C o v e r Sto r y b y D a v e Stu bbs The Rocket's red glare ‘Fire and Ice 9 revisits a notorious night in hockey (and Canadian) history I t was on Jan. 15, 1955 that the scoring title and the Canadiens author Hugh MacLennan the Stanley Cup. wrote: “...Maurice Richard Most everyone - French and Eng­ has a status with some peo­ lish - called the punishment ple in Quebec not much below a ridiculously harsh. When Campbell tribal god. and I doubt if even he took his usual seat in the Forum realizes how much of what he on March 17, he was splattered stands for in the public mind is with eggs and tomatoes and physi­ only indirectly connected to the cally assaulted by rabid Richard game he plays.” fans. Then, a tear-gas bomb Two months and two nights exploded, prompting the evacuation later, the air in the Montreal of the building and igniting a Forum was thick with smoke sorry and remarkable time in and fear. Even today, a crude Canadian history. tear-gas bomb is remembered McKenna was in Montreal, a not merely as the flashpoint of a nine-year-old Canadiens fan then. riot, but of a revolution. “I look back now at how I saw Filmmaker Brian McKenna Maurice Richard,” he says, “and I (War of 1812) brings the terror understand how kids growing up and significance of March 17, in ancient Greece must have felt 1955 vividly to life in his new about the gods.” one-hour documentaryFire an d Fire and Ice plumbs the rich Ice: The Rocket Richard Riot. memories of referee Red Storey; This popular insurrection has Richard teammate Ken Reardon; been woven into Quebec’s veteran hockey writer Red Fisher, social fabric for 45 years, who was covering his first Canadi­ debated as much by historians as ens game; broadcaster Dick Irvin by hockey fans. It is fitting, Jr., son of the Rocket’s coach; then, that McKenna, who in ear­ Canadiens fan Guy Robinson, who lier projects has so superbly with his brothers took a bag of explored the history of Canada, tomatoes to the Forum that night to would tell the story of the Mon­ “make some Campbell soup;” and treal Canadiens’ Maurice Flashback: Richard (right) shakes hands with Boston Bruins Phyllis King, widow of the contro­ Richard, a symbol for a people goalie Sugar Jim Henry after the 1953 Stanley Cup final versial NHL president. Splendid and one of the country’s most archival footage and photography luminous sporting figures. Storey, who refereed that fateful game. “And transport you back in time, but most riveting In the violence that spilled out of the Forum Rocket Richard was bigger than the Pope.” are cinematographer Stefan Nitoslawski’s that March 17, there was a profound awaken­Richard was a thorn in the side of dictatorial moody re-creations of two events: the ing as the souls of French-Canadians were NHL president Clarence Campbell, a lawyer Richard-Laycoe fracas in Boston (a grandson stirred to rebellion against the persecution ofand war hero who ruled the six-team league of the Rocket is one of the Canadiens), and the English, the affluent ruling class of the city with an iron fist. During a game in Boston onthe suspension hearing held by Campbell and province. But this was not about race orMarch 13, 1955, Richard and Bruins defence- (sharp-eyed viewers will look rear left and see language, the nationalist newspaperLe Dick Irvin, playing his father). D evoir suggested, it was about a people i The impact of Maurice Richard tran­ tired of “toadying” to its masters. "Hockey in Quebec was biggerscended his game and, 45 years after he The Richard Riot embraced the mood unwittingly changed the course of his­ of a population that decided to rewrite than the church. And Rocket tory, he remains larger than life to his its destiny, the passions for hockey andRichard was bigger than the Pope.fans - a Montreal filmmaker included. politics colliding with spectacular force “You’d have to go off the continent to amid broken glass and bonfires. “The find an athlete as influential, to (soc­ riot happened like a classic Richard goal.” man Hal Laycoe were involved in a bloody cer’s) Pele or the great matadors of Spain,” McKenna writes. “It could not be held back, exchange; Richard slugged linesman Cliff McKenna says. “It’s glorious that, after all and there was just enough violence to get theThompson during the melée and was sum­ this time, the Rocket remains a hero to so job done.” moned to Campbell’s office in Montreal. many, in his time and in ours.” The protagonist was Maurice (Rocket) The Canadiens star was on the verge of Richard, the most exciting and prolific scorer winning his first league scoring championship FIRE AN D ICE: of his generation, a powderkeg on skates whoand was leading his team into the playoffs. THE ROCKET RICHARD RIOT carried both his opponents and the dreams ofBut Campbell suspended him not only for W ednesday: G lobal. Also airing French Quebecers on his back. “Hockey in the regular season's.three remaining games, Friday, M arch 17; (TV. CICT. TV A Quebec was bigger than the church,” says Redbut also the post-season, costing Richard COVER COVER ART: EUGENE PAW CZUK. COVER AND INSIDE PHOTOS: COURTESY OF GLOBAL TELEVISION NETW O RK 2 - The Prince G eorge CitizenTV TIMES.