| The Honourable Maurice Richard PC CC OQ | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hockey Hall of Fame, 1961 | |||
 Richard in the 1940's | |||
| Born | (1921-08-04)August 4, 1921 Montreal, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Died | May 27, 2000(2000-05-27) (aged 78) Montreal, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Montreal Canadiens | ||
| Playing career | 1942–1960 | ||
Joseph Henri Maurice "Rocket"RichardPC CC OQ (/rɪˈʃɑːrd/rish-ARD,French:[mɔʁisʁiʃaʁ]; August 4, 1921 – May 27, 2000) was a Canadian professionalice hockey player who played 18 seasons in theNational Hockey League (NHL) for theMontreal Canadiens. He was the first player in NHL history to score50 goals in one season, accomplishing the feat in50 games in1944–45, and the first to reach500 career goals.
Richard retired in 1960 as theNational Hockey League's all-time leader ingoals with 544. He won theHart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in 1947, played in 13All-Star Games and was named to 14 post-seasonNHL All-Star teams, eight on the first team. In 2017, Richard was named one of the100 Greatest NHL Players in history.[1] His younger brotherHenri also played his entire career with the Canadiens, the two as teammates for Maurice's last five years. Acentre nicknamed the "Pocket Rocket", Henri is enshrined alongside Maurice in theHockey Hall of Fame.
Richard,Elmer Lach andToe Blake formed the "Punch line", a high-scoringforward line of the 1940s. Richard was a member of eightStanley Cup championship teams, including a league record five straight between 1956 and 1960; he was the team'scaptain for the last four. The Hall of Fame waived its five-year waiting period for eligibility and inducted Richard in 1961. In 1975 he was inducted intoCanada's Sports Hall of Fame. The Canadiensretired his number, 9, in 1960, and in 1999 donated theMaurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy to the NHL, awarded annually to the league's regular season leading goal-scorer.
The oldest of eight children, Richard emerged from a poverty-stricken family during theGreat Depression and was initially viewed as a fragile player. A string of injuries prevented him from joining the Canadian military during the Second World War. Intense, he was renowned for his physical and occasionally violent style of play. Richard was involved in avicious on-ice incident late in the1954–55 season during which he struck alinesman. NHL PresidentClarence Campbell suspended him for the remainder of the season and playoffs, which precipitated theRichard Riot in Montreal. The riot has taken on a mythical quality in the decades since and is often viewed as a precursor to Quebec'sQuiet Revolution. Richard was a cultural icon among Quebec's francophone population; his legend is a primary motif inRoch Carrier's short storyThe Hockey Sweater, an emblematic work of Canadian culture.
In 1998, Richard was diagnosed withabdominal cancer and died from the disease two years later. He was the first non-politician to be honoured by the province of Quebec with astate funeral.
Joseph Henri Maurice Richard was born August 4, 1921, inMontreal, Quebec. His father, Onésime Richard, was originally from theGaspé region of Quebec, before moving to Montreal, where he married Maurice's mother, Alice Laramée. The couple settled in the neighbourhood ofNouveau-Bordeaux.[2] Maurice was the oldest of eight children; he had three sisters: Georgette, Rollande and Marguerite; and four brothers: René, Jacques,Henri and Claude.[3] Onésime was acarpenter by trade, and took a job with theCanadian Pacific Railway shortly after Maurice was born.[4] The Richards struggled during theGreat Depression; Onésime lost his job in 1930 and the family relied on government aid until he was re-hired by the railway around 1936.[5]
Richard received his first pair of ice skates when he was four, and grew up skating on local rivers and a small backyard ice surface his father created.[6] He did not play organized hockey until he was 14. Instead, Richard developed his skills playingshinny and "hog" – a game that required the puck carrier to keep the puck away from others for as long as possible.[7] While he also playedbaseball and was aboxer, hockey was his passion. After he began playing in organized leagues, Richard joined several teams and usedpseudonyms such as "Maurice Rochon" to circumvent rules that restricted players to one team.[8] In one league, he led his team to three consecutive championships and scored 133 of his team's 144 goals in the 1938–39 season.[9]
At 16, Richard dropped out of school to work with his father as a machinist.[10] He enrolled in a technical school, intent on earning a trade certificate.[11] At 18, Richard joined theVerdun Juniors, though as arookie he saw little ice time in the regular season.[12] He scored four goals in ten regular season games, and added six goals in four playoff games as Verdun won the provincial championship.[13][14] He was promoted to theMontreal Canadiens' affiliate in theQuebec Senior Hockey League in 1940, but suffered a broken ankle in his first game after crashing into the boards and missed the remainder of the season.[15] The injury also aborted his hopes of joining theCanadian military: he was called to a recruitment centre in mid-1941, but was deemed unfit for combat.[16]
