The Detroit News’s Mark Falkner posted an article discussing Red Wings legend Alex Delvecchio ahead of his 90th birthday this Sunday:
He was Detroit’s Jean Beliveau, a graceful playmaking center and longtime captain who assisted on more of Gordie Howe’s regular-season and playoff goals (231 assists) than any other player in Red Wings’ history.
As Alex Delvecchio prepares to celebrate his 90th birthday on Saturday with his wife Judy and with many of their five children, 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren at their home in Rochester Hills, the comparisons to Beliveau are hard for Delvecchio to comprehend.
Beliveau won 10 Stanley Cups as a player with the rival Montreal Canadiens, including five straight from 1956-60. Delvecchio and the Red Wings beat Beliveau’s Canadiens in three straight finals in 1951, 1954 and 1955.
“Jean Beliveau was a great, great hockey player and it was an honor to play against him,” Delvecchio said. “He was a gentleman, a big guy who had a bull’s-eye on his back and on his team but he went about his business, played well and was successful in Montreal. He was quiet, which is kind of like me.”
