RIP Henri Richard

The Montreal Canadiens legend has died. Pocket Rocket won 11 Stanley Cups. Broke a lot of Blackhawks' fans hearts.

 

As a 6 year old kid in 1959 Winnipeg I would sneak downstairs and sit on the bottom stair while my Mom and Dad watched CBC’s “Hockey Night in Canada” on Saturdays in our living room. I remember hearing of John Bellybow (Jean Beliveau) and ‘Rishar’ (both Maurice and Henri) so reading of his passing brings back to me a tiny bit of my long ago innocence.
I saw him play hundreds of games on TV and he and Brad Marchand are somewhat similar players in that they could out skate most players, make plays and turn on a dime. He and Bobby Rousseau ‘ragging’ the puck on the PK wouldn’t be tolerated in today’s NHL, but in the 60 it was really something to watch. Claude Provost, Bobby Hulls shadow, was another top penalty killer for them. My aunt dated Tom Johnson for a while so met him in ‘61 or so.
From what I understand Rocket didn’t make him feel welcome on the Canadiens early in Henri’s career and actually resented him.
RIP Pocket.

 

The Pocket Rocket scored the clinching goal in 1966 against the Wings and 1971 against the Blackhawks

Henri Richard, 11-time Stanley Cup winner who scored clincher vs. Wings in '66, dies at 84

 

Ree-char. Corn-why-eh. Le-point. Le-mare. Le-flu-er. Mo-have-al-itch. I had no idea how those names were spelled, but I knew they were really great players for the best team in hockey back in the day when we'd visit Detroit in the winter and my grandfather would have "Hockey Night in Canada" on from Windsor.

RIP Henri.

 

Until today, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a picture of him without gray hair. That’s a compliment. To me, he was the ancient warrior who propelled his team to victory more on will than talent.

 

A member of the old-line, six-team NHL royalty I was blessed to watch as a 1971-72 Sabres season-ticket holder. Hull, Howe, Orr, Mikita, Richard, Dave Keon, Jacque Laperriere, Bob Baum, Tim Horton, Jean Ratelle, Phil Goyette, to remember just a few.

 

Jacques Laperriere and Rejean Houle
My hockey friends would imitate Boom Boom Geoffrion talking about Cournoyer
“That Yvan, he’s so QUEEK!!!”

 

Calisse! Ta-berr-nac!

 

Ragging the puck wouldn’t be tolerated?

Players are far too good of skaters to even allow someone to do that these days. If someone could do it they would.

 

Wouldn’t be tolerated as in they would be viewed as ‘hot dogs’ and probably be on the wrong end of some treatment by what passes for enforcers or some wide bodied captains like Getzlaf, Benn, Ovie et al.

 

I had to spend a good deal of time convincing my children Tim Horton was indeed a hockey star and not just a brand name. I bet I'm not alone there.

 

No chance, it’s not done because it wouldn’t work. Bobby Orr used to do it, it’s not hot dogging and wouldn’t be viewed as such.

Guys are scoring insane goals these days, through their legs the lacrosse goal, these could be viewed as hotdogging and nothing is done to these players.