Off the ice, Richard was a quiet, unassuming youth who spoke little.[9] He met his future wife Lucille Norchet when he was seventeen, and she was thirteen. She was the younger sister of one of his teammates at Bordeaux, and her bright, outgoing personality complemented Richard's reserved nature.[17] Lucille proved adept at guiding him through trials and disappointments he experienced in both hockey and life.[18] They were engaged when he was 20, and though her parents felt she was too young, married on September 12, 1942, when she was seventeen.[19]
Having recovered from his broken ankle in time for the 1941–42 season, Richard returned to the QSHL Canadiens, with whom he played 31 games and recorded 17points before he was again injured.[13] He suffered a broken wrist after becoming entangled with a defenceman and crashed into the net.[20] Richard rejoined the team for the playoffs. The skills he demonstrated in the QSHL, combined with the NHL parent club's loss of players to the war and struggles to draw fans due to its poor record and a lack of francophone players, earned Richard a tryout with the Canadiens for the1942–43 season.[19][21] He signed a contract worth $3,500 for the year and, wearing sweater number 15, made his NHL debut with the team.[22] Richard's first goal was against theNew York Rangers on November 8, 1942.[23]
Injury again sidelined Richard as hisrookie season ended after only 16 games when he suffered a broken leg.[24] The string of broken bones so early in his career left observers wondering if Richard was too fragile to play at the highest levels.[8] He made a second attempt to enlist with the military but was again turned down after x-rays revealed that his bones had not healed properly; Richard's ankle was left permanently deformed, forcing him to alter his skating style. Humiliated by the rejection, he intensified his training and reported to Montreal's training camp for the1943–44 season fully healthy.[25] The arrival of his daughter Huguette prompted Richard to change his uniform to number 9 to match her birth weight of nine pounds.[26]
Remaining healthy throughout the season, Richard appeared in 46 of Montreal's 50 games. He led the Canadiens with 32 goals and tallied 54 points, third-best in his team.[27] His first full NHL season not only ended the criticism about his ability to play in the league, but established him as one of the best young players in the league.[24] CoachDick Irvin shifted him fromleft wing to right and put him on aforward line withToe Blake andElmer Lach. The trio, known as the "Punch line", formed a dominant scoring unit throughout the 1940s.[8] The Canadiens lost only six games after October, and went on to win the franchise's firstStanley Cup championship in 13 years.[24] Richard led the league with 12 playoff goals,[28] including afive-goal effort against theToronto Maple Leafs in a semi-final game. He tiedNewsy Lalonde's NHL record for goals in one playoff game (equalled by three players since), which resulted in his being namedfirst, second and third star of the game,[29] as chosen by journalistCharles Mayer.[30] Richard was named asecond team All-Star following the season. It was the first of 14 consecutive years he was named a league all-star.[31]
The1944–45 NHL season was a record-setting one for Richard. He first set a new mark for points in one game when he made five goals and three assists in a 9–1 victory over theDetroit Red Wings on December 28, 1944; his eight points broke the previous record of seven held by three players,[32] and stood for 32 years until surpassed in 1976 byDarryl Sittler.[33] Richard achieved the feat despite arriving for the game exhausted from moving into his new home that afternoon.[34] He continued scoring at an unprecedented rate, and by February 1945 was approachingJoe Malone's 27-year-old NHL record, setin 1918, of 44 goals in one season.[35] Richard broke the record on February 25, 1945, in a 5–2 victory over Toronto. Malone was on hand to present Richard with the puck used to score the 45th goal.[36]
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As Richard approached50 goals for the season, opposition players resorted to increasingly violent efforts to prevent him from scoring. He had to fight pastslashes,hooks, and even players who draped themselves across his back.[34] Richard went eight games without scoring and began Montreal's final regular season game, March 18, on the road against theBoston Bruins with 49 goals.[34] He finally reached the milestone by scoring with 2:15 remaining in the game, a 4–2 Montreal win.[38] He became the first player to score 50 goals, a record that would stand until the 1960–61 season, when fellow Canadien,Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion scored50 goals in 64 regular season gamesArchived October 26, 2021, at theWayback Machine. Richard's mark was not surpassed untilBobby Hull scored 54 goals in 65 games while playing for theChicago Blackhawks during the 1965–66 season. His mark of50 goals in 50 games also became a standard that remains one of the most celebrated achievements in NHL history, unmatched until 36 years later whenMike Bossy did itin 1981 – the first of only four players to match Richard's 50-in-50, in the more than 70 years since Richard set the mark.[39] Richard finished the season with 73 points, seven behind Lach and six ahead of Blake, as the Punch line finished first, second and third in league scoring.[40] Richard finished second in the voting for the Hart Trophy as the league'smost valuable player, behind Lach.
