Bobby Rousseau

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. Hull-Ottawa reached the 1957 Memorial Cup final against the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters losing game 7 3–2.[1] The Canadiens returned to the Memorial Cup in 1957-58 defeating the Regina Pats in 6 games.[2]

In 1960, Rousseau was loaned to the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, the team that represented Canada at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley.[3] Canada finished with a silver medal, while the USA won gold and the Soviets 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]

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. During his first full NHL season in 1961-2, he scored 21 goals and 24 assists and was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the top rookie in the NHL that year.[5] Rousseau had a less productive 1962-3 season as he scored only 37 points. In 1963-64, Rousseau scored 25 goals and 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 went to 7 games, which the Canadiens won, giving Rousseau his first Stanley Cup. Rousseau was also invited to the 1965 All-Star Game. During the 1965-66 NHL season, Rousseau's 78 points tied him 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 helped the Canadiens defend their Stanley Cup title as they beat the Detroit Red Wings in 6 games. The Canadiens returned to the Finals for a third straight time in 1966-67 but lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 6 games. However, Rousseau and the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup the following two seasons.

After the 1969-70 NHL season, his ninth with the Canadiens, during which he scored 24 goals, Rousseau was traded to the Minnesota North Stars where he spent the 1970-71 season. He was then traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for right winger Bob Nevin and helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1971-72 which the Rangers lost in 6 games to the Boston Bruins, with Rousseau amassing 17 points during the playoff run. After playing 8 games in 1974-75, Rousseau retired.