Jean Ratelle was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, and Hartford Whalers. He was born in Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, and began his career with the Rangers in 1960.

Ratelle was known for his speed and agility on the ice, and was a key player in the Rangers' success in the 1970s. He was a two-time All-Star and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1971 and 1972. He was also a member of the 1972 Summit Series team that represented Canada against the Soviet Union.

Ratelle was a prolific scorer, finishing his career with 491 goals and 776 assists for a total of 1,267 points. He was the first Ranger to score 1,000 points and was the first player in NHL history to record 100 points in a season without scoring 30 goals. He also holds the Rangers' record for most assists in a season with 79.

Ratelle was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985 and his number 19 was retired by the Rangers in 2003. He was also named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017.

Ratelle's career was marked by his dedication to the game and his ability to make the players around him better. He was a leader on and off the ice, and his contributions to the game of hockey will not be forgotten.

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