In hockey, players are allowed to hit each other, but never is a player allowed to hit an official. In Montreal Technical School, he played for the Parc Lafontaine team. [75] The defeat was a bitter loss for Richard, who struggled to control his anger. [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. It was in the tight line of his mouth, and in the snarl it formed when he was challenged. The Canadiens retired his number, 9, in 1960, and in 1999 donated the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy to the NHL, awarded annually to the league's regular season leading goal-scorer. Numerous honours were bestowed upon Richard throughout and following his career: the Canadian Press named him its male athlete of the year on three occasions,[119] and in 1957, Richard won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's athlete of the year. Four Brothers: Rene, Jacques, Henri, and Claude, Three Sisters: Georgette, Rollande, and Marguerite. [66] Boston police attempted to arrest Richard for assault following the incident, but Montreal coaching staff and teammates refused police entry in protest. [123] Canada's Sports Hall of Fame honoured him in 1975,[124] and Richard was given a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 1999. Although he was often criticized himself for his rough tactics on the ice, Richard's rivalry with Detroit Red Wings star Gordie Howe delighted fans of both teams. Joseph Henri Maurice "Rocket" Richard PC CC OQ (/rrd/; French:[ia]; August 4, 1921 May 27, 2000) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens. He continued to work for the Canadiens for a brief period, but tensions with the team's owners left him disillusioned. . He had to fight past slashes, hooks, and even players who draped themselves across his back. The next year would put Richard in the history books forever as he became the first player to score fifty goals in a season and doing so in just fifty games. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Familles Roch, Labonte, Benoit, Armstrong, Gravel, Fuseau . Maurice Richards skyrocketing career led his team Montreal Canadiens to win eight Stanley Cups in three different decades, and he became the central backbone of the team. As time went on, the ownership changed and during the Richard era, ownership lost interest in the importance of French culture and did not speak French themselves. But Maurice scored the most dramatic winning goal while he was revived but was still in a semiconscious state. None of the politicians wanted to get involved. Intense, he was renowned for his physical and occasionally violent style of play. (April 27, 2023). L'honorable Joseph Henri Maurice Richard, C.P., O.C., O.Q. Canoe Web site. Richard began playing hockey in his neighborhood when he was about four years old and played in the city's athletic leagues through his teens. After playing nearly sixteen games and scoring five goals, there was a short break in his debut year because of an ankle injury. Povich grew up with his sister Lynn and brother David. Maurice Richard, 84, formerly of N. Dartmouth and New Bedford, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Sunday, December 31, 2017 after a period of declining health. In the midst of World War II, however, there was a lack of available players to join the roster; Richard himself had attempted to enlist twice in the Canadian Armed Forces but was deferred because of his numerous injuries. [118] Prior to game 1 of the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals between the New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars, there was a short tribute video highlighting the great moments and legacy of Richard's career. ." We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. In this way, Maurice Richard was introduced to ice hockey. Maurice Richards genuine importance to his fans and well-wishers not only depends on his impressive statistics and career longevity but instead on what he symbolized. [13][42] In 195051, Richard scored 42 goals,[13] including his 271st career goal, making him Montreal's all-time goal leader. [40] Richard finished second in the voting for the Hart Trophy as league MVP behind Lach. When Richard enjoyed a fine start in his career in the Canadiens, he suffered his first significant injury. However, in the third period of this game, he went down with a broken wrist and had to sit on the bench for the rest of the season. You have entered an incorrect email address! in Montreal, Quebec, This form allows you to report an error or to submit additional information about this family tree: Maurice RICHARD (1921), Copyright Wikipdia authors - This article is under licence CC BY-SA 3.0. One of the NHL's all time greatest, known as Rocket