Hockey

Jean Béliveau - a 10-time Stanley Cup champion and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame - has been named an honourary captain of Canada's 2010 men's Olympic hockey team, Hockey Canada announced Monday.

Béliveau played every one of his 20 NHL seasons for the Montreal Canadiens, recording 1,219 points in 1,125 games. He retired from the NHL after the 1970-71 season.

He never played for Canada in international competition since he retired one season before the 1972 Summit Series, which was the first major international event involving NHL players. The IIHF World Championship did not allow professionals to participate until 1977.

Béliveau was honoured at a press conference in Montreal, as part of the Hockey Canada Foundation gala and golf fundraiser. Serge Savard and Yvan Cournoyer, honourary chairmen of the 2009 Hockey Canada Foundation gala, presented Béliveau with a Team Canada jersey. It had Béliveau's name and customary No. 4 on the back.

"It's unbelievable to think of some of the players who never had the chance to represent Canada in international play," says Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. "Today, we bring a new member onto the Team Canada roster. It's about time we see the great Jean Béliveau in a Team Canada sweater."