Bobby Rousseau

Last updated
Bobby Rousseau
Chex Bob Rousseau.jpg
Born (1940-07-26) July 26, 1940 (age 84)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 178 lb (81 kg; 12 st 10 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Minnesota North Stars
New York Rangers
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Playing career 19581975

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.

Contents

Playing career

Early career

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 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 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

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

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

Awards and achievements

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1955–56St. Jean BravesQJHL4453328525
1956–57 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens OHA 287152218
1956–57Hull-Ottawa CanadiensEOHL154262
1956–57 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens MC 874118
1957–58 Hull-Ottawa CanadiensOHA2724275164
1957–58Hull-Ottawa CanadiensEOHL3626265214
1957–58 Hull-Ottawa CanadiensMC13717246
1958–59Hull-Ottawa CanadiensEOHL18718252631122
1958–59 Hull-Ottawa CanadiensMC926819
1958–59 Rochester Americans AHL 20000
1959–60 Hull-Ottawa Canadiens EPHL 44264
1959–60 Brockville Jr. CanadiensMC131492314
1960–61 Montreal Canadiens NHL 151234
1960–61 Hull-Ottawa CanadiensEPHL3834266018141271910
1961–62 Montreal CanadiensNHL702124452660220
1962–63 Montreal CanadiensNHL621918371550112
1963–64 Montreal CanadiensNHL702531563271122
1964–65 Montreal CanadiensNHL661235472613581324
1965–66 Montreal CanadiensNHL7030487820104486
1966–67 Montreal CanadiensNHL6819446358101784
1967–68 Montreal CanadiensNHL7419466547132468
1968–69 Montreal CanadiensNHL7630407059143258
1969–70 Montreal CanadiensNHL7224345830
1970–71 Minnesota North Stars NHL634202412122680
1971–72 New York Rangers NHL782136571216611177
1972–73 New York RangersNHL788374514102354
1973–74 New York RangersNHL721041514121894
1974–75 New York RangersNHL82240
NHL totals94224545870335912827578469

International

YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
1960 Canada OLY 75492
Senior totals75491

See also

References

  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
Preceded by Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy
1962
Succeeded by