Who is Maurice Richard
Ranked #5,138 in Sports & Recreation, #129,215 overall
Rocket Richard: The Fiercest Competitor
The most dangerous man when he was in the opposition's end of the ice, Maurice Richard was a legendary, fiery competitor who fought through anyone who stood between him and the net.
Rocket Richard scored goals by the bushel and was a pillar of the Montreal Canadiens dynasty of the 1950s. Richard retired in 1960 and was immediately ushered into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
At the time he finally retired from the NHL following the 1960 season, Richard had amassed what at the time seemed an almost insurmountable record of 544 goals in his career. Beloved is a term that barely scratches the surface of the high esteem Richard is held by fans of the Montreal Canadiens and longtime hockey fans in general.
1942-43: The Rookie Year
Injuries Stop The Rocket And Threaten His Career
He displayed flashes of what was to come, scoring 5 goals and adding 6 assists for 11 points in the 16 games he played. Skills? Yep, they were unmistakable, but many doubted he had the strength to play in the big leagues. He had broken his other ankle and one of his wrists while playing for the Verdun Jr. Maple Leafs and Richard was being tagged as too delicate and injury-prone.
But again, Richard came back. From these early injuries, The Rocket displayed the same tenacity as when he was on the ice. He played through and the next season he scored 32 times in 46 games and added 12 more goals in the playoffs as the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1930-31.
A piece of hockey history: a jersey hand signed by Maurice Richard - I wish it was mine too!
The Rocket Receives A Special Award
When Maurice Richard scored his 200th career goal, he was awarded the trophy displayed above. The trophy has 3 monumental hockey pucks from Richard's brilliant career:
The puck he scored his 45th goal of the season in 1945 when he broke Joe Malone's record for most goals in a season;
The puck he used to score his 200th career goal in 1949 against the Chicago Blackhawks;
The puck he used to score his 50th goal in 50 games. also from the 1945 season.
Any one of the 3 pucks alone would make up a great part of any hockey fan's collection and all three are a part of the Richard legacy, in trophy form.
Well, If You Can't Have Richard's Jersey...
Montreal Canadiens RBK Edge Premier NHL Team Color Jersey
Montreal Canadiens Jersey
This is new Reebok Premier replica NHL team color jersey looks just like what the Canadiens wear on the ice. Features tackle twill logo on chest and shoulder logos as shown. 100% polyester double knit mid-weight Air-Knit fabric.
Quick, what do you think of Maurice Richard?
A beautiful hockey moment. Richard accepts congratulations from Bruins goalie after Richard scored the winning goal
The Richard Riot
March 15, 1955
The fiery temper that often inspired Richard to greatness also got him in the penalty box. This trait also caused one of the most notorious incidents in league history. On March 13, 1955, Richard was given a match penalty for deliberately injuring Hal Laycoe and punching a referee. There was a formal inquiry after which NHL president Clarence Campbell suspended Richard for the remainder of the season.
This decision came when the Rocket was leading the NHL in scoring and the Habs were battling for first place in the standings. Montreal fans were outraged and a memorable scene took place at the Forum in Montreal as supporters of Richard pelted Campbell with eggs when he tried to take his seat for a game against Detroit the following St. Patrick's Day. The crowd was so unruly that the game was forfeited to the Red Wings and the building evacuated. A riot ensued outside, causing $500,000 in damages.
The Rocket Richard Riot In Montreal, March 17, 1955
Get The Movie "The Rocket" From Amazon
The hockey scenes, which include various genuine NHL players, are exciting; and the personal moments, especially those involving Canadiens coach Dick Irvin (Stephen McHattie) are fine, if somewhat pat. Modest bonus features include deleted scenes and "A Tribute to Maurice Richard, the Rocket."
The Rocket - Maurice Richard
Amazon Price: $10.96 (as of 06/03/2012)
Directed by Charles Biname, written (in French and English) by Ken Scott, and starring Roy Dupuis as Richard, this 2005 Canadian production is more than a sports movie, as Richard's significance as a populist hero to French Canadians, the humble factory worker who fought against rampant cultural discrimination and risked his career for what he believed in, is given nearly as much weight as his remarkable feats on the ice. As such, The Rocket approaches the status of hagiography. It's more like watching The Natural than a bio of a real person, as the film is quite literally bathed in a reverent glow (the cinematography, both color and black & white, adds a gorgeous but unreal tint to every scene); even in his more dubious moments (he attacked a referee in 1955 and received a suspension, leading to a full-scale riot in and outside of the Montreal Forum), Richard is depicted as a hero-victim.
That said, this is also a very entertaining biopic, with Dupuis excellent as the gritty machinist who was considered too frail and injury-prone to compete with the sport's tough guys but who, in the course of a career that lasted from 1942 to 1960, proved himself not only on the rink (where he more than held his own against various NHL goons while setting seemingly impossible scoring records), but also off it (where he stood up to the arrogant owners and league executives who regarded French Canadian players as lower life forms and refused to protect even Richard, the sport's best player, from dirty opponents and biased refs).
