Habs’ legendary No. 12s honoured

MONTREAL— Canadiens legends Dickie Moore and Yvan Cournoyer had their No. 12 jerseys retired last night prior the Habs-Leafs game at the Bell Centre. Moore and Cournoyer were honoured in separate ceremonies, with both players receiving specially made watches with the No. 12 engraved on it, a painting and a $ 25,000 donation to the children’s charity of their choice.

All of the Canadiens players came out of the dressing room wearing uniforms with No. 12 and either Moore or Cournoyer written on their back. The banners were raised to the Bell Centre rafters with Montreal and Toronto players lined along the blue line.

“ I was laughing with the trainers, I said, ‘ Why do those guys have my number on tonight?’ ” said Leafs winger Darcy Tucker, who was the last member of the Canadiens to wear number 12 and had Cournoyer as an assistant coach when he broke in with the Habs in 1996. Montreal assistant captains Craig Rivet and Richard Zednik unfurled the banners while captain Saku Koivu stood with Moore and Cournoyer on the red carpet.

Several members of Moore’s family were on the ice to witness his ceremony, and Moore’s former teammate Jean Beliveau introduced him to the crowd.

Beliveau noted Moore’s nickname of Digging Dickie was truly apt for a player that so often outworked his opponents on the ice. An emotional Moore then addressed the fans, thanking them for their support and also noting the important role his mother played in his reaching the NHL. But his final thanks went to former coach Toe Blake, with whom Moore won an NHL record five straight Stanley Cups from 1956 to ’ 60.

Cournoyer was joined on the ice by his wife, Evelyne, and one of his sons, Curt. He too was introduced by Beliveau, who noted Cournoyer had ample opportunity to “ satisfy his thirst for winning,” with 10 Stanley Cup victories in a Montreal uniform. Moore and Cournoyer’s No. 12 join the retired Habs numbers of Howie Morenz ( No. 7), Maurice Richard ( No. 9), Beliveau ( No. 4), Henri Richard ( No. 16), Guy Lafleur ( No. 10), Doug Harvey ( No. 2) and Jacques Plante ( No. 1).