Richard's critics argued that his scoring record was the result of talent dilution brought about by the war; when many players returned in1945–46, he won his second Stanley Cup with Montreal, but his goal output was nearly halved to 27. Richard again reached lofty scoring totals in1946–47, leading the league with 45 goals in a 60-game season and winning theHart Trophy as the league's most valuable player for the only time of his career.[41][42] He finished second or third in the Hart Trophy voting a further five times in his career. Opponents continued their attempts to drive Richard to anger or frustration, as they had learned he could be goaded into taking himself out of the game by violently retaliating andfighting.[43] One such incident occurred in the1947 Stanley Cup Finals when Richard received amatch penalty for striking Toronto'sBill Ezinicki over the head with his stick in a game two loss.[44] Richard was suspended for the third game of the series, which the Maple Leafs won.[45]
As the reigning most valuable player, Richard sought a pay raise prior to the1947–48 season. General managerFrank Selke refused, even after Richard and team captainÉmile Bouchard both sat out the Canadiens' preseason before capitulating and returning to the team when the season began.[46] The Punch line was broken up after Blake suffered a career-ending leg injury.[41] Richard's season also ended early as he missed the final games of the season due to a knee injury.[46] He finished second in team scoring with 53 points in 53 games, but Montreal missed the playoffs.[47] After recording only 38 points in1948–49, Richard posted a 65-point campaignthe next season and his 43 goals led the NHL for the third time.[13][42] In1950–51, Richard scored 42 goals,[13] including his 271st career goal, making him Montreal's all-time goal leader.[48]
Richard missed over 20 games of the1951–52 season due to injury,[49] but overcame another ailment in the playoffs.[50] In the seventh and deciding game of the semi-final against Boston, Richard was checked byLeo Labine and briefly knocked unconscious after he fell and struck his head onBill Quackenbush's knee.[50] Though dazed, Richard returned to the game late in the third period after a large cut above his eye was stitched up. Canadiens coachDick Irvin sent Richard back onto the ice in the final minutes of the contest, despite knowing Richard had suffered aconcussion. Richard scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory that sent Montreal to the1952 Stanley Cup Finals.[51] Following the game, a bloodied and still disoriented Richard was photographed shaking the hand of Boston goaltenderJim Henry, who was also showing symptoms of injuries from the series and who appeared to be bowing to Richard following the Montreal player's "unconscious goal".[52] The photograph by Roger St. Jean is among the most famous images of Richard and one of the most iconic images in the league's history.[51] In the final, Montreal lost to Detroit in four straight games.[53]
The1952–53 season began with Richard in close pursuit ofNels Stewart's all-time NHL record of 324 goals.[54] Richard tied the record in Toronto on October 29, 1952, by scoring two goals against the Maple Leafs; his achievement earned a rousing ovation from Montreal'srival fans.[55] He failed to score in his following three games as frenzied fans followed each contest in anticipation of the record-breaking marker.[56] In his fourth try, a November 8 game against Chicago, Richard scored his 325th goal at the 10:01 mark of the second period. According to theMontreal Gazette, the ovation Richard received from his fans "shook the rafters" of theMontreal Forum.[57] He finished the season with team-leading totals of 61 points and 28 goals – becoming the first player in NHL history to score at least 20 goals in his first ten full seasons.[58] Aided by Richard's 7 goals in 12 playoff games, the Canadiens defeated Boston in the1953 Stanley Cup Finals to capture Montreal's first Stanley Cup championship since 1946.[13][59]
Richard led the league in goals for the fourth time in his career with 37 in1953–54, then for a fifth time in1954–55 with 38 (shared withBernie Geoffrion).[42] He scored his 400th career goal on December 18, 1954, against Chicago.[60]
"What did Campbell do whenJean Béliveau was deliberately injured twice byBill Mosienko of Chicago andJack Evans of the Rangers? No penalty, no fine, no suspension. Did he suspendGordie Howe of Detroit when he almost knocked outDollard St. Laurent's eye? No! ... Strange that only Dick Irvin and I have the courage to risk our livelihood by defending our rights against such a dictator."
