Who is Maurice Richard?
Maurice Richard is the most recognizable professional ice hockey player in Canada (born on August 4, 1921, and died on May 27, 2000). Richard played for the only team that mattered to him, the Montreal Canadiens, for 18 magnificent seasons.
Maurice was the oldest of eight siblings born into a low-income family in Montreal, Canada. When he retired, he owned over 20 National Hockey League records, including the most goals scored.
Richard rose beyond hardship to become one of the greatest players in NHL history.
He was also instrumental in elevating hockey to an elite level and setting a high standard for future generations in Montreal.
Maurice was known for his blistering pace, earning him the moniker “Rocket” from former NHL left winger Ray Getliffe. He was untouchable from the blue line and would relentlessly assault nets throughout the league.
Maurice Richard’s meteoric rise helped his Montreal Canadiens win eight Stanley Cups across three decades, and he established himself as the team’s backbone.
In this essay, we will look at what kind of player Maurice Richard was. Similarly, we shall discuss his childhood, family, work, net worth, riot, and a variety of other things.
Relationship Details, Maurice Richard is Married?
Henri Norcet met his wife Lucille Norcet when he was seventeen years old. Lucille, one of Maurice’s colleagues’ younger sisters, was fourteen years old at the time.
Maurice’s calm, reserved attitude and Lucille’s lively, extroverted personality balanced each other out. On September 12, 1942, the pair married at the ages of twenty and seventeen.
Maurice and Lucille have seven children, five males, and two daughters.
Huguette, Maurice Jr., Norman, Andre, Suzanne, Polo, and Jean were reared in Montreal by the couple.
Richard had his first daughter at the start of the 1943-44 season, prompting him to change his number to nine. Henri changed his number from 15 to 9 in honor of his daughter Huguette, who weighed nine pounds when she was born.
Lucille died of cancer in 1994, two years before the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary.
Quick facts about Maurice Richard
| Full Name | Joseph Henri Maurice Richard |
| Common name | Maurice Richard |
| Nick Name | “Rocket Richard” |
| Birthdate | August 4, 1921 |
| Deceased Date | May 27, 2000 |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Mother’s Name | Alice Laramee |
| Father’s Name | Onesime Richard |
| Siblings | Four Brothers: Rene, Jacques, Henri, and Claude
Three Sisters: Georgette, Rollande, and Marguerite |
| Birthplace | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Home Town | Montreal |
| Citizenship | Canadian |
| Residence | Canada |
Maurice Richard: Early Life, Age, Wiki, Parents, Ethnicity
He was born and raised in Montreal’s rough Bordeaux neighborhood. Maurice was born into a low-income home to parents Onesime Richard and Alice Laramee.
His parents were both born in Gaspe and relocated to Montreal following their marriage.
Onesime Richard worked as a carpenter before joining the Canadian Pacific Railway after the birth of Maurice.
Unfortunately, Onesime’s work on the railway was lost in 1930, and the entire family had to rely on the government. Fortunately, he was able to reclaim his job after six years.
Richard acquired ice skates when he was four years old and used to skate on nearby rivers and a small backyard ice surface constructed by Onesime.
Maurice Richard was introduced to ice hockey in this manner. He used to play baseball and boxing, but ice hockey became more appealing to him.
Maurice was the oldest of eight children, with four brothers and three sisters. Henri Richard, the younger brother, was also a hockey player known as “Pocket Rocket.”
Both brothers played together during the last five years of Maurice’s active life.
Education, Schooling, University
At the age of sixteen, Richard enrolled in the Montreal Technical School to become a machinist. The main reason for enrolling in technical school was to help support the family financially.
He played for school and local teams because he was interested in hockey from a young age.
He was a member of the Parc Lafontaine squad at Montreal Technical School. Richard’s gaming brilliance was unrivaled. Because of his talent, numerous high school teams sought to sign Richard as a left-winger.
Maurice used several names every day to play more hockey games because he couldn’t play for more than one team in the same year.
Professional Career, (Ice Hockey Player)
Maurice was initially unable to begin playing hockey due to his weak economic family background.
However, at the age of fourteen, he began playing for some local clubs and led the team to three consecutive league championships.
Maurice began his professional ice hockey career with Verdun Juniors.
Henri was promoted from Verdun Juniors to the Quebec Senior Hockey League (QSHL) and played for the Montreal Royals after finishing his rookie season.
Debut in the NHL
Richard made his NHL debut in 1942 with the Montreal Canadiens, scoring his first NHL goal on November 8, 1942, against the New York Rangers.
After appearing in roughly sixteen games and scoring five goals in his debut season, he was sidelined for a few weeks due to an ankle injury.
Richard led Montreal to the Stanley Cup victory against Chicago in 1944, scoring 12 goals in nine games. Richard also scored 32 goals in 46 games during his rookie season.
Richard became the first player in NHL history to score eight points in a single game the same year. This record stood until Darryl Sittler’s 10-point performance in 1976.
Maurice was knocked unconscious by a check from Leo Labine during the 1952 semifinals versus Boston. However, Maurice scored the most spectacular winning goal while still in a semiconscious state after being resurrected.
This goal became the most famous moment in the minds of hockey fans across the league, defining Maurice’s image.
Even when injuries slowed Maurice near the conclusion of his career, his presence in the lineup inspired other teammates and helped the team win its fourth and fifth championships in 1959 and 1960.
Net Worth, Salary, Assets
Maurice Richard amassed a sizable fortune throughout his NHL career.
Maurice ventured into business after retiring from the game. First, he acquired a tavern in Montreal and sold it three years later for twice the sum he paid. He later reinvested that money in a fishing-line company.
Maurice was a well-known celebrity hockey player both in the United States and abroad. As a result, he attended several sporting and other events throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Richard made a lot of money despite coming from a low-income background through his talent and hard work.
Maurice also authored a sports column for Montreal’s La Presse in the 1980s.
Unfortunately, Maurice Richard’s exact net worth is unknown, but he certainly enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in his later years.
Rumors and Controversy
Talking about her rumors and controversy, she has not been in any part of rumors as well as controversy to date.
What is the Height of Maurice Richard? Weight, Full Body Status
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches |
| Weight | 170 lbs |
| Eye Colour | Unknown |
| Hair Colour | Unknown |
| Shoe Size | Unknown |
| Wife | Lucille Richard (died in 1994) |
| Marriage Date | 1942 |
| Children | Five Sons & Two Daughters |
| Profession | Ice Hockey Player |
Social Media Accounts
Maurice Richard is not active on any social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, or Snapchat.
Maurice Richard: Death
Maurice Richard died on May 27, 2000, while battling stomach cancer. His remains were stored at the Molson Centre in Montreal until the funeral the next day.
Almost 115,000 people came to see Maurice’s casket and sign a book of remembrance for him.
On May 31, Maurice was accorded a state funeral in Notre Dame Basilica, where thousands of his fans gathered to pay their respects.
Past teammates, including brother Henri, carried his coffin, while senior Canadiens, famous politicians, and former opponents trailed behind.
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