If you get a chance, you have to check out the movie “The Rocket”, currently playing on The Movie Network. Roy Dupuis does a phenomenal job of portraying the French Canadian legend, Maurice Richard. Mike Ricci, Sean Avery and Vincent Lecavalier all have prominent roles in what I feel is the best hockey movie since “Slapshot”.
What struck me watching the movie are the epic amounts of physical and verbal abuse Richard was forced to endure in order to score his 544 goals. There isn’t a star player in the NHL that could possibly relate to the kind of constant physical and verbal abuse that Richard was forced to deal with on a nightly basis. Some times he took it, some times he did not.
Dick Irvin Jr., the Hall of Fame broadcaster of Hockey Night in Canada had a unique view of the Rocket’s career. His father coached Maurice Richard for the first 13 years of his incredible career. Irvin Jr. would often be seated near the Canadiens bench for games, watching his dad and witnessing hockey history. Irvin Sr. said the one thing that made Richard so special is that he literally had to fight his way to the top. As much as Richard was so feared from the blue line in, he was also a feared fighter. Irvin Sr. called him the best one-punch knock-out artist he’s ever seen. The first man to score 50 goals in 50 games, Richard endured a steady stream of racial taunts; mocking him because he was French Canadian. When he wasn’t enduring racial taunts, Richard had to put with a gauntlet of high sticks, fists to the face and elbows to get to the net.
In a 1952 playoff series against the Bruins, Richard was knocked out in the second period and went to the dressing room to get stitched up. Still feeling the effects of a concussion, Richard declared himself good to go. Irvin Jr. said with about three minutes to go in a 1-1 game, Richard showed up on the bench and told his dad that he was ready to play. In his first shift back he beat “Sugar” Jim Henry for a highlight reel series-winning goal. The ensuing photo of Henry bowing his head as he shakes hands with Richard after the end of the game is one of the single most compelling photos in hockey history.
Irvin Jr. told me an interesting bit of Habs history. That goal against the Bruins occurred in the south end of the Forum. Guy Lafleur’s famous goal in the “too many men on the ice” game against the Bruins in the late 70’s, was also scored in the south end of the Forum.
The Rangers Sean Avery does an excellent job of portraying old school Rangers tough guy Bob Dill. Legend has it that the Rangers called up Dill to lay a beating on Richard. When the gloves were dropped The Rocket knocked out Dill with one punch. Irvin Jr. said that when Dill came to and was sent to the penalty box, he decided to try and fight Richard a second time. For the second time in the game, The Rocket knocked him out with one punch. As Irvin says, eventually players stopped trying to pick fights with Richard.
Red Fisher of the Montreal Gazette has been covering the Canadiens since 1954. That’s right; Fisher has covered the Habs for 54 years. Just in case anyone thinks that Dick Irvin is embellishing the stories of hardship that Richard dealt with, Fisher was quite blunt then he told me, ”I can assure you that he took all kinds of abuse on the ice during his career.”
Other than Jarome Iginla and Vincent Lacavalier, I can’t think of any other major stars in the NHL that are as willing to drop the gloves as Richard was. While Iggie and Vinnie put up with their fair share of abuse out on the ice; none of what they go through could even come close to the daily barrage hatred at Richard fought through each and every night.
I know the NHL has changed dramatically since the 1950s. But I think all original six teams should have to take at least one train trip when facing each other. I’m talking suits and ties, over coats, fedoras, the whole nine yards.
64 years after Richard became the first player to score 50 goals in 50 games, the NHL is still waiting for someone to come along that goes to the net with the same kind of passion and intensity as the man they called “The Rocket”.
Richard was the greatest pure goal scorer of all time,during a time when you made your own space. Others have surpassed his stats, but none will surpass his mystique.
Canadienz |
7:21 PM, Friday March 21, 2008
Sadly I dont think there ever will be someone that will be able to play with the fire and passion that Richard played with his entire career. So many players have amazing career numbers that may never be equaled but Richards legacy to the hockey world will be the passion he played the game with
mada7 |
11:07 PM, Friday March 21, 2008
Maurice Richard has to be one of the greatest hockey players in the NHL.He always defended himself and did not leave other players fight his battles like Gretzkydid.He was a much better player than Gretzky was.As far as I’m concerned the best hockey players in the world are Maurice Richard and Bobby Orr.
driftwood |
10:31 AM, Saturday March 22, 2008
Hmmm, seems to me there was a guy called Gordie something that seemed to be able make his own space and was rather successful. I think his nickname was “Mr. Hockey”. It was a different era, with different problems. Bobby Hull used to drop them with John Ferguson, with a broken jaw no less. Richard was one of the great’s but just one of them.
steelwool |
11:44 AM, Saturday March 22, 2008
No doubt there will never be another Richard. There also won’t ever be another Howe, or Orr or Sawchuk. These are different times. The only guy I see now, who has any passion for scoring is Ovechkin. He enjoys scoring sooo much. Richard probably did take a lot of abuse from other players but that was because they could “get to his mind”. Avery would have a ball with this guy, just like Lindsay did. Richard was tough, no doubt, but so was just about everyone else in those days. Howe would fight and beat you as would Hull when he had to, but neither of them lost their minds and clubed guys over the head with sticks or punch officials. Maybe Rockets passion wasn’t passion at all, but something else..like a loose wire.
sawchuk |
2:27 PM, Saturday March 22, 2008
I don’t think we will ever see this passion again because so much has changed in the game. The players are all friends with one another now. They golf in tournaments, attend hockey camps, train together etc. Free agency lets players move around which means so many players in today’s game are former teammates.
In Richard’s era the players truly hated each other. Teams truly hated their opponents. There are all kinds of stories about guys crossing the street to avoid an opposing player or walking out of a restaurant if a player from another team walked in. That just doesn’t exist in today’s game.
Bradzerker |
10:13 AM, Sunday March 23, 2008
I think a lot of people should maybe watch the movie before they start commenting.No player took the abuse from other players, refs, and the league itself that richard did. Maurice represented not only the CH but of an entire culture.( maybe read The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier to fully understand what he meant to the people of Quebec). sorry Mr. hockey or Bobby Orr were great but the rocket was an icon ….
Dintrox |
11:23 AM, Sunday March 23, 2008
Those of you that like to bring up Hull and Orr and Sawchuck and Mahavolich and Esposito etc. etc….It was all in a different era… And as it’s been said countless times in this blog and it’s replies, NO ONE took the abuse Maurice did. The man had scoring titles RIPPED from his hands because of crooked coaches, managers and NHL officials,(Conn Smythe, Art Ross Etc. Etc.) They padded their players stats by padding the officials pockets, an STOLE the scoring titles from the greatest natural goal scorer in the game, EVER. The Refs would hold Maurice while he was assaulted… Why do you think he struck them? It was simply a form of self defense. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t of done the SAME thing.
Everyone needs to look past the fact that he was either French, or played for the Habs, or was a better hockey player than “Mr. Hockey” or Bobby Hull….Accept the fact that Maurice Richard INVENTED, DEFINED, and BROUGHT FORTH the ideals, and the position of “Power Forward”. Sure, Cam Nealy perfected it…But “The Rocket” was the man that brought it into the game we all love so much.
Now, as for whether or not there has been a player since like him? As far as Natural Goal Scoring ability goes? MAYBE Mario…MAYBE. As for passion, drive, determination and downright love of the game? Nah…Never has been someone and there never will be someone like “The Rocket”. And I’m, personally, happy about that. Maurice was one in an infinite… Unique to the core of the definition.
Ferocitas |
6:27 PM, Sunday March 23, 2008