Richard. His office was overwhelmed with calls, letters, and telegrams. Months later, Richard lost his battle with cancer and passed away on May 27th, 2000. November 8th, 1952, the rafters shook (according to the Montreal Gazette) as Richard 325th career goal in the second period, one of the greatest moments in hockey to this day. [19], Having recovered from his broken ankle in time for the 194142 season, Richard returned to the QSHL Canadiens, with whom he played 31 games and recorded 17 points before he was again injured. In 1942 Richard made his debut in the Montreal Canadiens of NHL and scored his first NHL goal on November 8, 1942, against the New York Rangers. [79] Richard added 14 points in 10 playoff games as Montreal defeated Detroit to claim the Stanley Cup. He would lead the league in goal scoring four more times in his career on his way to becoming the first NHL player to score 500. Luckily after six years, he got his job back. Born in Neuilly in 1950, Maurice-Richard Hennessy spent all his youth in Cognac. Who Is Keanu Yamamoto? He won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in 1947, played in 13 All-Star Games and was named to 14 post-season NHL All-Star teams, eight on the first team. List of players with five or more goals in an NHL game, "Maurice Richard holds new National League scoring mark", "Sittler's 10 points bring bundle of records", "Maurice Richard sets torrid pace in NHL scoring", "Rocket gets 45th as Habs humble Leafs, 52", "Maurice Richard finds himself in real trouble", "Rocket ties N.H.L. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Did he suspend Gordie Howe of Detroit when he almost knocked out Dollard St. Laurent's eye? His weight was around 170 lbs during his active NHL career. Olney, Ross R., This Game Called Hockey, Dodd Mead, 1978, Olney, Ross R., Superchampions of Ice Hockey, Clarion Books, 1982. 27 Apr. http://www.canoe.ca/HockeyRocketRichard/may27_roc.html (October 17, 2002). He sometimes played for several teams at one time, while he also studied at Montreal Technical School to become a machinist. Born 1157 [73] The fans continued to jeer Geoffrion into the following season. Maurice was famous by nickname Rocket, which was given by a former NHL left-winger Ray Getliffe because of his blazing speed. The piece, howev [13] He suffered a broken wrist after becoming entangled with a defenceman and crashed into the net. Bird, Heather. During the altercation, Richard punched a referee. This is an honor usually granted to a player at least five years after he has retired. http://www.canoe.ca/HockeyRocketRichard/may27_dead.html (October 17, 2002). The main reason behind joining technical school was to support the family economically. He attended school at St. Joseph's Academy in. Opposing players knew how to get under Richards skin by insulting the French culture. Notable Sports Figures. The Maurice Richard Trophy, instituted in the 1998-99 season, is awarded to the league's leading goal-scorer. In the same year, Richard became the first player in NHL history to score eight points in one game. . Maurice Richard was born on the 4th of August, 1921. In 1909, when the team was founded, they were given the name,formallyLe Club de Hockey Canadien,to appeal to their mostly French-Canadian population. Encyclopedia.com. Published on October 27, 2020. . The couple got married at the young age of twenty and seventeen on September 12, 1942. Montreal emerged as the NHL champion at the end of the 1952-53 season, but the Red Wings held the edge in the first half of the 1950s, when the team won the Stanley Cup four times. Lucille and Maurice are parents of seven children; five sons and two daughters. Violence exploded in the grandstands, and soon debris was showered onto the ice. He died from the disease two years later on May 27, 2000[117] and was entombed at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal. The next morning, Richard took to the radio and told his fans toDo no more harm. NHL president, Clarence Campbell, suspended Richard after an official hearing between all of those involved. From 14 times, eight of those selections were for the First All-Star Team. One of the greatest players in the history of hockey, Richard's legendary exploits on the ice helped the Montreal Canadiens win eight Stanley Cup championships during his eighteen years with the team. [44] Richard was suspended for the third game of the series, which the Maple Leafs won. Born on Thursday, August 4, 1921 Rocket Richard was honored as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players. It was in his arms and in the barrel of his chest which threatened to burst his sweater at any moment. [65] In its 40th anniversary retrospective of the Riot, Montreal newspaper La