Astronaut Thirsk has space chat with Jean Beliveau

LONGUEUIL - Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau says his space chat today with Bob Thirsk was special -- even if the astronaut is a Boston Bruins fan.

Beliveau was at the Canadian Space Agency near Montreal and hooked up with the Canadian astronaut who is in the fourth month of his six-month stay aboard the International Space Station.

Beliveau is Thirsk's idol and the 56-year-old astronaut even has a photo of the former Habs superstar with him in space.

With the hockey rivalry in mind, Beliveau invited Thirsk to a Boston-Montreal hockey game after the astronaut returns to Earth.

Thirsk is due to touch down Nov. 23.

Photos

Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Bob Thirsk conducts a test on board the International Space Station on Aug. 4, 2009. Thirsk arrived on the space station in May and is currently in the middle of a six-moth assignment on the space station. (NASA)