Steve Bégin
A human cannonball on skates, this heart-and-soul center built a long NHL career out of fearless shot-blocking and relentless physical energy.
Born 1978 (age 48)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: June 14·Generation X
Biography
Steve Bégin did not earn his ice time with flashy goals, but with a willingness to sacrifice his body that made coaches trust him and fans adore him. Drafted by Calgary, he truly found his identity with the Montreal Canadiens, where his frenetic, punishing style of play—throwing hits, killing penalties, and diving headfirst to block slap shots—made him a fixture at the Bell Centre. He was the embodiment of the 'energy line' player, a sparkplug whose effort could shift a game's momentum. His career was a testament to resilience, battling through significant injuries, including a shoulder issue that cost him a full season, only to fight back for a final NHL stint. Bégin's legacy is that of a pure role player who maximized every ounce of his talent through sheer force of will, leaving a mark on every team he graced.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Steve was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Steve Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Steve's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played over 500 games in the NHL across 13 seasons for five different franchises.
- Became a fan favorite and key penalty-killer for the historic Montreal Canadiens for four seasons.
- Recorded a career-high 13 goals and 24 points during the 2005-06 season with Montreal.
- Successfully returned to the NHL with Calgary in 2013 after missing an entire year due to injury.
Did You Know?
He was known for having one of the most bruised and battered bodies in the league due to his shot-blocking.
His first NHL goal was scored while playing for the Calgary Flames, the team that originally drafted him.
He once played in the AHL for the Utah Grizzlies, a team then affiliated with the Dallas Stars.
The 'Bégin' name was often mispronounced; the correct pronunciation is 'Bay-zheen'.
“My job is to make the other team hear footsteps all night.”
