Future Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau proposes to Elise Couture in Quebec City at Christmas 1952, six months before they were married and nine months before Beliveau signed his first Canadiens contract; and Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Johnny Bower and his wife, Nancy, read "The Night Before Christmas" to their children, (from left) John Jr., Barbara and Cindy at Christmas 1959.
Beliveau's teammate and best friend,
Dickie Moore
, played seven games Dec. 25, without fail having the same pregame meal of steak, potato and vegetables, no matter the turkey or ham special in hotel restaurants.
"Christmas was a festive time, like anybody else spent as best you could with your family, then you went and played hockey," Moore said. "It was our job and we had to do it. There wasn't anything you could say about it."
But perhaps shining more brilliantly than any of the legends was defenseman Noel (that's Christmas, in French) Picard, so named for having been born Dec. 25, 1938. Picard played on his birthday for the St. Louis Blues in 1967 and 1968, both times on the road at the Minnesota North Stars, both shutout victories for the Blues. Better yet, he scored the game winner, his only goal of the season, in a 1-0 win for the Blues on Christmas Day 1967.