Opposition players continued to try to stop Richard through physical intimidation, and he often retaliated with equal force. The situation led to a running feud with NHL PresidentClarence Campbell.[62] Richard had been fined numerous times by Campbell for on-ice incidents and at one point was forced to post a $1,000 "good-behaviour bond" after he criticized Campbell in a weekly column he helped author forSamedi-Dimanche.[63] Richard was among many in Quebec who believed that Campbell treated French Canadian players more harshly than their English counterparts.[64] The simmering dispute erupted after an incident in the Canadiens' March 13, 1955, game against Boston, whenHal Laycoe struck Richard in the head with his stick.[65] Richard retaliated by slashing viciously at Laycoe's head, then punched linesmanCliff Thompson when the official attempted to intervene.[66] Boston police attempted to arrest Richard for assault following the incident, but Montreal coaching staff and teammates refused police entry in protest.[67]
Following two days of deliberation, Campbell announced that he had suspended Richard – who was leading the NHL's overall scoring race at the time – for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs.[68] In English Canada, Campbell was praised for doing what he could to control the erratic Richard. Unknown to most at the time, Campbell had long wanted to impose a lengthy suspension on Richard over his previous outbursts. As NHL president however, Campbell ultimately answered to the league's owners and they were reluctant to see such severe discipline imposed against one of the league's star players on account of their value in increasing game attendance.[69] In French Quebec the suspension was viewed as an injustice, an unfair punishment given to a Francophone hero by the Anglophone establishment.[8] Richard's supporters reacted angrily to Campbell: he received several death threats and, upon taking his customary seat at the next Canadiens game, unruly fans pelted him with vegetables, eggs and other debris.[65] One fan threw atear gas bomb at Campbell, which resulted in the Forum's evacuation and the game's forfeiture in Detroit's favour. Fans fleeing the arena were met by a large group of demonstrators who had massed outside prior to the game's start.[65]
The mob of over 20,000 people developed into ariot. Windows and doors were smashed at the Forum and surrounding businesses. By the following morning, between 65 and 70 had been arrested.[70] Over 50 stores were looted and 37 people injured. Damage was estimated at $100,000 ($1,114,184 in 2023 dollars).[71][65] Richard had also attended the game, but left immediately following the forfeit. Frank Selke attempted to persuade him to return to try to disperse the crowd, but Richard refused, fearing that he would instead further inflame the passions of the mob.[72] He took to the radio the next day asking for calm: "Do no more harm. Get behind the team in the playoffs. I will take my punishment and come back next year and help the club and the younger players to win the Cup."[65]
The suspension cost Richard theArt Ross Trophy as the leading point scorer in the league, which he lost to teammate Geoffrion by one point.[40] Richard never won the point title, finishing second five times in his career. Montreal fans booed Geoffrion when he surpassed Richard on the final day of the regular season.[73] The fans continued to jeer Geoffrion into the following season.[74] Montreal reached and lost the1955 Stanley Cup Finals four games to three without Richard.[75] The defeat was a bitter loss for Richard, who struggled to control his anger.[76]
Richard fulfilled his promise to Canadiens' fans, made in his post-riot radio address, by leading Montreal to a Stanley Cup championship in1955–56 – the start of a still unprecedented 5 consecutive Stanley Cup victories by one team.[75] The season began with the arrival of his young brother and future fellow NHL Hall of FamerHenri, acentre given the nickname the "Pocket Rocket" to the Canadiens roster.[77] It also marked the return of his former Punch line teammate, Toe Blake, as head coach.[78] Along with general manager Frank Selke, Blake worked with Richard on moderating his temper and responding to the provocation of his opponents by scoring goals rather than engaging in fisticuffs.[74] Richard finished the season with 38 goals and 71 points, second on the team in both respects toJean Béliveau's 47 goals and 88 points.[79] Richard added 14 points in 10 playoff games as Montreal defeated Detroit to claim the Stanley Cup.[80] He scored the second and ultimately Cup-clinching goal in the fifth and final game, a 3–1 victory.[81]
Entering his 15th NHL season in1956–57, Richard's teammates named himcaptain of the Canadiens, succeeding Émile Bouchard, who had retired prior to the season.[82] With 33 goals and 62 points, Richard again finished second on the team to Béliveau.[83] In the playoffs, he scored the overtime-winning goal in the fifth game of the semi-final to eliminate New York, then scored four goals in a 5–1 victory over Boston in the first game of the finals en route to a five-game series win and second consecutive championship for Montreal.[84]
