Excerpts from eulogies delivered at Wednesdays funeral for Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau, who died last week at the age of 83. Mike Bibby Jersey .Dickie Moore, former Canadiens teammateIt is a tremendous honour to stand here for my teammate and my friend Jean Beliveau. What more can I say about Jean? Everyone has said so many wonderful words about him. Words like strength, dedication, devotion and elegance.Elise, Jean was so lucky to have you on his team beside him and supporting him through all the years.Me I was lucky. Lucky to have been with Jean for many glorious years with the Canadiens. Lucky to share many amazing moments together. Lucky to have him as a friend.What would you rather be, good or lucky? I was lucky. He was good. I will miss you Jean, a man I always looked up to. Im only five-foot-10.God bless you Jean, your teammate and friend forever.---Yvan Cournoyer, former Canadiens teammateToday, I would like to speak to you about Jean, my captain. I had the fortune to play with Jean my first eight years and to win my first Stanley Cup with him. Four more followed.In the dressing room I had the privilege to sit next to him. Heres a little anecdote. The first time I sat next to him, I realized his pads were a lot longer than mine. I quickly found out why when he got up.On the road, I roomed with him a lot and that allowed me to get to know him better and develop a very good friendship. Given the age difference between us, we developed almost a father-son relationship....Oh captain, my captain, bon voyage.---Serge Savard, former Canadiens teammateIn 1952, the Canadiens called up Jean and he played in three games. In the first game, he stole the show and scored three goals. Thats when the new No. 4 became my idol along with the Rocket and Doug Harvey.I would never have thought at the time that Jean Beliveau would become my teammate and that we would win three Stanley Cups together....Jean was a great leader. We would look toward him when times were difficult. After just a few seasons, his peers named him captain. Surprised and shaken up, he went to see Mr. Selke to turn down the captaincy. Mr. Selke told him he was the choice of the players and to return to the dressing room to fulfil his role as leader.And he did that throughout his career, winning 10 Stanley Cups and helping us be better players and better people, on and off the ice. You couldnt disappoint such a role model.A reporter asked him one day how hed like to be remembered and his answer was spontaneous. I want to be remembered as a good team player.---Ken Dryden, former Canadiens teammateEverybody everywhere in the country talked about him the same way. Jean Beliveau has class.Strange though it seems, its easy now to understate his playing career. Its easy to forget that the Canadiens werent always legendary. ... But in 1956, the Canadiens would win the first of five straight championships, and in the 19 years that followed, nine more, leaving every other team in our dust. In our ice chips.Yet it wasnt really until he retired in 1971 that he became truly special. He became an ambassador for the team, but one like no other.He was proud of being a Montreal Canadien, and proud of his sport. He was proud of being a Victoriavilleois and a Montrealer, proud of being a Quebecer, proud of being a Canadian. He believed in all of them, and he represented all of them wherever he went.He had other skills, he might have done other things. But he understood probably by very early in his life that his greatest impact wouldnt be as a corporate or political leader, but as Jean Beliveau. In doing what he did, in being who he was.---Geoff Molson, Canadiens ownerAll of us here today share something in common. Our admiration and our love for Jean Beliveau in so many ways.He was the first hockey player on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. And after he scored three goals in 44 seconds in a single power play, the National Hockey League changed its power-play rules.But he was more than a record breaker. He was the man whose footsteps our parents wanted us to follow. As little boys, we grew up wanting to be like him.He carried the torch high for six decades, and now its our turn, all of us, to hold it high in his memory.Perhaps the best way to do our friend Jean justice, and begin explaining his legacy to future generations, is quite simple. It is to say he was in a class of his own. He was Jean Beliveau. Brandan Wright Jersey . Burkes Flames are one of several teams involved in heavy trade speculation going into next Wednesdays 3pm et deadline, with the most prominent name in play being forward Michael Cammalleri. Memphis Grizzlies Jerseys . Mike Babcock has turned to the Montreal Canadiens goalie over Roberto Luongo, who backed Canada to a gold medal in Vancouver in 2010, for Canadas final preliminary round game against the ailing Finns. http://www.thegrizzliesofficial.com/Authentic-Bryant-Reeves-Grizzlies-Jersey/ . CSKA received the heavier punishment of playing its next European home game behind closed doors, after its supporters displayed racist and far-right symbols in the Czech Republic during a 2-1 loss to Viktoria Plzen on Dec.Before NCAA Selection Sunday, there are this weeks conference tournaments. For some schools, these tournaments act as final tune-ups before March Madness to get their teams into gear before the Big Dance actually starts. For others, the conference tournament is the last chance to prove to the selection committee that their team belongs among the field of 68. And yet for others, far on the outside looking in, winning their conference tourney is the only chance they have to enter this years tournament. Now, some of the smaller conference tournaments are either already underway or already over, but the bigger conferences tournaments dont get started until Wednesday. This will act as a primer for each of the bigger tournaments to give you an idea of whos