Montreal Canadiens x Maurice Richard [1944-46]

This entry is for the French side of Canada and for the pure fans of hockey. This player has always been on the radar and can finally cross it off the list. Posted here is a Montreal Canadiens Maurice "The Rocket" Richard jersey. This is the home style version worn between 1944 to 1946.


This jersey was in pieces, so to speak. I bought the jersey and the front logo separately and when I took it in for the custom job, it was embroidered onto the front. The back number consists of two layer tackle twill. It's definitely a different jersey than what most people are used to seeing, and that's the best part about it.


Born on 4 August 1921 in Montreal, QC, Joseph Henri Maurice Richard signed with the Montreal Canadiens in 1942. During his rookie campaign, injuries limited him to 16 games but scored 5 goals with 6 assists. In his second year, he played 46 games and tallied 54 points [32 G, 22 A]. Playing alongside Elmer Lach and Toe Blake, the three formed one of the most well known offensive threats known as "The Punch Line" and lead the Canadiens to a Stanley Cup Championship - the first many for that city.


In the 1944-45 season, he became the first player to score 50 goals in 50 games and finished the season with 73 points. His goals record stood for 36 seasons. The following year, he would capture his second Stanley Cup title with an 11 point [7 G, 4 A] effort in the playoffs. He wouldn't win another until 1953.


In the 1955-56 season, Maurice Richard was named Captain of the Montreal Canadiens and guide them to a dynasty until the end of the decade. They would win an unmatched record of 5 straight Stanley Cup Championships with "The Rocket" as their leader. Upon winning his final championship, he retired at the age of 39.


In 18 seasons, he played a total of 978 games scoring 544 goals and 421 assists. In the playoffs, he played 133 games with 82 goals and 44 assists while winning the Stanley Cup Championship nine times. Upon his retirement, the 3-year waiting period for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame was waived and he became a member in 1961.


On 27 May 2000, Maurice Richard passed away at the age of 78. The entire country was in mourning and he was given a state funeral in Quebec. The Montreal Expos dawned the #9 on their baseball uniforms in his honour.


Career Highlights & Achievements:
7x First Team All-Star [1944-46, 1947-50, 1954-56]
1946 Hart Trophy
Lou Marsh Trophy
13x NHL All-Star [1947-59]
No. 9 retired by the Montreal Canadiens in his honour
The Maurice Richard Trophy is awarded to the player with the most goals in the regular season.

"When we did not win, it was a tragedy for many fans. All they knew was win, win, win." - Maurice "The Rocket" Richard