Richard reached a major scoring milestone early in the1957–58 season. During the first period of a 3–1 victory over Chicago on October 19, 1957, he became the first player in NHL history toscore 500 goals in his career.[85] As Richard celebrated with his teammates, it was announced to the Montreal Forum crowd: "Canadiens' goal, scored by Mr. Hockey himself, Maurice Richard".[86] He played only 28 regular season games that season, scoring 34 points,[13] as he missed three months due to a severedAchilles tendon.[87] Returning in time for the playoffs, Richard led Montreal with 11 goals and 15 points as the team won its third consecutive Stanley Cup. He scored the overtime-winning goal in the fifth game of the finals against Boston. It was the sixth playoff overtime-winning goal of his career, and the third during the finals, both NHL records.[88]
At 37, Richard was the oldest player in the NHL in1958–59.[89] He scored 38 points in 42 games,[13] but missed six weeks due to a broken ankle.[89] Injuries again plagued Richard during the1959–60 season as he missed a month due to a broken cheekbone.[90] Montreal nonetheless won the Stanley Cup in both seasons. Richard scored no points in four games in the1959 Stanley Cup Finals, but recorded a goal and three assists in1960.[13] The titles were the seventh and eighth of Richard's career,[42] and Montreal's five consecutive championships remain a record.[91] The 1956–60 Canadiens rank as one of eightdynasties recognized by the NHL.[92]
The playoff goal was Richard's last, as on September 15, 1960, he announced his retirement as a player.[93] Richard had reported to Montreal's training camp that autumn, but Selke compelled Richard to end his playing career, fearing he was risking serious injury. In Richard's retirement speech, he said he had been contemplating leaving the game for two years, and stated that at age 39, the game had become too fast for him.[94] Upon learning of Richard's retirement, Gordie Howe offered praise for his former rival: "He sure was a drawing card. He brought in the crowds that helped pay our wages. Richard certainly has been one of the greatest players in the game and we will miss him."[95]
Richard was nicknamed "the Comet" early in his career. When teammateRay Getliffe remarked that Richard "went in like a rocket" as he approached the opposition goal, Richard was dubbed "The Rocket" by a local sportswriter; both Baz O'Meara from theMontreal Star and Dink Carroll of theMontreal Gazette have been credited for the appellation.[31] The nickname described Richard's play in terms of speed, strength, and determination. Teammate and coach Toe Blake said the moniker was fitting because "when he would take off, nothing got in his way that could stop him".[96] GoaltenderJacques Plante declared it one of the most appropriate nicknames given to an athlete, noting the fierce intensity that often showed in Richard's eyes and comparing it to "the rocket's red glare" referenced in "The Star-Spangled Banner".[31]Glenn Hall agreed: "What I remember most about Rocket was his eyes. When he came flying toward you with the puck on his stick, his eyes were all lit up, flashing and gleaming like a pinball machine. It was terrifying."[96]
The prime of Richard's career was the era immediately following the Second World War, where battle-hardened players returned to the NHL and implemented a "gladiatorial" style that featured rugged, physical and often violent play.[97] Richard's own temper was infamous, as illustrated by his actions that precipitated the Richard Riot.[98]
A pure goal-scorer, Richard did not play with finesse, nor was he known for his passing.[8] One of his teammates remarked that "Maurice wouldn't even pass you the salt".[98] Richard led the NHL in goals five times, but never in points.[96] He was best known for dashing toward the net from theblue line and was equally adept at scoring from his forehand or backhand. His exploits revived a Montreal Canadiens franchise that had struggled to draw fans in the 1930s.[99] In addition to his 14 appearances on post-season all-star teams (eight on the first team, six on the second), Richard played in 13 consecutiveNHL All-Star Games between 1947 and 1959.[31]
Richard was still an active player whenGordie Howe overtook his career record for points.[100] Howe surpassed Richard's career mark of 544 goals in 1963, while the latter's record of 50 goals in one season stood for 20 years until broken byBobby Hull in 1965.[31] The Montreal Canadiens donated theMaurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy to the NHL in 1999 as an award presented annually to the league's leading goal scorer.[101]
Upon his retirement as a player, Selke offered Richard a job as a team ambassador and promised to pay him his full playing salary in the first year.[102] After serving in the position for three years, Richard was named a vice-president of the Canadiens in 1964. He became disgruntled with a role he felt was powerless and only honorary, and resigned one year later.[103] Richard grew estranged from the organization as his desire to be involved in the team's operations was ignored, and the split deepened when the Canadiens forced Frank Selke to retire in 1965.[104] He eventually refused to allow his name to be associated with the team.[105]
