ESPN News: Jean Béliveau to Be Honored in New Netflix Documentary.
Montreal, QC— Netflix has announced a forthcoming documentary celebrating the life and legacy of one of hockey’s most revered figures, Jean Béliveau.
Titled Béliveau: Heart of a Champion, the film will delve deep into the career and character of the Montreal Canadiens icon whose name is etched into NHL history with greatness and grace.
Béliveau’s résumé is unmatched. Over a 20-season NHL career, all spent with the Canadiens, he scored 507 goals, amassed 1,219 points, and led his team to an astounding 10 Stanley Cup victories as a player. He also earned seven more championships as an executive, bringing his total to 17 — the most in NHL history.
Béliveau was the first recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1965, awarded to the most valuable player during the playoffs, and he was later named one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players in the league’s centennial celebration.
But the documentary promises more than a retelling of statistics. Through rare archival footage, interviews with teammates, opponents, family members, and hockey historians, Béliveau:
Heart of a Champion will explore the man behind the numbers — a leader whose humility, sportsmanship, and dedication left a lasting imprint on the sport and Canadian culture.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sarah Polley, the documentary will spotlight Béliveau’s early years in Quebec, his rise through junior hockey with the Quebec Aces, and his eventual transformation into a cornerstone of the Canadiens dynasty.
The film also covers his post-playing days, where he continued to serve as an ambassador for the sport and a symbol of dignity in Canada.
“Jean Béliveau was more than a hockey player. He was a national treasure, a gentleman whose integrity elevated everyone around him,” said Polley. “We aim to capture not only his achievements but his immense impact off the ice.”
Fans can expect Béliveau: Heart of a Champion* to premiere in late 2025, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of his NHL debut. The documentary will be available globally on Netflix, bringing Béliveau’s story to new generations of fans and reminding the world why he remains one of the most beloved figures in the history of sports.