| | Associated Press
"We all wanted to wear (his) No. 9 when we were kids -- not just
me. This man played a role in my career through the pride he
displayed each time he wore the sweater of the Montreal
Canadiens." -- former Canadiens star Guy Lafleur.
"He was one of the best players who ever played in the history
of hockey. He was a man who had a lot of respect in the hockey
world." -- former Penguins star Mario Lemieux.
" I have a theory: Whenever he scored a goal the cheer at the
Forum was just a decibel higher than when anybody else scored, no
matter the importance." -- hockey broadcaster Dick Irvin Jr., whose
father coached Richard.
"He was an icon in Montreal, in Quebec. People just worshipped
him, so did we all," former teammate Dickie Moore.
"He had a solid will to win and was a tireless worker. Skilled
and determined, he was in all respects an indispensable teammate
but also a formidable opponent." -- Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard.
"There wasn't a dry eye in the house when he received a
standing ovation at the closing of the Montreal Forum (in 1996). It
was extremely moving; I almost fell to the ground, my knees were
trembling so hard." -- Ronald Corey, former president of the
Canadiens.
"With his pride, his passion, his drive and his determination,
Maurice Richard embodied all the qualities that make hockey
great." -- NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
"He'd walk into a room and it was like a king walked in. I live
in Three Rivers and the people in Quebec, they loved him, they
absolutely loved the guy. He was a great guy." -- broadcaster and
former NHL coach Don Cherry.
"What truly set him apart -- what made him a special hero to the
fans -- was his extraordinary intensity. He played with great
emotion and flair and possessed an unmatched will to win. His
dazzling combination of skill and drive not only made him one of
the greatest hockey players ever, it also made him a symbol to all
of what it takes to be a true champion." -- Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
"As soon as he would touch the puck, you could feel the
electricity in the crowd. It was amazing to see how people would
react -- not only in Montreal, but everywhere he played. There's
never been another like him." -- former linemate Bernie "Boom" Geoffrion.
"Richard ... was much more than a hockey player. He was the
first NHL player to score 50 goals in a 50-game season among his
544 in 978 regular-season games. He was the most intense athlete
this game, this city, this province, this country ever has seen. He
was everything that personified greatness. It was in this place -- the Montreal Forum -- he was to become an icon, a legend. He was, in
every way, one of a kind." -- Red Fisher of the Montreal Gazette.
"Rocket had that mean look on, every game we played. He was 100
percent hockey. He could hate with the best of them. But with all
respect, he set the standard to chase, and that was the scoring and
also his total ability. ... He was a tremendous influence in the
league and for the French population of Canada.
"He could rile up the Montreal fans in a hurry. God, sometimes
I felt sorry for the man. He must have got a standing ovation when
he went shopping." -- former Detroit star Gordie Howe.
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