Jean-Claude Tremblay

Joseph Henri Jean-Claude Tremblay, known as J. C. Tremblay, was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who lived from January 22, 1939, to December 7, 1994. He was noted for his playmaking and defensive skills. After an amateur and minor professional career during which he moved from left winger to defenceman and won the league most valuable player title in 1960, Tremblay began playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League in the 1959–60 season. He became a regular for Montreal in the 1961–62 season and played for five Stanley Cup-winning teams. Recognized as one of the NHL's preeminent defencemen for both his offensive and defensive work, he appeared in seven NHL All-Star Games and set the franchise record for points by a defenceman. He was named a first team All-Star in 1970–71 and a second team All-Star in 1967–68. For the 1972–73 season, Tremblay left the NHL for the upstart World Hockey Association, joining the Quebec Nordiques, which had negotiated with the Los Angeles Sharks for his rights.