Bobby Rousseau

Olympic medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing Canada

Bobby Rousseau
Bobby Rousseau
Born	July 26, 1940 (age 83); 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 team	Canada
Playing career	1958–1975

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.

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. Rousseau helped the team reach the 1957 Memorial Cup finals where they would play against the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters. The Canadiens took their opponents to a game 7 where they lost 3–2.^[1] This would not deter the Canadiens as they returned to the Memorial Cup again in 1957-58. Rousseau and his team won the Memorial Cup this time as they beat the Regina Pats in 6 games.^[2]

In 1960, Rousseau was loaned to the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, the team that would represent Team Canada, at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley.^[3] Canada would finish with a silver medal at the tournament, while the USA won gold and the Soviets took the 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 with the Canadiens. His style of play earned him a full spot on the roster with the Canadiens next season. He scored 21 goals and had 45 points during his first full NHL season, and was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as top rookie in the NHL that year.^[5] After winning the Calder, Rousseau had a less productive year as he scored 37 points only. In 1963-64, Rousseau scored 25 goals and had 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 would go to 7 games, where the Canadiens would emerge victorious, giving Rousseau his first Stanley Cup win. Rousseau was also invited to the 1965 All-Star Game. During the 1965-66 NHL season, Rousseau registered 78 points and tied 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 would help the Canadiens defend their Stanley Cup title as they beat the Detroit Red Wings in 6 games. The Canadiens would return to the Finals for a third straight time in 1966-67. However, Rousseau and his team could not accomplish the three-peat as they were beaten by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 6 games. This did not matter to the Canadiens and Rousseau, as they made the finals for the next 2 seasons, winning the Stanley Cup both times.

After 9 seasons, with the Canadiens, and following a 24-goal performance the previous season, Rousseau was traded to the Minnesota North Stars where he spent the 1970-71 season. After just one season with the North Stars, he was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for right winger Bob Nevin. Rousseau helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1971-72. Rousseau had a total of 17 points during the Rangers' run as they lost the Stanley Cup in 6 games to the Boston Bruins. After playing 2 more seasons with the Rangers, Rousseau retired after playing 8 games in 1974-75.

Personal life[edit]

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

Awards and achievements[edit]

Memorial Cup champion — 1958 (with the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens)
EPHL Second All-Star Team — 1961
Calder Memorial Trophy — 1962
NHL All-Star Games — 1965, 1967, 1969
NHL Second All-Star Team — 1966
Stanley Cup champion — 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 (with the Montreal Canadiens)
On February 1, 1964, Rousseau scored five goals in one game

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season and playoffs[edit]

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1955–56	St. Jean Braves	QJHL	44	53	32	85	25	—	—	—	—	—
1956–57	Hull-Ottawa Canadiens	OHA	28	7	15	22	18	—	—	—	—	—
1956–57	Hull-Ottawa Canadiens	EOHL	15	4	2	6	2	—	—	—	—	—
1956–57	Hull-Ottawa Canadiens	MC	—	—	—	—	—	8	7	4	11	8
1957–58	Hull-Ottawa Canadiens	OHA	27	24	27	51	64	—	—	—	—	—
1957–58	Hull-Ottawa Canadiens	EOHL	36	26	26	52	14	—	—	—	—	—
1957–58	Hull-Ottawa Canadiens	MC	—	—	—	—	—	13	7	17	24	6
1958–59	Hull-Ottawa Canadiens	EOHL	18	7	18	25	26	3	1	1	2	2
1958–59	Hull-Ottawa Canadiens	MC	—	—	—	—	—	9	2	6	8	19
1958–59	Rochester Americans	AHL	2	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
1959–60	Hull-Ottawa Canadiens	EPHL	4	4	2	6	4	—	—	—	—	—
1959–60	Brockville Jr. Canadiens	MC	—	—	—	—	—	13	14	9	23	14
1960–61	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	15	1	2	3	4	—	—	—	—	—
1960–61	Hull-Ottawa Canadiens	EPHL	38	34	26	60	18	14	12	7	19	10
1961–62	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	70	21	24	45	26	6	0	2	2	0
1962–63	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	62	19	18	37	15	5	0	1	1	2
1963–64	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	70	25	31	56	32	7	1	1	2	2
1964–65	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	66	12	35	47	26	13	5	8	13	24
1965–66	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	70	30	48	78	20	10	4	4	8	6
1966–67	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	68	19	44	63	58	10	1	7	8	4
1967–68	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	74	19	46	65	47	13	2	4	6	8
1968–69	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	76	30	40	70	59	14	3	2	5	8
1969–70	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	72	24	34	58	30	—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Minnesota North Stars	NHL	63	4	20	24	12	12	2	6	8	0
1971–72	New York Rangers	NHL	78	21	36	57	12	16	6	11	17	7
1972–73	New York Rangers	NHL	78	8	37	45	14	10	2	3	5	4
1973–74	New York Rangers	NHL	72	10	41	51	4	12	1	8	9	4
1974–75	New York Rangers	NHL	8	2	2	4	0	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals			942	245	458	703	359	128	27	57	84	69

International[edit]

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1960	Canada	OLY		7	5	4	9	2
Senior totals				7	5	4	9	1

References[edit]

^ "The Memorial Cup: A History...1957". Taking Note with Gregg Drinnan. 26 May 2008. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
^ "The Memorial Cup: A History...1958". Taking Note with Gregg Drinnan. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
^ 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
^ "Bobby Rousseau". Legends of Hockey. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
^ "Habs great Bobby Rousseau hosts 2nd annual Martlet Basketball Golf Tournament". McGill University Athletics. McGill University. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
^ "Five Goal Games in NHL History". Joe Pelletier. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
^ The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p.184, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0

External links[edit]

Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Dave Keon	Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy 1962	Succeeded by Kent Douglas

[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.

[mcgill-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

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