Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau is in hospital after suffering a stroke Monday evening, the team has announced.
The 80-year old Hall of Famer is "currently undergoing active investigation and treatments," according to a news release posted to the Canadiens website.
"As of today and for the duration of his convalescence Mr. Beliveau humbly asks everyone to respect his privacy and that of his family," the release said.
Further details of Beliveau's condition were not immediately available.
Beliveau played 20 seasons in the NHL, from 1950 to 1971. He wore the captain's "C" for 10 years, the longest tenure in Habs history.
He won 10 Stanley Cups and won the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP in 1965.
He also won the Hart trophy, given to the league's most valuable player, in 1956 and 1964, and the Art Ross for being the top league scorer in 1956. That year he scored 88 points and amassed 143 penalty minutes, finally tiring of and fighting back against his opponents' aggressive attempts to shut him down.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a hockey fan who plans to one day write a book about the history of the sport, wished Beliveau well on Tuesday.
"Mr. Beliveau is a great Canadian and a remarkable ambassador for our national sport. We wish him a speedy recovery," Harper said, according to a tweet from Andrew MacDougall, his communications director.
Beliveau retired at the end of the 1970-71 season, after having led the team in regular-season scoring with 76 points, including 25 goals.
The Habs retired his number 4 that October, and the following year, the Hockey Hall of Fame waived its usual three-year waiting period so Beliveau could take his place among his fellow NHL legends.
"When Jean Beliveau enters a room, conversations pause briefly as people silently recognize that they are in the presence of greatness," reads his player page on the team website.
"His efforts on the ice made better players of his teammates, and his exemplary life away from the rink makes better human beings of most people fortunate enough to cross his path."
With files from The Canadian Press