involved, whos favoured and which Canadians to watch out for this week. Already qualifed for the NCAA tournament: Mercer (Atlantic Sun), Coastal Carolina (Big South), Delaware (Colonial), Harvard (Ivy), Manhattan (MAAC), #2 Wichita State (Missouri Valley), Eastern Kentucky (Ohio Valley), Mount St. Marys (Northeast), South Dakota State (Summit) and Gonzaga (West Coast) American Athletic Conference Top 25 teams in tournament: #5 Louisville, #13 Cincinnati, #19 Memphis, #21 Connecticut and #25 SMU Overview: Only three games separated these five times in the regular season (with the Cardinals and Bearcats sharing the regular season crown,) so there isnt a lot separating this group in a very competitive conference. All five of these teams will be headed to the tournament, but likely only this quintet. If any outliers in the conference want in, theyll likely have to win the AAC tournament to get there. Chances are, though, thats not happening. Projected winner: Cincinnati Atlantic Coast Conference Seeded teams: #5 Duke, #6 Virginia, #11 Syracuse and #15 North Carolina Overview: After the dissolution of the traditional Big East, Syracuse makes its tournament debut in the conference traditionally dominated by schools from the Carolinas. That said, Virginia is the tournaments top seed for the first time in 33 years. Teams should be on the lookout for upsets with both North Carolina State and Pittsburgh capable of grabbing a scalp, but smart money picks one of the top four seeds to take the title. Led by freshman phenom Jabari Parker, Duke is the odds-on favourite heading into this week, but, even after petering out a bit coming down the stretch, Brampton, Ontarios Tyler Ennis and the Orange are still the team to beat. Projected winner: Syracuse Atlantic 10 Conference Top 25 teams in tournament: #18 Saint Louis and #23 Virginia Commonwealth Overview: The story here isnt what happens with the top teams, but what goes on with those schools who still arent locks to make the tournament. With Saint Louis and VCU most certainly in, its up to the likes of St. Josephs, UMASS and George Washington to ensure participation in this years March Madness. Having five teams coming out of the Atlantic 10 certainly isnt outside the realm of possibility, but its not a likelihood just yet. Projected winner: VCU Big East Conference Top 25 teams in tournament: #3 Villanova and #14 Creighton Overview: Though still being held at Madison Square Garden, this years Big East tournament certainly doesnt carry the cache that it once did with traditional powers like Syracuuse, UConn and Pittsburgh having moved on. Jarell Martin Jersey. Still, tournaments implications are huge here with the likes of Providence, Georgetown, Xavier and St. Johns fates for the Big Dance unknown with that quartet likely needing multiple wins for a selection. As for the final, Creighton has beaten Villanova handily in both meetings this season and should again if the top seeds end up meeting. Projected winner: Creighton Big 10 Conference Top 25 teams in tournament: #8 Michigan, #12 Wisconsin, #22 Michigan State and #24 Ohio State Overview: Like the regular season, this Big 10 tournament should be nothing short of a battle with a lot riding on the line. Nik Stauskas and the Wolverines were able to open a three-game gap on MSU when it was all said and done, but only four games separated Wisconsin in second from Indiana in ninth. Its the teams in that range that need a good tournament here. Up to seven teams could come out of the Big 10 and while the seeded teams are virtual locks, the likes of Nebraska and Minnesota need to impress to secure their positions come Sunday. Projected winner: Michigan Big 12 Conference Top 25 teams in tournament: #10 Kansas, #16 Iowa State and #17 Oklahoma Overview: This tournament has the potential to be the best of the bunch and a very deep conference means its ripe for upsets. Its conceivable that any team that finds itself in the quarterfinals has a shot to win the tournament. Oh, and theres a ton of Canadian content here with Kenny Chery and Brady Heslip of Baylor, Iowa States Melvin Ejim and some kid named Wiggins on Kansas. The Big 12 prides itself as the best conference in the nation in 2014 and having the most tournament bids would go a long way to prove that. Having eight teams in the tournament is not a stretch. This will be a dogfight and not having Joel Embiid will really hurt the Jayhawks. Projected winner: Oklahoma Top 25 teams in tournament: #4 Arizona Overview: Oregon came out of nowhere to win this tournament last year, so the Pac-12 tournament is far from a foregone conclusion as a Wildcats triumph. Still, theyre the overwhelming favourite. Arizona is among a handful of teams here secure in its place in the tournament and, barring a quarterfinal blowout loss, the Wildcats are on course for a #1 seed on Sunday night. With UCLA, Colorado and the Ducks seemingly set for a tournament spot, Arizona State is the team with the most to prove here. Without a strong tournament, dont look for the Sun Devils name to be called on Sunday night. Projected winner: UCLA Southeastern Conference Top 25 teams in tournament: #1 Florida Overview: Outside of the Gators, who will look at this tournament as an opportunity to solidify their claim for the top overall seed in the tournament, this hasnt exactly been a banner season for the SEC with the nations preseason #1 Kentucky falling well short of expectations. John Caliparis Wildcats are in no danger of missing the tournament, but will view the SEC tourney as a means to get some positive momentum going into it. Mizzou, Tennessee and Arkansas are all likely bubble teams right now and could certainly use a positive showing to prove their credentials. This is Floridas tournament, though. They were undefeated in the conference during regular season play and shouldnt look back now. Projected winner: Florida Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '