It was 5o years yesterday,September 15th 1960,that Maurice ''Rocket'' Richard shocked the hockey world and announced that he was retiring from hockey after 18 season career with the Montreal Canadiens.Richard had just turned 39 in August of that year.He claimed that his body had become fragile and that his reflexes weren't the same as they use to be and could no longer continue to play.
During his great career,Richard won the Stanley cup 8 times.He was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season and to reach the 500 plateau.He still holds the record for most career goals in the fabulous history of the Montreal Canadiens.One that may never be broken.
Richard passed away May 27th 2000,after a long battle with cancer.
A captain for the Canadiens ?
The biggest subject of conversation last season in Montreal,was captaincy of the Montreal Canadiens.General Manager ,Pierre Gauthier and head coach,Jacques Martin have mentionned that a captain will be known before the drop of the puck on October 7th before their original six meeting with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
A montreal based newspaper,LaPresse,mentionned that the choice had come down to Brian Gionta.Jacques Martin,mentionned on a popular french morning tv show,that is was just speculation.I guess we will have to wait an see.
A montreal based newspaper,LaPresse,mentionned that the choice had come down to Brian Gionta.Jacques Martin,mentionned on a popular french morning tv show,that is was just speculation.I guess we will have to wait an see.
No Federal $$$ for pro sports
Canadian Prime Minister,Stephen Harper,made it clear while on tour in Quebec city,that no money will be available for pro sports.But did mention,that the Federal government will be willing to help in anyway possible with the building of a new arena.As he put it, Pro sports “first and foremost the responsibility of the private sector”.I agree totally.
Harper,in his statement,was being consistant with himself, as the head of the canadian taxpayers Federation in 2000,when the Chretien government was considering provinding assistance to struggling canadian franchises due to the lower canadian dollar.
Lyle Richardson from spectorshockey.net, mentionned in his wednesday edition of the soapbox,that Pierre-Karl Peladeau of Quebecor,a company that owns newspapers,tv stations and a major cable company,should pay for it himself,since he had the capital put together to buy the Montreal Canadiens and the Bell Centre,before getting outbid by the Molson Family two years ago.It would be a risky project to go in to it alone when your not even guaranteed an NHL franchise.
It will be interesting to see what the outcome of all of this in the months to come.
That's all for now !
Harper,in his statement,was being consistant with himself, as the head of the canadian taxpayers Federation in 2000,when the Chretien government was considering provinding assistance to struggling canadian franchises due to the lower canadian dollar.
Lyle Richardson from spectorshockey.net, mentionned in his wednesday edition of the soapbox,that Pierre-Karl Peladeau of Quebecor,a company that owns newspapers,tv stations and a major cable company,should pay for it himself,since he had the capital put together to buy the Montreal Canadiens and the Bell Centre,before getting outbid by the Molson Family two years ago.It would be a risky project to go in to it alone when your not even guaranteed an NHL franchise.
It will be interesting to see what the outcome of all of this in the months to come.
That's all for now !
