A view of a Jean Beliveau statue draped with a Montreal Canadiens scarf, is seen front of an arena named after Beliveau in Longueuil
A view of a Jean Beliveau statue draped with a Montreal Canadiens scarf, is seen front of an arena named after Beliveau in Longueuil December 3, 2014. Beliveau, a Hall of Fame ice hockey player who won 10 Stanley Cup championships with the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens, died on Tuesday at the age of 83. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

Canadian hockey legend Jean Beliveau passed away on Dec. 2. He was 83 and was considered as one of the greatest hockey players the country had ever produced.

People from every field paid tribute to the Montreal Canadiens legend. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who himself is a hockey historian, offered his condolences as his statement said that the "hockey giant" had inspired an entire nation. Harper said that Beliveau would be remembered for his "outstanding skill, humility and pure love of the game." Beliveau won 10 Stanley Cups for the Canadiens and inspired a "legions of hockey players." Harper also mentioned that Beliveau had shared deep love with his home province of Quebec.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said that Beliveau was the "perfect gentleman." CBC News reported that it was Chrétien who had offered Beliveau the office of Governor General in 1994. However, Beliveau did not accept it for family reasons. Chrétien remembered the day he had invited the hockey legend for dinner. He said that he had waited like a fan for a star to come to the residence. Canadiens President Geoff Molson called Beliveau as "class personified." He also said that Beliveau had been one of the greatest players in NHL history. He said that the sport had lost a "great ambassador."

National Post reported that flags had been lowered to half-mast at Montreal city hall and at the Quebec National Assembly while Beliveau was honoured in the House of Commons. Beliveau played from 20 seasons between 1950 and 1971. Besides winning 10 Stanley Cups as a player, he won seven more when he was a part of the administration at the Canadiens, the most successful franchise of the National Hockey League.

Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin remembered Beliveau beyond his hockey skills. Bergevin said that Beliveau had been a "great human being." He said that Beliveau represented much more not only in the province and in the country, but also across the world. He informed that Canadiens would wear Beliveau's no. 4 on their helmets in their game against the Wild on Wednesday. The game will be held in Minnesota.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au