For the last 27 years, Rejean Houle had been the president of the Canadiens Alumni Association’s board of directors, but yesterday that changed. Shortly before their final preseason game against the Ottawa Senators, the Montreal Canadiens announced that Houle was stepping down and that Patrice Brisebois was taking over the role.
The newly appointed Brisebois had this to say about his nomination:
The Canadiens Alumni Association brings together hundreds of players who have proudly worn the Montreal Canadiens uniform over the years, and I am extremely honored by the trust placed in me to lead the organization. I want to sincerely thank Réjean Houle for his exceptional work. During his two terms as President, he played a vital role in supervising and coordinating the activities of the Canadiens Alumni, ensuring a remarkable presence at community and charitable events. His boundless commitment and dedication to the members and their families, particularly by supporting them through difficult times, have left a lasting mark on the Association's history and culture.-
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Houle marked the Canadiens' history in more ways than one, being part of the formidable teams of the 1970s that won five Stanley Cups and scored 408 points in 635 games. His detour to the WHA with the Quebec Nordiques cost him a few cups and NHL games, as he did play in the WHA from the 1973-74 campaign to the 1975-76 season, putting up 257 points in 214 games with Quebec.
After his retirement, he worked for the Molson company before being parachuted into the role of GM after Ronald Corey cleaned house, firing Serge Savard and Jacques Demers to replace them with Houle and Tremblay. Ill-equipped for the role, Houle would ultimately become the GM who traded Patrick Roy out of town. He was much more suited to the role of President of the alumni, a position in which he thrived and helped countless people.
Brisebois also had a great NHL career, spending 18 seasons in the NHL during which he played 1,009 games and recorded 420 points. He won the Stanley Cup with the Habs in 1992-93 and spent all but two seasons playing for the Tricolore. He spent those two seasons playing for the Colorado Avalanche before returning to Montreal to play the final two years of his career.
After retiring, he spent some time working in the media with TVA Sports and later appeared on the La Poche Bleue Podcast, a setting in which he was much more suited. Highly personable and approachable, Brisebois should take to the role like a fish to water.
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