NEW YORK -- Statement released by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman following the death of NHL icon Jean Beliveau:
"No record book can capture, no image can depict, no statue can convey the grandeur of the remarkable Jean Beliveau, whose elegance and skill on the ice earned the admiration of the hockey world while his humility and humanity away from the rink earned the love of fans everywhere.
"Mr. Beliveau was a formidable presence and his departure leaves an immeasurable void. As we grieve that he has left us, we cherish what he gave us: A sport elevated forever by his character, his dignity and his class.
"For all the accomplishments he achieved and all the accolades he received, Jean Beliveau was always the epitome of the boy whose only dream was to play for the Montreal Canadiens. Hockey is better because that dream was realized. The National Hockey League sends heartfelt condolences to Mr. Beliveau's wife, Elise, and Mr. Beliveau's family, to his countless friends around the hockey world, and to his beloved Canadiens, who he always represented with such distinction and grace."
