How Maurice ‘The Rocket’ Richard revolutionized the NHL

By BRANDON MACDONALD

ESSAY

When the topic of heroes comes up during a hockey discussion, there are endless arguments as to whom the greatest hockey hero of all-time is.  The usual names always come up; Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr and most recently Sidney Crosby.  These men have been dubbed ‘heroes’ because of their on-ice performance, but only one National Hockey League player has earned the right to call himself a genuine hero.

Maurice ‘The Rocket’ Richard was not only a great player on the ice; he was also an icon to all French-Canadian hockey fans.

Richard began his NHL career in the 1942 season.  This was a time when the majority of NHL players were overseas fighting in World War II.  Richard made the Montreal Canadiens as a highly touted goal scorer, but was known to be quite injury prone.  English speaking North Americans managed the Habs, much like the rest of the league.  After much debate, and some convincing, from management, Richard was signed by his hometown Habs.

Richard’s playing style was second to none in the NHL.  A pure goal scorer, whose skills could match any top player in the league.  However, despite Richard’s greatness, he was never given any respect on and off the ice from referees, opposing teams and visiting fans.  Even his own management did not have Richard’s back, as General Manager Tommy Gorman attempted numerous times to deal the winger, ignoring Head Coach Dick Irvin’s request to keep Richard on the team.  Gorman was never successful in his attempts.

The Rocket was never given equal chances, as other teams would attack him any time he stepped on the ice.  The league was not interested in protecting a French-Canadian star like they would any other top player.  Accusations arose that the other teams would give their players assists on goals they had no part in. Richard wasn’t given a fair chance to win the leagues scoring title early on in his career.  This did not stop Richard from giving it his all every time he stepped on the ice.

After years of being ridiculed by the media, fans and the NHL itself, Richard finally took a stand.  Taking up a column in an independent French newspaper, Richard went on to attack league President Clarence Campbell.  Richard complained about the mistreatment of French-Canadian players on the Habs.  On one occasion, even threatening to retire from the game if the abuse does not improve on and off the ice.

One of the most important times of Richard’s career took place on the night of March 13^th, 1955, during a game against the Boston Bruins.  Richard was involved in an altercation with Bruins player Hal Laycoe that eventually led to Richard hitting linesman Cliff Thompson.

A hearing was held to decide the punishment for Richard.  After pleading his case that he thought the man restraining him was a Bruin player, Campbell seemingly already had his mind set on the punishment.  Suspension for the remaining regular season games and the playoffs was handed to Richard, the longest suspension ever handed down for an on-ice incident.  Laycoe, the Bruins player involved, was not punished.  All this stemming from an incident that Richard did not even start.

Outraged, Canadien fans wasted no time letting the league know how they felt about the suspension of their hockey God.  After Campbell arrived at the Habs next home game against the Detroit Red Wings, fans began to throw various objects at the president.  The actual riot began when a fan ignited a tear gas bomb inside the forum.  Hab fans took to the streets outside the forum and began to vandalize everything in sight.  The riot ended, leaving $500,000 in damages to the Montreal Forum and surrounding neighborhood along with numerous civilians hurt and arrested.  No fans ever did that for Gretzky.

Richard claimed he was done with the NHL, but seeing the passion from the fans made him decide he would return to the NHL.  Not only did Richard return to play for the Canadiens, he helped them cement themselves as an NHL dynasty as they went on to win five consecutive Stanley Cup finals.

Maurice ‘The Rocket’ Richard not only had an impact on the game of hockey, he helped impact the French-Canadian population.  He was a hero to French-Canadian children, as they all wanted to be  ‘The Rocket’.  Richard played hockey as well as any player in the history of the game, but that wasn’t what made his name in the history books.  Richard was an inspiration to French-Canadians, proving that no voice should go unheard and nobody should be labeled because of who they are.  Richard was instrumental in helping establish a solid base for all the future French-Canadian hockey players.

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Had to write this for my Hockey Talk class, yeah that is right, hockey talk class.

I know it’s not as detailed as could be, but I thought some might get a kick out of reading it.

Cheers.