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PHOTOS: Canadiens faithful pay respect to Jean Beliveau

Paul Chiasson / Reuters

It was an emotional scene at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Sunday as hundreds of fans and teammates paid their respects to Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau.

People lined up early in the morning for the public, closed-casket viewing.

Beliveau's casket was positioned at center ice flanked by two massive banners of the Hall of Famer in the prime of his career, along with some of the trophies he won.

Montreal mayor Denis Coderre attended the viewing to offer his condolences to Beliveau's wife Elise and daughter Helene.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard also attended the viewing and expounded on Beliveau's impact on the province's culture and character.

“To me he summarizes elegance, confidence, and the image of what we would like ourselves to be,” said Couillard. “I think I can speak for all Quebecers presenting my sympathies to the family.”

Couillard continued:

It was at a time when Francophone Quebecers in particular needed much more confidence in themselves and I think he was one of the elements that created that confidence. For this, we are immensely grateful. He was not only a great athlete and player, he was a great man, a great Quebecer and a great Canadian.

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