Maurice “Rocket” Richard one of the greatest Canadien, ever!

Maurice “Rocket” Richard: The Legend of Number 9
Discovered at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery, Montreal

On a recent visit to Montreal, I stopped at Canada’s largest cemetery, Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, and discovered the grave of one of the greatest hockey players of all time—Maurice “Rocket” Richard.

Born in Montreal in 1921, Richard became a symbol not only of hockey greatness, but of cultural pride in Quebec. Known for his blazing speed and fierce determination, Richard earned the nickname “The Rocket” and was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in 50 games, finishing his career with 544 goals—a record at the time of his retirement in 1961.

Over the course of his remarkable career with the Montreal Canadiens, Richard:

• Won 8 Stanley Cups

• Held nearly 20 NHL records at retirement

• Had his iconic No. 9 jersey retired by the Canadiens

• Was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1967

But his legacy went beyond the rink. Maurice Richard was revered not just for his accomplishments, but for what he represented: resilience, working-class pride, and Quebecois identity. His impact was so profound that when he died on May 27, 2000, at the age of 78, he became the first Canadian athlete to receive a state funeral. Over 115,000 people filed past his casket at the Molson Centre (now Bell Centre).

1921-2000