Jean-Guy Talbot Leaves Behind A Legacy Way Beyond Hockey
The world of sports lost a great man this past weekend when hockey legend Jean-Guy Talbot passed away at the age of 91 years old.
I was lucky enough to meet Jean-Guy Talbot a few times because his son Michel was my roommate in college back at S.U.N.Y. Plattsburgh.
In fact, the first time Canuck, the nickname we called MichelF in college, got a visit from his dad at college, his dad brought us multiple cases of O’Keefe Beer!
It is something I will never forget!
Jean-Guy Talbot actually worked for O’Keefe Beer after he retired from hockey.
Being a broke college student with little money, it was so cool to meet a hockey legend, let alone get some free beer in the process — good free beer at that!
A Family Man…
A couple of summers ago, we had all of our college buddies get together in Sea Isle City, and we called Jean-Guy on his 88th birthday from the beach!
We actually Facetimed him, and he said he was really happy to see us all together drinking beers on the beach!
Outside of hockey and beer, Jean-Guy was a great husband who was married for 71 years to his wife Pierrette Talbot.
Not to mention a wonderful father and grandfather as well.
A True Legend…
Jean-Guy Talbot is a true hockey legend in its latest form.
In fact, I found out about his passing from another hockey legend, Joe Watson.
Joe phoned me on Saturday morning to let me know Jean-Guy Talbot had passed away.
Whenever Jean Guy’s name came up with Joe Watson, he would always tell me, “Matty, Jean Guy was on the greatest hockey team in Montreal Canadiens history. They won five Stanley Cups in a row — that will never happen again.”
I was texting with Canuck over the weekend, and he told me the TV and radio coverage in Quebec is unbelievable.
TV crews came to his parent’s house for an interview.
Plus, the mayor called them to send the family his condolences.
All of the city flags will be at half-mast for a week, and there’s a book of honor at the town hall for people to sign to pay homage to Jean-Guy Talbot.
What a great guy.
What a great life.
What a great human.
Jean-Guy Talbot #17.