Back in 1998-99 the NHL introduced the Maurice "Rocket" Richard trophy to the NHL's leading goal scorer in the regular season. A hell of a gesture for Richard who in his day was often treated with disdain by the NHL's English elite and Clarence Campbell who learned first hand with a tear gas bomb to the back of the head what Maurice Richard meant to the game of hockey. Currently held by Alexander Ovechkin, it is an elite trophy named after a man who could be argued saved the NHL with his brilliant goal scoring.
There was though, an original Maurice Richard Trophy for goal scoring that was meant to be awarded annually to the top scoring junior hockey player in Canada. Feast your eyes on this beauty.
On top of the rocket shaped monument is the puck Richard scored his 480th NHL goal in 1957, the skates were the ones he wore while setting the record 325th NHL goal in 1952. Unfortunately for us all, the trophy was never awarded. Who wouldn't like to see this puppy being paraded around by a young star heading to the NHL draft?
Of course, there are also some bitching scoring records in the Canadian Hockey League, that are deserving to be engraved somewhere around these skates.
For instance, TSN commentator Ray Ferraro has one hell of a record for most goals in a single season in the Western Hockey League. In 1983-84 while
Gretzky was popping home a measly 87 goals, Ferraro as a Brandon Wheat King snapped in 108 in 72 games. To wit, his son Landon currently playing for the Red Deer Rebels has a career high of 13. Ray is a hell of a guy and needs this trophy awarded retroactively to add to his resume.
In the Ontario Hockey League, one might think it'd be adorned by Gretzky, Orr, Lindros or even Tavares. But they'd be wrong. In 1980-81 with the Windsor Spitfires, Ernie Godden scored 87 which stands to this day as the record. The dude went on to play 5 games for the MapleLeafs
in the 80s, which is no great feat as Harold Ballard would have allowed you to play if you'd lace them up for $500.00 a game. Who knows what ever happened to ol' Ernie
, but we'd remember him if he had his name on this trophy in the Hall of Fame.
And of course Mario Lemieux scored 133 goals in one season in the notoriously high-scoring QMJHL. But they don't count, and he doesn't need any more accolades.
4 comments:
the early version of the maurice richard trophy was awarded to the most combative player in the metropolitaine league in montreal and was won by Jacques Contant . this trophy was awarded only that year.
http://thehockeysweater.blogspot.com/
Have you seen "The Hockey Sweater" animation? There's some art on that site you might like.
That Trophy was awarded to Jaques Contant.That is my grandpa who is now since past away.However our family has all the pictures and proof one would need to prove it.Including a signature from the rocket on the picture that was taken when he presented my Grandpa that trophy.Now i am not a big hockey fan, but it does irritate me and our family has been fighting with the NHL to even have this recognized.There was alot of controversy back then when the Rocket was in the game and around the time of his suspension from the game NHL officials broke into my Grand parents home in Montreal and tried to remove any evidence that this trophy even exsisted for alot of years.Now only recently do they admit the exsitance of it but they still refuse to aknowledge the great hockey player who was hand picked by the rocket as the first recipient of that trophy.Anyone who does not believe me about this is more then welcome to comment, but i do have probably the only physical eveidence in exsistence that this is in fact a true story.what would be even bettr is to find a group of people willing to stand up with me and help get this recognized , so my Grandfathers soul can rest in peace that his life was recognized for something that has caused our family a headache for so many years.
Ernie Godden is the Manager in Windsor Ontario of Allied Systems on Provincal Rd
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