Joseph Henri Richard was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played centre with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1955 to 1975. He was nicknamed "Pocket Rocket" after his older brother, Canadiens' legend and fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Maurice "Rocket" Richard. Henri won the Stanley Cup 11 times as a player, the most in NHL history. Richard and Bill Russell of the National Basketball Association are tied for the record of the most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league. In 2017, Richard was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.
Richard with the Montreal Canadiens in the 1960s
Henri Richard signing autographs in 2011
Image: HHOF July 2010 Canadiens locker 08 (H. Richard)
The Montreal Canadiens, officially le Club de hockey Canadien and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Since 1996, the team has played its home games at Bell Centre, originally known as Molson Centre. The Canadiens previously played at the Montreal Forum, which housed the team for seven decades and all but their first two Stanley Cup championships.
Game between the Canadiens and the New York Rangers in 1962.
The Bell Centre with banners celebrating the Montreal Canadiens centennial.
The Canadiens mascot, Youppi!, poses for photographs at a Rogers Media event
Some of the retired numbers at Bell Centre, photographed in 2010