Yvan Cournoyer Yvan Serge Cournoyer ( born November 22 , 1943 ) is a retired Canadian right winger who played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens from 1963 to 1979 . Cournoyer was born in Drummondville , Quebec . He was nicknamed " The Roadrunner " due to his small size and blazing speed , which he credited to longer blades on his skates . He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982 . Professional career . Cournoyer ' s hockey career began in 1961 with the Montreal Junior Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey Association ( OHA ) . By the time he was eighteen years old , his legs had become so muscular that he required specially tailored pants . He led the OHA in goals scored in 1963 - 64 with 63 . Cournoyer made his professional debut with the Montreal Canadiens in the 1963 - 64 NHL season . In that season he scored 4 goals in 5 NHL games , including two in a game when Bobby Rousseau scored five . He earned a full - time spot with the club in 1964 - 65 NHL season after just seven games with the American Hockey League ' s Quebec Aces . Cournoyer was initially regarded by Canadiens head coach Toe Blake as a defensive liability and undeserving of a regular shift , though he was still frequently used on the powerplay . That changed in the 1967 - 68 NHL season when he scored 28 goals and 32 assists . After Blake ' s departure following the 1968 Stanley Cup Championship , incoming coach Claude Ruel granted Cournoyer more ice time . Cournoyer went on to have his first forty - goal season and was named to the NHL ' s Second All - Star Team . Cournoyer scored a career high 47 goals in the 1971 – 72 season . In 1973 , he had his best postseason ever , scoring 15 goals and tallying 10 assists in 17 games , earning the Conn Smythe Trophy following the Canadiens ' defeat of the Chicago Black Hawks in the Stanley Cup Finals . Cournoyer was named captain of the Canadiens in 1975 following the retirement of Henri Richard , pushing him to play harder in his new leadership role . Cournoyer would become only one of the Habs ' two captains to win Stnaley Cups throughout his entire ( 2 + year ) tenure as captain , the other one being " Rocket " Richard . The speedy Cournoyer ' s ability to stay true to his form in his older age was a favorite topic of discussion of the Montreal fans and hockey media , however , and he did slow down due to a disc in his back that was pressing on a nerve and causing him great pain . Cournoyer eventually had to have surgery on his back and missed the entire 1977 postseason . Cournoyer returned for the 1978 season and played in 68 games , scoring 24 goals and collecting 29 assists to match his previous season ' s total of 53 points , though it was evident his back still bothered him . He managed to perform in the playoffs again , however , with seven goals and four assists in fifteen games en route to Montreal ' s third consecutive Cup . However , he was forced to retire in 1978 after playing in fifteen games . When he retired , he only trailed Lafleur , Maurice Richard , and Jean Beliveau on the Canadiens ' all - time scoring list . Cournoyer won a total of 10 Stanley Cups as player , second only to Henri Richard . His name was engraved on the cup in 1965 - 66 - 68 - 69 - 71 - 73 - 76 - 77 - 78 - 79 . Cournoyer played for Canada in the 1972 Summit Series , scoring three goals ( including one in the final game ) , and is part of the famous picture wherein Paul Henderson jumps into his arms after scoring the game ( and series ) winner . Cournoyer was an assistant coach to the Canadiens during the 1996 – 97 season . He currently serves as an official ambassador for the Montreal Canadiens . Misspelling . Cournoyer ' s name was often mispronounced or misspelt in the English - language media . But none was worse than his first appearance in a newspaper . In an October 4 , 1961 , article in the Montreal Gazette about the upcoming Montreal Junior Canadiens ' season , the then 17 - year - old was named as Yvan Cornway of Lachine . He was described as a miniature Pocket Rocket ( Henri Richard ) .