As Richard struggled both with the need to find a purpose to his post-retirement life and the fear of being forgotten,[106] he attached his name to numerous endeavours. He acted as a consulting editor for a magazine titledMaurice Richard's Hockey Illustrated,[107] owned the "544 / 9 Tavern" (named for his career goal total and sweater number) in Montreal, and was a pitchman for dozens of products, including beer, hair dye, car batteries, fishing tackle and children's toys. He continued to use his name as a promotional vehicle for over 30 years after his retirement.[108] Richard briefly returned to hockey in 1972 as head coach for theQuebec Nordiques of theWorld Hockey Association.[109] He lasted only two games, a win and a loss, before finding himself unable to handle the strain of coaching.[110] Richard reconciled with the Canadiens in 1981 and resumed his team ambassador role.[111]
Richard and his wife, Lucille, lived in Montreal where they raised seven children: Huguette, Maurice Jr., Norman, André, Suzanne, Paulo and Jean.[112] They had 14 grandchildren.[113] Lucille died of cancer in 1994,[114] two years after the Richards celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.[115] Richard's companion late in his life was Sonia Raymond.[116]
It was announced in 1998 that Richard was diagnosed withabdominal cancer. He died from the disease two years later on May 27, 2000[117] and was entombed at theNotre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal.[118] Prior to game 1 of the2000 Stanley Cup Finals between theNew Jersey Devils andDallas Stars, there was a short tribute video highlighting the great moments and legacy of Richard's career.
Numerous honours were bestowed upon Richard throughout and following his career: theCanadian Press named him itsmale athlete of the year on three occasions,[119] and in 1957, Richard won theLou Marsh Trophy as Canada's athlete of the year.[120] The Canadiensretired his sweater number 9 in 1960,[42] while theHockey Hall of Fame waived its five-year waiting period after retirement and inducted him in 1961.[8] That same year, the 5,000-seatMaurice Richard Arena was built and named in his honour.[121]
Upon the creation of theOrder of Canada in 1967, Richard was named one of the inaugural members[122] and, in 1998, was elevated to the rank of Companion of the Order of Canada.[123]Canada's Sports Hall of Fame honoured him in 1975,[124] and Richard was given a star onCanada's Walk of Fame in 1999.[123] He was appointed to theQueen's Privy Council for Canada in 1992.[111]
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While he was a popular player throughout Canada, Richard was an icon within Quebec.[23] AuthorRoch Carrier explained the passion Richard elicited from the fans in his 1979 Canadian-classic short storyThe Hockey Sweater.[125] Carrier wrote of how he and his friends all emulated Richard's style and mannerisms: "we were five Maurice Richards against five other Maurice Richards, throwing themselves on the puck. We were ten players all wearing the uniform of the Montreal Canadiens, all with the same burning enthusiasm. We all wore the famous number 9 on our backs."[126] The story's publication and subsequent adaptation into aNational Film Board animated short helped entrench Richard's image as a pan-Canadian icon.[127] Richard's popularity persisted late into his life: when introduced as part of the ceremonies following the final hockey game at the Montreal Forum, Richard was brought to tears by Canadiens' fans, who acknowledged him with an 11-minute standing ovation.[128] Upon his death, the province of Quebec honoured Richard with astate funeral, a first in Quebec for a non-politician. Over 115,000 people paid their respects by viewing his lying in state at theMolson Centre.[129]
The Richard Riot has achieved a mythical place in Canadian folklore.[130] The riot is commonly viewed as a violent manifestation of the discontent Francophones within Quebec held with their place in largely Anglophone Canada, and some historians consider the riot to be a precursor to the 1960sQuiet Revolution.[65] In its 40th anniversary retrospective of the Riot, Montreal newspaperLa Presse opened with the following passage: "Forty years ago began one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of Quebec, and of hockey."[131] Richard himself publicly dismissed his role as a catalyst for cultural or political change.[132] In a 1975 interview, he said he played with "English boys" and was largely unaware of the situation in French Quebec at the time.[133]
In an article published four days after the riot, journalistAndré Laurendeau was the first to suggest that it was a sign of growingnationalism in Quebec. Laurendeau suggested the riot "betrayed what lay behind the apparent indifference and long-held passiveness of French Canadians".[134] In contrast, in his bookThe Rocket: A Cultural History of Maurice Richard, Benoît Melançon disputes the importance of the riot, stating its perceived importance in history grew retroactively with Richard's myth.[135] Melançon wrote: "According to this popular narrative, for the first time the people of Quebec stood up for themselves; especially English Canada delights in anachronistically announcing that this was the beginning of the 1960s Quiet Revolution."[136]
