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The Remarkable "Rocket" Richard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Almost 40 years after Maurice ‘The Rocket’ Richard last thrilled hockey fans throughout North America, his reputation as one of professional hockey’s greatest goal scorers lives on. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The fiery Montreal Canadien winger made history during the 1944/45 season as the first NHLer to score 50 goals in one season. During his 18 year career, he scored 544 goals including 83 game winners. On a cold December evening in 1944, he scored 5 goals and 3 assists in leading his beloved Habs to another victory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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His intense competitive zeal and flaring temper were never more evident than on March 13, 1955 when involved in a fight with Boston Bruin Hal
Layco. He struck linesmen Cliff Thomson as was, subsequently, suspended by the President Clarence Campbell for the rest of the hockey season and playoffs. An enraged Montreal crowd responded by pelting Campbell with garbage and other debris during the next Canadien home game. A smoke bomb exploded in the forum, the building was evacuated and an uncontrolled crowd spilled onto the streets of Montreal causing in excess of $500,000 damage. The eruption of violence and vandalism was immediately coined the “Richard Riot” by the local media. Quebec nationalists were quick to blame Richard’s suspension on anglophone anti-French bias and the event is still remembered by many nationalists as a turning point and catalyst in spawning the Quebec Separatist Movement No player from any era has captivated the respect of his peers and the love and admiration of the French Canadian hockey fan as has Maurice Richard. Born in Montreal, graduating Junior Hockey in Verdun, and playing his entire career as a Montreal Canadien, the great ‘Rocket’ Richard, his outrageous temper, intense spirit and astonishing talent are forever ingrained in Canadian hockey history. |
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