Presse opened with the following passage: "Forty years ago began one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of Quebec, and of hockey. The brothers were born into a poor family of Irish immigrants in rural New Hampshire in the early 1900s, and saw their father struggle later in life. Gunshots rang out, stores were looted, and a full scale riot was underway. Richard worked his way through the minor leagues, as many young hockey players who dream of playing in the National Hockey League (NHL) have done. Campbell was rushed out of the arena. Yet Richard's season ended in one of the most controversial episodes in sports history. [80] He scored the second and ultimately Cup-clinching goal in the fifth and final game, a 31 victory. Overcoming every level of adversity, Richard became one of the greatest players in NHL history. Richard was the eldest of eight children (five sons: Maurice, Henri, Claude, Ren and Jacques; three daughters: Rollande, Marguerite and Georgette) of Onesime and Alice Richard. Privately, however, Richard blamed Campbell for deliberately inciting the crowd with this appearance at the Forum. the so-called Quiet Revolution of the 1960s, when the province's social, political, and economic landscapes transformed the Canadian nation. [1] His younger brother Henri also played his entire career with the Canadiens, the two as teammates for Maurice's last five years. Maurice started his professional ice hockey career by playing for Verdun Juniors. Richard suffered his first major injury in his first game with the Royals when he crashed into the boards and broke his ankle. NHL President Clarence Campbell often brought the hammer down hard on Richards and the opposing players rarely received equal punishment. [102] After serving in the position for three years, Richard was named a vice-president of the Canadiens in 1964. He will forever remain a Hockey God and rest-assured, his legacy in Montreal lives on. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/maurice-richard, "Maurice Richard Richard's last major public appearance occurred at the closing of the old Montreal Forum on March 11, 1996, where he was given an extended standing ovation by the audience. [55] He failed to score in his following three games as frenzied fans followed each contest in anticipation of the record-breaking marker. https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/richard-maurice, Borden, Timothy "Richard, Maurice Unfortunately, a riot occurred afterward, causing damage worth $500,000, also leaving some deep wounds among the French community. After he began playing in organized leagues, Richard joined several teams and used pseudonyms such as "Maurice Rochon" to circumvent rules that restricted players to one team. [30] Richard was named a second team All-Star following the season. At the end of the first period, one spectator walked up to Campbell as if to shake his hand; instead, he started punching the NHL president. Richard's thirty-two regular season goals helped the Canadiens finish the 1943-44 season in first place. When officials decided to forfeit the game, pandemonium broke out. The Montreal Canadiens, often referred to as the Habs, were named that because of their heritage. [111], While he was a popular player throughout Canada, Richard was an icon within Quebec. [34] Richard went eight games without scoring and began Montreal's final regular season game, March 18, on the road against the Boston Bruins with 49 goals. Junior hockey injuries kept him out of the army . This article was last updated by on September 30, 2022. "[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. "[136], Richard is the subject of the 2005 biopic The Rocket. Maurice was an elite celebrity hockey player known across the country and known overseas also. ", Campbell forced Richard to cease writing for Samedi-Dimanche following these comments. A formal inquiry took place, after which NHL president Clarence Campbell suspended Richard for the remainder of the season. http://www.canoe.ca/HockeyRocketRichard/may27_pm.html (October 17, 2002). [46] The Punch line was broken up after Blake suffered a career-ending leg injury. "[131] Richard himself publicly dismissed his role as a catalyst for cultural or political change. . He was prolific and bound for greatness, even though hed dropped out of school at sixteen to help his father make money for their family. [45], As the reigning most valuable player, Richard sought a pay raise prior to the 194748 season. Throughout the Great Depression, their family experienced hardship. "[65], The suspension cost Richard the Art Ross Trophy as the leading point scorer in the league, which he lost to teammate Geoffrion by one point. Many said he looked like "a small ox