1
He was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in one season, accomplishing the feat in 50 games.
15 Interesting Facts About Maurice Richard
Maurice 'Rocket' Richard was a groundbreaking Canadian hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens, renowned for being the first to score 50 goals in 50 games and a cultural icon in Quebec.
Position
Right wing
Jersey
#9
Status
Retired
Teams
1
Facts
15
2
He was the first player to reach 500 career goals in the National Hockey League.
3
His jersey number, 9, was retired by his team in 1960.
4
He won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in 1947.
5
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961, with the five-year waiting period for eligibility waived.
6
He was nicknamed 'The Rocket' by a local sportswriter after a teammate remarked on his speed.
7
He was a member of eight Stanley Cup championship teams, including a league record five straight between 1956 and 1960.
8
He formed the 'Punch line' with Elmer Lach and Toe Blake, a high-scoring forward line of the 1940s.
9
His younger brother, Henri, also played his entire career with the same team and is enshrined alongside him in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
10
He set a new mark for points in one game when he made five goals and three assists in a 9–1 victory in 1944.
11
He scored the winning goal in a 1952 semi-final game after being briefly knocked unconscious and having a cut above his eye stitched up.
12
His suspension by NHL President Clarence Campbell in 1955 for striking a linesman precipitated the 'Richard Riot' in Montreal.
13
He was initially deemed unfit for Canadian military service during the Second World War due to a string of injuries.
14
He changed his uniform number to 9 to match his daughter Huguette's birth weight of nine pounds.
15
He briefly served as head coach for the Quebec Nordiques of the World Hockey Association in 1972, lasting only two games.
About Maurice Richard
Maurice 'Rocket' Richard was a legendary Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent 18 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens. He was the first NHL player to score 50 goals in 50 games and the first to reach 500 career goals. A cultural icon in Quebec, he led his team to eight Stanley Cup championships and was known for his intense and physical style of play.
Career Achievements & Milestones
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First to score 50 goals in 50 games
1944-45
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First to reach 500 career goals
1957
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Stanley Cup Champion
1944, 1946, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960
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Hart Trophy Winner
1947
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Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
1961
Player Information & Stats
Detailed career statistics and background information about Maurice Richard.
Player Info
Country: Canada
Position: Right wing
Jersey #: 9
Status: Retired
Physical Stats
Height: 5' 10" (178 cm)
Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
Born: Montreal, Quebec
Died: 5/27/2000
Career Stats
Seasons: 18
Goals: 544
Assists: 0
Points: 0
Teams: 1
Hall of Fame: ✓ Inducted
Teams & Career
Montreal Canadiens
Maurice Richard played his entire 18 seasons career with the Montreal Canadiens.