| Joseph Henri Maurice Richard, "The Rocket", joined the Montréal Canadiens hockey team in 1942. When he retired due to injury in 1960, his 544 goals in regular season play were a National Hockey League record. His record 82 goals in Stanley Cup play stood unbroken until 1986. His suspension in 1955 for hitting a Boston player outraged fans and caused a riot. As former Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden wrote at the time of The Rocket's death: "He was the archetypal goal scorer... His eyes mirrored a soul that had to get to the net... you could not defeat him." About 100,000 mourners filed past his coffin and 2,500 attended his state funeral at the Notre-Dame Basilica. Canada had lost a legend. PA- 207562 |