J.C. Tremblay was a Canadian ice hockey player who played as a defenseman for various teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA) during his career. He was born on January 17, 1939, in Montmorency, Quebec, Canada, and began his professional career in 1959 with the Quebec Aces of the Quebec Hockey League (QHL).
Tremblay was known for his offensive skills and his ability to move the puck up the ice. He was a skilled skater and had a powerful shot, which made him a valuable asset to his teams. He played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1960 to 1969, where he won four Stanley Cup championships and was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1968 and 1969.
In 1969, Tremblay was traded to the expansion team, the Minnesota North Stars, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the WHA's Quebec Nordiques in 1972. He played for the Nordiques for five seasons, where he was named to the WHA First All-Star Team in 1975 and 1976 and won the Avco World Trophy in 1977.
Tremblay retired from professional hockey in 1979, after playing one season with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. He finished his career with 131 goals and 514 assists in 852 NHL and WHA games.
Tremblay was known for his leadership skills and was named captain of the Nordiques in 1974. He was also known for his toughness on the ice and was involved in several fights during his career. However, he was also respected for his sportsmanship and was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy in 1971 for his gentlemanly conduct on the ice.
After retiring from hockey, Tremblay worked as a scout for the Nordiques and later for the Colorado Avalanche, which was the relocated version of the Nordiques. He was inducted into the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame in 2001.
Tremblay passed away on December 12, 1994, at the age of 55, after suffering a heart attack while playing in a charity hockey game. He was remembered as a skilled and respected player who made significant contributions to the sport of hockey during his career.
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