Maurice (The Rocket) Richard (left) and Jean (Le Gros Bill) Beliveau pose with the Stanley Cup after beating the Bruins to win NHL championship in Boston, Apr.20, 1958. Born as a French-Canadian team on Dec. 4, 1909, the Montreal Canadiens became the most famous and successful team in hockey, winning 24 Stanley Cups in their first 100 years. Most of those came in a glorious period from 1955 to 1979, when legends like Rocket Richard, Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur took the sport to unprecedented highs in artistry and victories. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP files