Maurice Richard: Histoire d'un Canadien Page #2

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At every game?

At each game

they wear new dresses.

Sometimes notjust the dress

is new - the wife is too!

Maurice!

I'm your brother-in-law.

You're on the team thanks to me.

I told Paquette to take you

in the junior league.

That's when it all started, right?

Merry Christmas!

So how can I get tickets?

Marry a hockey player.

Get home safely.

- A house?

- Don't start!

They don't have the money!

December 27, 1942

In the first period, Richard

had a goal and two assists.

What's the Comet have

in store for us now?

The puck is in the Habs' end.

Cowley has the puck.

Maurice grabs it, dekes Jackson.

Maurice accelerates powerfully!

What a burst of speed!

Maurice gets hammered.

He hit a wall named Jack Crawford.

Crawford waited for the rookie

at the blue line.

A brutal check!

Richard is lying motionless.

I said this would happen!

The referee stops play.

The players push and shove.

Maurice still down.

Dr McKay runs onto the ice.

...We knew he was frail.

It seems the Canadiens

signed a lemon...

A lemon that's easily crushed.

If he finishes first,

it'll be on the injuries list.

Our sources say he broke his ankle.

The kind of break that never heals.

The kind that put an end

to the career and life

of the great Howie Morenz.

Frank, it's Tommy Gorman.

Have I got a deal for you:

Maurice Richard.

Yeah, well, he's got eleven points.

He's tough as nails.

He'd be good for Detroit.

And what about Boston?

Dick, we signed a lemon.

I signed a lemon.

At the Forum, Dick Irvin

could not hide his dismay.

It didn't take much

for the Habs coach to admit

that Richard is too frail

to play in the NHL.

Richard's career will be limited

to a measly 5 goals and 6 assists.

What a lousy team!

Richard's a bum!

They sure missed the boat with him.

Money wasted on a loser!

He's a washout!

RICHARD TOO FRAIL

They're vultures!

I'm pregnant.

I'll make supper.

Lucille?

Lucille?

Did I hear right?

Yes.

It's only a rough patch.

You'll see.

1943-1944 Season

Come on, let's show

some piss and vinegar out there!

Come on. Get it over here,

for chrissake!

Come on, Toe.

Let's go.

You've been drinking?

A fine. For drinking.

Now,

gentlemen,

I would like you to think

about what is so difficult

about putting...

this little thing...

into that great big thing.

Coach, it hasn't been-

Mr. Blake!

As soon as you stop

turning a bright shade a yellow

every time you should be going

in the corner for the puck,

you'll be allowed

to speak in this room.

Now,

those of you

who do not understand

the importance of winning...

those who think

that this is only a game...

are invited to leave this team.

Alright.

Richard, you'll be sitting

this one out.

That's what I want!

I married a winner.

Can I meet him?

I'll come to all your games.

You don't get it.

They're letting my contract run out.

I'll watch every goal you score.

I'll be there.

I'll be so proud.

Maybe I am just a machinist.

Maurice...

Will you come watch me

sweep the shop floor?

Will you be proud then?

They don't give me a chance!

How can I prove myself

if I can't play?

Richard?

People are saying

you're a waste of money.

A waste of money!

You're playing tonight.

Put on something nice.

I'm playing.

We've had some bad times,

Senator, but something's changed.

Everybody's in top shape.

Blake, Bibeau, Lach, Bouchard.

And Maurice?

He's been off for two weeks now.

Yeah, Maurice is doing great.

It'd be a good time to trade him.

Trade him? Tommy...

What are you saying?

He got hurt again last night.

No, he wasn't.

He dislocated his shoulder.

They put it back in place.

He finished the game.

What are you saying?

You were there.

You saw the game.

Open your-

He's playing better hockey.

With a little bit of money,

we could get a really good player.

Are you telling me

how to do my job?

He's gonna fall apart.

We know it, you know it.

You know it damn well!

I've never seen another player

go to the net like he does.

Nobody can take the puck

away from him.

He's your responsibility.

I'd like you to meet Huguette.

She's beautiful.

She weighs 9 pounds.

9 pounds?

I'll score one for you tonight.

What about me?

I'll score two.

Maurice.

Tonight, you'll be playing right wing

with Toe and Elmer.

This is the big time.

Pass the puck.

Mr Irvin?

I can change 15...

for the number 9?

Yeah.

Thank you.

She wanted to see me.

On radio they call you guys

the Punch Line.

They talk about nothing else.

Did they say I scored two goals?

Yes.

They said beyond a doubt,

you deserved your spot.

Irvin says you're the league's

top offensive player.

You'll wake her.

You showed them.

They call you the Rocket.

She's so beautiful!

I know.

Look, it's Maurice Richard!

Explain something to me.

Slowly, I'm just a barber.

Last year the Canadiens

finished in the cellar.

Now, with you and Durnan,

they win the Cup.

They could never have done this

without you.

You got the job done.

You brought the Cup back.

You!

Let's go. Let's go.

Maurice, it's crazy.

We won the cup!

Yeah, we won the Cup.

The first game of the semis,

you weren't much.

The second started no better.

Irvin must have blasted you,

'cause you set the ice on fire.

What did Irvin say

after the first period?

What did Irvin say to you?

Nothing.

And what's your excuse,

Mr Rocket?

Because the way you're playing,

we haven't got a snowball's

chance in hell of winning.

You Frenchies are all alike.

It is in your blood!

You are nothing but a cowardly,

no-spunk,

no-stiff-upper-lip,

chicken droppings!

Maurice! Maurice!

Maurice! Maurice!

Here are tonight's stars...

Now that was one of a hell

of a performance.

The first,

from the Canadiens,

number 9, Maurice Richard!

The Rocket!

He scored 5 goals!

- The second star...

- Durnan!

Maurice Richard!

The third star...

Not Maurice again?

Maurice Rocket Richard!

All three stars!

They're not gonna leave

till you go out.

Maurice! Maurice!

Maurice! Maurice!

After dazzling us

in the play-offs...

After filling the Forum

and other arenas,

why weren't you chosen

for the All-Stars?

You deserved it more than anybody.

The league bigwigs...

It's their decision...

Beat it, you scamps!

They don't see you around much.

1944-45 Season

Good luck tonight.

Thanks.

Program! Program!

Cold beer!

Detroit gave the Rocket

a rough time.

They were all over him.

In the third, the Rocket

was up against big Seibert.

He bent real low,

his face grazing the ice,

to outskate Seibert.

Hey, over here!

We're thirsty too!

Seibert was waiting.

He slammed into Maurice!

Did he break his ankle?

Maurice got up, with the puck,

lugging big Seibert on his back!

At this rate he'll beat

Malone's record

of 44 goals in a season.

Four bits says he doesn't.

Excuse me!

He'll end the season with 50 goals,

one per game.

A buck says he doesn't.

Maurice is married to my sister.

He's my brother-in-law.

Can't he get you better tickets?

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