on skates." George Russell Bio: Girlfriend, Net Worth & LaMelo Ball Bio: Lawsuit, Girlfriend & Net Davion Mitchell Bio: NBA Contract, Girlfriend, Net Who Is Valentin Tarasenko? [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. During the first period of a 31 victory over Chicago on October 19, 1957, he became the first player in NHL history to score 500 goals in his career. The family invites you to sign a book of condolences at: www.funerairepassagefuneral.ca. [2] Maurice was the oldest of eight children; he had three sisters: Georgette, Rollande and Marguerite; and four brothers: Ren, Jacques, Henri and Claude. It was the first time any player had reached that number; the record was not surpassed until 1966. Lucille was a younger sister of Maurices one of teammates and was fourteen years at that time. Lucille died in 1994. [10] He enrolled in a technical school, intent on earning a trade certificate. As a teen, Richard excelled at baseball and boxing. It was also the home team for a great hockey player of the pre-World War II era, Howie Morenz. [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. The 1943-44 season was Richards welcoming party into the NHL. Similarly, we will go through his early life, family, career, net worth, riot, and many other topics. It was terrifying.". Richard I To many people in the province of Quebec, Richard was the epitome of French-Canadian pride. Notable Sports Figures. Richard had experienced enough humiliation and doubt and trained even harder during the off-season to be ready for the new season. [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. The riot has taken on a mythical quality in the decades since and is often viewed as a precursor to Quebec's Quiet Revolution. This only adds to his legacy as a hockey great. His mark of 50 goals in 50 games also became a standard that remains one of the most celebrated achievements in NHL history, unmatched until 36 years later when Mike Bossy did it in 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. [74] Richard finished the season with 38 goals and 71 points, second on the team in both respects to Jean Bliveau's 47 goals and 88 points. [97] Richard's own temper was infamous, as illustrated by his actions that precipitated the Richard Riot. Of course, he was much more than "just a hockey player." The Hall of Fame waived its five-year waiting period for eligibility and inducted Richard in 1961. He was the oldest of eight children and did not have an opportunity to begin playing hockey until he was fourteen years old. Maurice Richard was born into a poor family in August of 1921. [134] In contrast, in his book The Rocket: A Cultural History of Maurice Richard, Benot Melanon disputes the importance of the riot, stating its perceived importance in history grew retroactively with Richard's myth. It was announced in 1998 that Richard was diagnosed with abdominal cancer. . Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. He gave each of his 10 grandchildren a Stanley . Maurice McDonald and his younger brother, Richard McDonald were born in Manchester, New Hampshire. [74] Montreal reached and lost the 1955 Stanley Cup Finals four games to three without Richard. "What I remember most about the Rocket were his eyes," said goalie Glenn Hall in a remark later reprinted in Richard's Associated Press obituary, "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. The bomb exploded and sent the Forum crowd scrambling toward the exits. [63] Richard was among many in Quebec who believed that Campbell treated French Canadian players more harshly than their English counterparts. According to the Montreal Gazette, the ovation Richard received from his fans "shook the rafters" of the Montreal Forum. He won the title as the top scorer in the league, making 50 goals in the first 50 games and earning 73 points. The Canadiens indeed won the 1956 championship over the Red Wings in a four-to-one game series. Maurice Richard is the most iconic Canadian professional ice hockey player (born on August 4, 1921, and died on May 27, 2000). He lived on Riverside Park drive in Mexico. When he lost, they lost. Richard's critics argued that his scoring record was the result of talent dilution brought about by the war; when many players returned in 194546, he won his second Stanley Cup with Montreal, but his goal output was nearly halved to 27. Maurice was born June 19, 1921 to Edward and Anna (Rivard) Richard in Fargo, North Dakota. He was naturally left-handed, but could shoot from either side. Although he had received numerous death threats for issuing the suspension of Richard, Campbell insisted on attending the game between the Canadiens and the Red Wings at the Montreal Forum the day after the decision was announced.