Maurice Richard

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Richard's journey began in poverty during the Great Depression as the oldest of eight children. Initially viewed as fragile, a string of injuries, including a broken ankle and wrist, forced him to alter his skating style after x-rays revealed bones that never healed properly. This physical adversity fueled an intense training regimen and a renowned violent playing style. He formed the legendary 'Punch line' with Elmer Lach and Toe Blake in 1943–44, a dominant unit throughout the 1940s. His career was marked by a pivotal incident in the 1954–55 season when he struck a linesman, leading to a suspension for the remainder of the season and playoffs. This decision precipitated the Richard Riot in Montreal, an event that took on mythical quality and is often viewed as a precursor to Quebec's Quiet Revolution.

In Their Own Story

On March 18, 1945, with 49 goals already recorded, Richard faced the Boston Bruins on the road. He had gone eight games without scoring due to increasingly violent efforts by opposition players who slashed, hooked, and draped themselves across his back. With just 2:15 remaining in the game, he finally scored, reaching the milestone of 50 goals in 50 games. The crowd erupted as he became the first player ever to achieve this feat, a mark that stood until the 1960–61 season. Earlier that same record-setting year, on December 28, 1944, he had made history again by scoring five goals and three assists in a single game against Detroit, breaking the points-per-game record held since 1918. Joe Malone was present to hand him the puck after his 45th goal of that season.

Reader's Guide

Richard's impact extended far beyond statistics. He changed his uniform number to 9 in 1943–44 to match his daughter Huguette's birth weight of nine pounds. His legacy was cemented when the Hockey Hall of Fame waived its five-year waiting period, inducting him in 1961 immediately after retirement. In 1975, he entered Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. The Canadiens retired his number 9 in 1960, and in 1999, the team donated the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy to the NHL, awarded annually to the league's leading goal-scorer. He was also named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history in 2017. His legend is a primary motif in Roch Carrier's short story The Hockey Sweater, an emblematic work of Canadian culture, and he remains a cultural icon among Quebec's francophone population.

Did You Know?

• Richard changed his jersey number to 9 to match his daughter Huguette's birth weight of nine pounds.
• He broke Joe Malone's 27-year-old NHL goal record on February 25, 1945, with Malone present to present him the puck.
• He scored 133 of his team's 144 goals during the 1938–39 season while playing in organized leagues under pseudonyms.