J.C. Tremblay
Encyclopedia
Jean-Claude Tremblay was an ice hockey
defenceman for the NHL
Montreal Canadiens
and the WHA
Quebec Nordiques
, notable for playmaking and defensive skills.
After an amateur and minor professional career that saw him move from left wing
to defence and win the league Most Valuable Player title in 1960, Tremblay began play for the Canadiens in that season and stuck with the big league squad for good in the 1961–1962 season, playing for five Stanley Cup
winning teams. He became one of the NHL's preeminent stars on defence for both his offense and defensive work, playing in seven NHL All-Star Games and setting the franchise record for points by a defenceman, and was recognized as a First Team All-Star
in 1971 and a Second Team All-Star in 1968.
In 1972, Tremblay jumped to the upstart WHA with the Nordiques, which had negotiated with the Los Angeles Sharks
for his rights. He was the franchise's first great star, as well as the league's first great defenceman, winning the league honors for best defenceman in 1973 and 1975 and being named to the WHA's Team Canada in 1974, leading that club in defensive scoring. Tremblay also led his team to the 1977 AVCO World Trophy
championship. He was the only player to play for the Nordiques all seven seasons of the WHA, and retired after the 1979 season. His number #3 jersey was retired by the Nordiques after that season just before the franchise's move into the NHL, thus gaining Tremblay the distinction of being one of only three players to have a number retired by a NHL team without ever actually playing for it (the other two being Johnny McKenzie
by the Hartford Whalers
and Frank Finnigan
by the modern-day Ottawa Senators
). He later scouted in Europe for the Montreal Canadiens.
In 1979, he donated a kidney to his daughter. His remaining kidney was the victim of cancer, from which he died on December 7, 1994.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman for the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
and the WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
, notable for playmaking and defensive skills.
After an amateur and minor professional career that saw him move from left wing
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
to defence and win the league Most Valuable Player title in 1960, Tremblay began play for the Canadiens in that season and stuck with the big league squad for good in the 1961–1962 season, playing for five Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
winning teams. He became one of the NHL's preeminent stars on defence for both his offense and defensive work, playing in seven NHL All-Star Games and setting the franchise record for points by a defenceman, and was recognized as a First Team All-Star
NHL All-Star Team
The NHL All-Star Teams were first named at the end of the 1930–31 NHL season, to honor the best performers over the season at each position.Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the All-Star Team at the end of the regular season.The career leaders in citations are...
in 1971 and a Second Team All-Star in 1968.
In 1972, Tremblay jumped to the upstart WHA with the Nordiques, which had negotiated with the Los Angeles Sharks
Los Angeles Sharks
The Los Angeles Sharks were an ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1974. Their primary home arena was the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena but they sometimes played at the Long Beach Sports Arena when the Sports Arena had other contractual obligations...
for his rights. He was the franchise's first great star, as well as the league's first great defenceman, winning the league honors for best defenceman in 1973 and 1975 and being named to the WHA's Team Canada in 1974, leading that club in defensive scoring. Tremblay also led his team to the 1977 AVCO World Trophy
Avco World Trophy
The Avco World Trophy, also known as the Avco Cup, was the championship trophy of the original World Hockey Association . The trophy's naming rights were sold to the former Avco Corporation , a defense contractor who bought the rights to advertise their consumer finance division...
championship. He was the only player to play for the Nordiques all seven seasons of the WHA, and retired after the 1979 season. His number #3 jersey was retired by the Nordiques after that season just before the franchise's move into the NHL, thus gaining Tremblay the distinction of being one of only three players to have a number retired by a NHL team without ever actually playing for it (the other two being Johnny McKenzie
John McKenzie (hockey player)
John Albert "Pie, Bronco" McKenzie is a Canadian former professional hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for several seasons, most notably with the Boston Bruins where he was a member of two Stanley Cup championship teams. He also played several seasons in the World Hockey...
by the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
and Frank Finnigan
Frank Finnigan
Francis Arthur Clarence "The Shawville Express" Finnigan was a Canadian ice hockey professional forward who played in the National Hockey League from 1923 to 1937. During this time, he played for the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St...
by the modern-day Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
). He later scouted in Europe for the Montreal Canadiens.
In 1979, he donated a kidney to his daughter. His remaining kidney was the victim of cancer, from which he died on December 7, 1994.
Honors and achievements
- Won Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s in 19651965 Stanley Cup Finals-References:* Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame . Lord Stanley's Cup. Bolton, Ont.: Fenn Pub. pp 12, 50. ISBN 978-1-55168-261-7...
, 19661966 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 1966 Stanley Cup Final was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to two to win the Stanley Cup for the seventh time in eleven years.-Paths to the final:...
, 19681968 Stanley Cup Finals-References:...
, 19691969 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 1969 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series played from April 27 to May 4, 1969, between the defending champions Montreal Canadiens and the St. Louis Blues, the same finalists as in 1968. The Canadiens would win the series in four-straight games....
and 19711971 Stanley Cup Finals-References:...
. - At the time of leaving the Canadiens, was in the top fifty all-time NHL assist leaders.
- Played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1959, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971 and 1972.
- Named to the 1972 Summit SeriesSummit SeriesThe Summit Series was the first competition between the Soviet and an NHL-inclusive Canadian national ice hockey teams, an eight-game series held in September 1972...
Canadian team but dropped after he signed with the WHAWorld Hockey AssociationThe World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
. - Named to the WHA First All-Star Team in 1973, 1975 and 1976.
- Named to the WHA Second All-Star Team in 1974.
- Led the WHA in assists in 1973 and 1976.
- Played seven seasons with the Nordiques, playing in 454 games and scoring 66 goals and 358 assists for 424 points.
- Second in WHA history in assists, fourteenth in points, and sixteen in games played.
- Named to NHL First All-Star Team in 1971.
- Named to NHL Second All-Star Team in 1968.
- A street in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec was named after him (along with other Greats).
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1959–60 | Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1960–61 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 29 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1961–62 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1962–63 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 69 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1963–64 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 24 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | ||
| 1964–65 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 68 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 18 | ||
| 1965–66 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 59 | 6 | 29 | 35 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 2 | ||
| 1966–67 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 60 | 8 | 26 | 34 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 1967–68 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 73 | 4 | 26 | 30 | 18 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 1968–69 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 75 | 7 | 32 | 39 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 1969–70 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 58 | 2 | 19 | 21 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1970–71 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 76 | 11 | 52 | 63 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 15 | ||
| 1971–72 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 76 | 6 | 51 | 57 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1972–73 | Quebec Nordiques Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League... |
WHA World Hockey Association The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926... |
75 | 14 | 75 | 89 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1973–74 | Quebec Nordiques | WHA | 68 | 9 | 44 | 53 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Quebec Nordiques | WHA | 68 | 16 | 56 | 72 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 2 | ||
| 1975–76 | Quebec Nordiques | WHA | 80 | 12 | 77 | 89 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1976–77 | Quebec Nordiques | WHA | 53 | 4 | 31 | 35 | 16 | 17 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 2 | ||
| 1977–78 | Quebec Nordiques | WHA | 54 | 5 | 37 | 42 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1978–79 | Quebec Nordiques | WHA | 56 | 6 | 38 | 44 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 794 | 57 | 306 | 363 | 204 | 108 | 14 | 51 | 65 | 58 | ||||
| WHA totals | 454 | 66 | 358 | 424 | 126 | 34 | 2 | 23 | 25 | 4 | ||||