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Personal Information
Maurice Richard was born August 4, 1921 in Montreal, eldest of the eight children of Onésime Richard and Alice Laramée. -
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Maurice Richard Early Life
Maurice grew up in the Bordeaux district, near Ville Saint-Laurent in Montreal, he got his start in hockey there, first with his school team, and then with the neighborhood one. Maurice played on the Parc Lafontaine teams. Maurice had such obvious talent for the sport other teams wanted him on there team. Maurice couldn't play for more than one team so he made up fake names so he could play every day. December 27 of the 1942-43 season ended short for Maurice when he broke his ankle. -
Starting The Hockey Life
The world of junior hockey discovered him in 1937–38. In 1940–41 Richard signed a contract with the Montreal Senior Canadians, the farm team for the great National Hockey League club of the same name. He tried to enlist in the army, but was turned down because of injuries he had incurred. In September, a few days before his marriage to Lucille Norchet, he signed his first professional contract with the Montreal Canadians. -
A New Year
Maurice came back the next year and changed his number from 15 to 9 because his daughter weighed 9 pounds at birth. Maurice finished the season with 50 goals in 50 games. -
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Career in the NHL
During the 1950s The Rockets popularity grew and the Montreal Canadians had been to the Stanely Cup play offs 10 years in a row and won 6 of them. 13 March 1955, during a game in Boston, a fight broke out between Maurice and Harold Laycoe. When Maurice saw that his head was bleeding, he was mad, and rushed at Laycoe, breaking his stick over his back. A linesman held Maurice and Laycoe came and started to hit Maurice. Richard turned and punched the linesman in the face to break his hold. -
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After the Drama
The Canadians began the 1955–56 season with a new coach, named Toe Blake, who replaced James Irvin, and a new player was added, Henri Richard, who was the Maurice's brother. Another brother, Claude, was also added to join the Canadians, but without any success. Until 1959–60 the team would dominate the NHL, with five Stanley Cups and four Prince of Wales Trophies, awarded to the team finishing first in the NHL overall. Maurice played a big roll in these games but was slowed by injuries. -
The Riot
Two days after the fight between Maurice and Laycoe Maurice went to speak to Campbell in person. Maurice had already been suspended early in the season for another fight. Campbell told his decision on 16 March. Richard would be off the ice for the rest of the season, this included the last three games of the regular season and all of the playoffs.The french language speaking were so furious with this decision saying it was because Maurice spoke french. This lead to a lot of controversy. -
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Ending The Career
On 15 Sept. 1960 Richard announced his retirement. He was no longer into the sport and his body couldn't take it anymore. Nevertheless, the list of his NHL records, almost 20, is impressive, the most career goals 544 and hat tricks 26, the most goals in one season 50, and the most goals 82, winning goals 18, and overtime goals 6 in playoff games. Most of these records came at critical moments in playoffs. Richard did stay with the Canadians since his contract had another 3 years of $25,000. -
Time after being a player
In 1971 the World Hockey Association was founded. One franchise in Quebec was called the Nordiques. Marius Fortier one of the six founders of the team offered Richard a coaching job. Maurice saw this as long lasting dream, Maurice accepted the offer but with the agreement that Maurice would be able to spend fall hunting. Maurice agreed that Maurice Filion would run training camp and Maurice would coach. The first game the Nordiques lost 2-0, Maurice retired after two games. -
Passed away
The morning of 27 May 2000 Maurice Richard lost his life from cancer. The Molson Centre in Montreal became the chapel where about 100,000 people came to pay respect to him. The funeral, held on 31 May in Notre-Dame basilica, was attended by thousands of fans, friends, and family. Former team-mates, including his brother Henri, carried the Rocket’s coffin. Former opponents, such as Gordon Howe and Robert Blake, and Theodore Lindsay, who had played for Detroit, came to the funeral.