Coyle
Period1
Jack Whitaker
1/12/11
Maurice “Rocket” Richard
Maurice Richard was in the NHL for 18 years and was a Canadian legend. He
played for the Montreal Canadians for all of those years. While playing he won 8 Stanley
Cups and changed the game of hockey. I think he was the first greatest hockey super star.
Maurice was born August 4, 1921 and was the oldest of 8 children. As a child
Maurice played a lot of hockey, sometimes 2 games per night. In order to play on several
teams he would make up fake last names.
He began his playing career in 1942 when he was signed and played his first
season. That year he played in only 16 games before breaking his ankle. In 1943 his first
child was born and he switched his number from 15 to 9 for how much his daughter
weighed, 9lbs. After switching his number it was a turning point in his career. In the 43’44’ season, his true rookie season, he scored 32 goals and 22 assists. He was named to the
Second All-Star Team. Maurice and the Canadians won the Stanley Cup that year by
sweeping the Black Hawks in four games.
His second season was when he started producing the points. He was the first
player ever to score 50 goals in 50 games. He has been the only player ever to score that
many goals with only a 50 game season. This was also the season that the famous “Punch
Line” was formed. Toe Blake and Elmer Lauch were on the line with Richard. That line
finished first, second, and third in scoring that year. In Rocket’s career only one the Hart
Trophy once! Many people think it was because he was a Canadian. Also in Maurice’s
career he never made any more then $25,000, which was equivalent to $200,000 in
today’s standard.
He was so loved by the Montreal fans that in 1955 he caused a riot in the
Montreal Forum and on the streets. During a game on March 13 he had a ugly fight with
a Bruins player and he also punched a linesman. The NHL Commissioner suspended him
for the rest of the season, including the playoffs. The Commissioner made a bold move
and attended the next Canadien’s home game. The fans started throwing food at him and
police set off a tear gas bomb. Rioters then broke windows and looted stores in Montreal.
No other hockey player has set off a reaction like this from fans.
In Rocket Richard’s career he played in 973 games, scored 544 goals (NHL
record until Gordie Howe broke it), had 421 assists, and 965 points. Rocket’s career was
so good that they named a trophy after him. It goes to the player with the most goals in
the league. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961, the usual 3-year
waiting period being removed in his honor.
"What I remember most about the Rocket were 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."- Gleen Hall
Works Cited
"Maurice "Rocket" Richard Hockey Statistics & Profile at Hockeydb.com." The Internet
Hockey Database -- Hockey Statistics, Data, Logos, and Trading Cards. Web. 12 Jan.
2011. <http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4550>.
"The 'Richard Riot'" CBC Archives. Web. 13 Jan. 2011.
<http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/clips/13340/>.
"Rocket Richard." Greatest Hockey Legends.com. Web. 13 Jan. 2011.
<http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2006/04/rocket-richard_20.html>.