J.C. Tremblay registered 17 assists over 69 games in the 1962-63 season, his second full campaign in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens. Four of those helpers came in a single period, a remarkable second period against the Detroit Red Wings on December 29, 1962, at the Montreal Forum.
At the time, it set the NHL record for most assists in one period by a defenseman, a mark that stood until 2023 when Kris Letang recorded five in a second-period explosion for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the New York Islanders. In between, the four-assist record was tied multiple times by names like Bobby Orr, Brad Park, Mark Howe, Gary Suter, Phil Housley, Rob Blake, and Scott Stevens.
After a scoreless first, the Canadiens came alive in the second, finishing the frame up 4-0. Bill Hicke and Bernie Geoffrion each scored twice, with Tremblay assisting on all four goals. Geoffrion completed his hat trick early in the third. Montreal overwhelmed Terry Sawchuk with 51 shots in the 5-1 win, while Jacques Plante stopped 25 of 26 at the other end. Detroit’s only goal came at 9:08 of the third from Alex Delvecchio, the final goal of the game.
Tremblay’s ability to generate offense from the blue line only grew with time. He had back-to-back 50+ assist seasons in 1970-71 (52) and 1971-72 (51), tying for sixth in the NHL in assists during that first campaign alongside Fred Stanfield, Bobby Hull, and Jude Drouin. In 1972-73, his first season with the Quebec Nordiques in the WHA, Tremblay led the league with 75 assists.
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