He's in the Hockey Hall of Fame, his jersey is retired and he holds a franchise record for goals scored in a single season (57). All that and you still may not recognize his name. Michel Goulet is too humble to boast about his incredible 15 years in the NHL or the fact that his name appears FOUR times in the top 10 list of single season goals scored in Colorado Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques franchise history. He’s too modest to ask why his retired #16 jersey with the Quebec Nordiques isn’t recognized somewhere at Ball Arena, home of the Avalanche. Instead, Michel lives his retired life in the Denver area in anonymity, often attending Avalanche and Rockies games without anyone stopping him to talk about his history. When he visits Canada, it’s a different story. “Monsieur Goulet” is stopped everywhere. The Canadians know Michel’s greatness not only in the NHL, but also as a member of Team Canada who won the Canada Cup twice, beating Sweden in 1984 and Russia in 1987. They also know why he had to retire after a game on March 16, 1994 when he crashed hard into the boards during a Blackhawks game and suffered a severe concussion.

After his concussion, Michel had to relearn many basic skills and while he hoped he could return to hockey, his coordination was so off, he had to retire. He soon became the Director of Player Personnel for the Avalanche and was part of their Stanley Cup runs in 1996 and 2001. Michel also served as a scout for the Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks.


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