Some Other Hockey Greats
Gordie Howe and the Rocket had some fierce battles throughout their careers. Guy Lafleur was the man in the 1970s leading Monreal to 4 straight championships. The legendary Bobby Orr patroled the Bruins blueline and was an offensive scoring threat. And Jean Beliveau - the Habs great captain after Richard.
Richard Becomes the First To Score 500 Goals
To the roar of the crowd, Maurice Richard nets his record-setting 500th career goal with a ferocious slapshot. The Montreal Canadiens will go on to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 in this historic game on Oct. 19, 1957.
A New, Modern Version Of The Sweater
lol, This Is Hilarious!
How did the NHL help the Montreal Canadiens build a dynasty?
The Canadiens had exclusive rights to all players within its 50-mile territorial limits. So the Canadiens could browse the neighbourhood rinks near Montreal at their leisure, while teams like the New York Rangers had a lock on the next great goalie from Hoboken. I think they're still waiting for him.
Most of these advantages disappeared in 1963 when the amateur draft was introduced. But the Canadiens continued to benefit from players developed under the old system well into the 1970s.
The Best Young Players In Today's NHL
Maurice Richard Stats
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
Points
1942-43
16
5
6
11
1943-44
46
32
22
54
1944-45
50
50
23
73
1945-46
50
27
21
48
1946-47
60
45
26
71
1947-48
53
28
25
53
1948-49
59
20
18
38
1949-50
70
43
22
65
1950-51
65
42
24
66
1951-52
48
27
17
44
1952-53
70
28
33
61
1953-54
70
37
30
67
1954-55
67
38
36
74
1955-56
70
38
33
71
1956-57
63
33
29
62
1957-58
28
15
19
34
1958-59
42
17
21
38
1959-60
51
19
16
35
TOTALS
978
544
421
965
Maurice Richard Statue
Richard's Records
First player to score 50 goals in 50 games.
First player to score 500 goals in a career.
Set the new record for career NHL goals with 544 (previously held by Nels Stewart).
Played for 8 Stanley Cup winning teams (the fourth most of any NHL player).
- 1944
- 1946
- 1953
- 1956
- 1957
- 1958
- 1959
- 1960
Led the NHL in goal scoring in 1945, 1947, 1950, 1954, and 1955.
Won the Hart Trophy as the Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP in 1947
Named to the NHL's First All-Star Team from 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1955, and 1956.
Named to the Second All-Star Team in 1944, 1951 to 1954, and in 1957.
Played in NHL All-Star Game in 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959.
Ranks 24th all-time in career goals (544).
Ranks 2nd all-time in career playoff overtime goals (6).
Ranks 75th all-time in career points.
Ah, The Boston Bruins!
The Team Habs Fans Love To Hate
The Rocket Richard Trophy
In 1999, the Montreal Canadiens honoured Maurice Richard by donating The Rocket Richard Trophy to the National Hockey League to be given annually to the NHL's goalscoring leader during the regular season.So far, three players have been multiple winners of the coveted trophy, Pavel Bure, Jarome Iginla, and most recently, Alexander Ovechkin, have each won it twice.
Winners of the trophy:
2010-11 Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks
2009-10 Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning (tie)
2009-10 Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (tie)
2008-09 Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
2007-08 Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
2006-07 Vincent Lacavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning
2005-06 Jonathan Cheechoo, San Jose Sharks
2003-04 Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames (tie)
2003-04 Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers (tie)
2003-04 Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets (tie)
2002-03 Milan Hejduk, Colorado Avalanche
2001-02 Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
2000-01 Pavel Bure, Florida Panthers
1999-00 Pavel Bure, Florida Panthers
1998-99 Teemu Selanne, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Get The Latest Hockey News On The Hockey Highlighter
History Of The Montreal Canadiens
The Habs have one of the most storied histories in the NHL and just celebrated their 100th year as a hockey club. This webpage is a tribute to the past and present Canadiens. Lots of video and pictures of Montreal's great players of the past. Take a look.
Are You Looking For Richard's Parkhurst Rookie Card?
Shout Out For Maurice Richard!
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John Grecos
May 31, 2011 @ 2:56 am | delete
- Maurice Richard is one of the greatest, if not, the greatest hockey player ever. I'm happy they named a goal scoring trophy after him in the NHL. Goes to show, when it comes to scoring goals...the NHL considered naming a trophy after him. This is a great tribute site...have you seen www.mauricrichard.org
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newbizmau Feb 10, 2011 @ 7:11 pm | delete
- I sometimes search for people with my name and I found your lens. Cool!
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D. E. Matthews
May 8, 2010 @ 1:47 am | delete
- I never saw the Rocket play, since I was too young, but I dearly wish that I had. I still adore the Rocket, not just for his successful hockey career, but also for the kind of man he was away from the rink: honest, honourable, an individual who lived by his own code of conduct, whose decency and integrity influenced and guided others. It is thus no surprise that he was, and still is, so beloved by so many, even a decade after his death.
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by Bradshaw
I had the chance to meet Maurice Richard a few years before he died when he was at our local mall signing autographs. I didn't have anything for him t... more »
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