In 2025, Richard was officially named an historic figure by theGovernment of Quebec.[137] The government defines an historic figure as “a person who actually existed, is now deceased, and played a role in the history of Quebec or in a specific domain of that history.”[138] Announcing the designation on the 25th anniversary of Richard's death, Quebec Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe said that "Maurice Richard was not only an exceptional athlete…he also embodied the pride and aspirations of French-speaking Quebecers."[139]
Richard is the subject of the 2005 biopicThe Rocket,[140] and the 2025 documentary filmMaurice.[141][142]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1939–40 | Verdun Maple Leafs | QJHL | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 1939–40 | Verdun Maple Leafs | QSHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1939–40 | Verdun Maple Leafs | Mem. Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 16 | ||
| 1940–41 | Montreal Canadiens (Sr.) | QSHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1941–42 | Montreal Canadiens (Sr.) | QSHL | 31 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 1942–43 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 16 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1943–44 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 46 | 32 | 22 | 54 | 45 | 9 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 10 | ||
| 1944–45 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 50 | 50 | 23 | 73 | 46 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 10 | ||
| 1945–46 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 50 | 27 | 22 | 49 | 50 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 15 | ||
| 1946–47 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 60 | 45 | 26 | 71 | 69 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 44 | ||
| 1947–48 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 53 | 28 | 25 | 53 | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1948–49 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 59 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 110 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 14 | ||
| 1949–50 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 43 | 22 | 65 | 114 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 1950–51 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 65 | 42 | 24 | 66 | 97 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 13 | ||
| 1951–52 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 48 | 27 | 17 | 44 | 44 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1952–53 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 28 | 33 | 61 | 112 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 2 | ||
| 1953–54 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 37 | 30 | 67 | 112 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 22 | ||
| 1954–55 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 67 | 38 | 36 | 74 | 125 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1955–56 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 38 | 33 | 71 | 89 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 24 | ||
| 1956–57 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 63 | 33 | 29 | 62 | 27 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 8 | ||
| 1957–58 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 28 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 28 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 10 | ||
| 1958–59 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 42 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1959–60 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 51 | 19 | 16 | 35 | 50 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 978 | 544 | 422 | 966 | 1,285 | 133 | 82 | 44 | 126 | 188 | ||||
| Team | Season | Regular season | Postseason | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Finish | Result | ||
| QUE | 1972–73 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | (71) | (resigned) | — |
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| Award | Year | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| First team All-Star | 1944–45,1945–46, 1946–47,1947–48, 1948–49,1949–50, 1954–55,1955–56 | [31] |
| Second Team All-Star | 1943–44,1950–51 1951–52,1952–53 1953–54,1956–57 | [31] |
| 8xStanley Cup champion | 1943–44,1945–46,1952–53,1955–56,1956–57,1957–58,1958–59,1959–60 | |
| Hart Trophy Most valuable player | 1946–47 | [143] |
| Award | Year | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Press male athlete of the year | 1952, 1957 1958 | [119] |
| Lou Marsh Trophy Canadian athlete of the year | 1957 | [120] |
There is a Maurice Richardfonds atLibrary and Archives Canada.[144] The archival reference number is R9534.[145]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Montreal Canadiens captain 1956–60 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Position created | Head coach of the Quebec Nordiques 2 games,1972 | Succeeded by |
| Awards | ||
| Preceded by | Hart Trophy Winner 1947 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
