-3 season as he scored only 37 points. In 1963-64, Rousseau scored 25 goals and 56 points. Rousseau also had a 5-goal game against the Detroit Red Wings on February 1, 1964.[6] The Canadiens reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1964-65 against the Chicago Black Hawks. The series went to 7 games, which the Canadiens won, giving Rousseau his first Stanley Cup. Rousseau was also invited to the 1965 All-Star Game. During the 1965-66 NHL season, Rousseau's 78 points tied him with Stan Mikita for second overall in the scoring race.[7] His hard work earned him a spot on the NHL Second All-Star Team that season. Rousseau helped the Canadiens defend their Stanley Cup title as they beat the Detroit Red Wings in 6 games. The Canadiens returned to the Finals for a third straight time in 1966-67 but lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 6 games. However, Rousseau and the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup the following two seasons.

After the 1969-70 NHL season, his ninth with the Canadiens, during which he scored 24 goals, Rousseau was traded to the Minnesota North Stars where he spent the 1970-71 season. He was then traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for right winger Bob Nevin and helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1971-72 which the Rangers lost in 6 games to the Boston Bruins, with Rousseau amassing 17 points during the playoff run. After playing 8 games in 1974-75, Rousseau retired.

Personal life

edit

Rousseau is the brother of former NHL players Rollie and Guy Rousseau.

Awards and achievements

edit

Career statistics

edit

Regular season and playoffs

edit
Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1955–56St. Jean BravesQJHL4453328525
1956–57Hull-Ottawa CanadiensOHA287152218
1956–57Hull-Ottawa CanadiensEOHL154262
1956–57Hull-Ottawa CanadiensMC874118
1957–58Hull-Ottawa CanadiensOHA2724275164
1957–58Hull-Ottawa CanadiensEOHL3626265214
1957–58Hull-Ottawa CanadiensMC13717246
1958–59Hull-Ottawa CanadiensEOHL18718252631122
1958–59Hull-Ottawa CanadiensMC926819
1958–59Rochester AmericansAHL20000
1959–60Hull-Ottawa CanadiensEPHL44264
1959–60Brockville Jr. CanadiensMC131492314
1960–61Montreal CanadiensNHL151234
1960–61Hull-Ottawa CanadiensEPHL3834266018141271910
1961–62Montreal CanadiensNHL702124452660220
1962–63Montreal CanadiensNHL621918371550112
1963–64Montreal CanadiensNHL702531563271122
1964–65Montreal CanadiensNHL661235472613581324
1965–66Montreal CanadiensNHL7030487820104486
1966–67Montreal CanadiensNHL6819446358101784
1967–68Montreal CanadiensNHL7419466547132468
1968–69Montreal CanadiensNHL7630407059143258
1969–70Montreal CanadiensNHL7224345830
1970–71Minnesota North StarsNHL634202412122680
1971–72New York RangersNHL782136571216611177
1972–73New York RangersNHL788374514102354
1973–74New York RangersNHL721041514121894
1974–75New York RangersNHL82240
NHL totals94224545870335912827578469

International

edit
YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
1960CanadaOLY75492
Senior totals75491

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "The Memorial Cup: A History...1957". Taking Note with Gregg Drinnan. 26 May 2008. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  2. ^ "The Memorial Cup: A History...1958". Taking Note with Gregg Drinnan. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  3. ^ Hockey's Glory Days: The 1950s and '60s, Dan Diamond, p.147 Published in Canada by Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2003,ISBN 978-0-7407-3829-6
  4. ^ "Bobby Rousseau". Legends of Hockey. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  5. ^ "Habs great Bobby Rousseau hosts 2nd annual Martlet Basketball Golf Tournament". McGill University Athletics. McGill University. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Five Goal Games in NHL History". Joe Pelletier. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  7. ^ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.184, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
edit
Preceded by Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy
1962
Succeeded by