The "Rocket" Riot

Even though Richard was a Hockey Icon, like many famous athletes he had a down fall in his career that affected Canadian Hockey. On March 13,1955 the Montreal Canadiens played an intense game against Boston. With 6 minutes left in the game and Montreal down by 2, Maurice Richard determined to score skated past the Boston blue line, past the Hal Laycoe, Boston's defence man where he got hit in the head with the end of Laycoe's stick. Angered, Richard skated back to the blue line then towards Laycoe and checked him. Out of defence Laycoe fought back and a brawl broke out between them. Linesman Cliff Thompson skated over to break up the fight, but got attacked by Richard instead. Richard was then suspended by the president of the NHL, Clarence Campbell, for the rest of the season. "No sports decision ever hit Montreal public with such impact" (Katz,p.30,2005), Montreal fans were furious and began to show their dislike for Campbell.

On March 17, 1955 angry and disappointed fans filled the Montreal Forum to watch the Montreal Canadiens play against Detroit without their star player. As soon as Campbell walked into the Forum that night ciaos began, a bomb was set off filling the Forum with yellowish gas causing the crazed fans to spill put onto the streets starting what was known as the Richard Riot. Groups of rioters gathered outside of the Forum chanting "Kill Campbell, Kill Campbell" (Katz, p.28, 2005), others were throwing bricks into every window they passed, and some were hauling cab drivers out of their cars and smashing car windows. There was an estimated $30,000 of damages, and around 12 policemen and 25 civilians injured (Katz, 2005).

The next morning Montrealers woke-up ashamed of their actions, which had placed a huge black mark on Canadian Hockey. The events of the Richard Riot displayed the separation of French and English Canadians and the rise of nationalism in Quebec.

Go to http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/ search The Rocket Riot and watch the clip from 44s to 1:17.