Yvan Cournoyer was Jean-Guy Talbot's teammate during his first three seasons with the Canadians. He will also tell you that Talbot was a bon vivant and a famous trickster.
“He and Guy Lapointe shouldn’t have played at the same time!” he says.
But he doesn't forget the main thing.
“Jean-Guy was a better hockey player than people think,” he adds.
There is no shortage of examples.
When Doug Harvey moved to the New York Rangers in 1961, Talbot had the best offensive season of his career with 47 points in 70 games. That was a lot of points for a defender. At this point the defenders focused on their main task, defending their territory.
“Jean-Guy made his toe white when he went on the offensive with the puck,” remembers André Pronovost with a laugh.
First All-Star Team
Toe was the legendary Toe Blake, who led the Canadians to the Stanley Cup in his first five seasons behind the team's bench. A record that will never be broken, said Talbot.
His best season was recognized across the National League. He was selected to the first All-Star team of the 1961–1962 season and finished third in the Norris Trophy voting, behind Harvey, for whom it was his seventh coronation in eight years, and Pierre Pilote.
But the most important thing for him and his teammates was the Stanley Cup. A season without a trophy was a failure for the Canadian back then. Talbot won it seven times during his 12 seasons with the Habs. There will be those who say that anyone could engrave their name on the trophy if given the chance to be part of the Canadian. However, you had to be able to play in Montreal for as long as Talbot.
The team was mostly made up of Quebecers who came from Montreal, Joliette, Shawinigan, Victoriaville or Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Talbot's hometown. The players were united like a family. After the games at the Forum, they met up with their partners in restaurants.
My uncle Mauritius
In the summer, Talbot and his wife Pierrette, his partner of 70 years, went to restaurants and saw summer plays with Henri and Lise Richard. Talbot enjoyed teasing his friend Henri, with whom he had a 60-year friendship.
“Henri and Maurice never spoke,” Talbot told me in the days following his great friend’s death in March 2020.
“Sometimes I said to Henri: “Tell me about your uncle Maurice!” Henri answered me: “Toé, my Tabarouette!” Maurice looked at me with his piercing eyes. The rocket was intimidating even for his teammates, but that didn't stop Talbot from having fun at his own expense. In the mid-1960s, when the Rocket were battling the Canadiens for their vice-president position, Talbot had gone to the second floor of the Forum with a stack of comic books under his arm.
The rocket was intimidating even for his teammates, but that didn't stop Talbot from having fun at his own expense. In the mid-1960s, when the Rocket were battling the Canadiens for their vice-president position, Talbot had gone to the second floor of the Forum with a stack of comic books under his arm.
He placed it on Richard's desk and said to him, “Here, Maurice, this is something to relieve your boredom. He followed me to Rue Closse!”
You had to be strong enough to prank the rocket.
The story was about 55 years old and Talbot told it with great joy.
At the expense of the Blues
A few years later, Jean-Guy and Henri meet in Florida. Talbot plays for the Saint-Louis Blues, who just suffered a defeat in the final against the Canadian. He offers one treat after another to Pocket Rocket, who is embarrassed by his generosity.
Henri also wants to pay, but Jean-Guy tells him to keep the money in his pocket.
“He then insisted on returning the favor when we returned to Montreal. The day had cost him $400. He wasn't in a good mood when I confessed that I didn't have to pay a penny to go to Florida because we were on the Blues' arm.
Funny stories, I've heard a lot of them from the mouths of former Canadian greats. The years pass and time takes its toll. The club of true elders is shrinking.
Alzheimer's disease slowly took its toll on Henri Richard. COVID-19 started when he left. Health restrictions had prevented Talbot from paying his last respects. He was sad, but also relieved that his friend, whom he loved like a brother, was freed from the terrible illness that had cost him his last years on earth. He preferred to think about the beautiful memories they had shared together.
“You have to have fun in life,” he told me.
“There are enough people crying.”
Hello, Mr. Talbot!