The Rocket was released in 2005, and documents the meteoric rise of Maurice Richard, from his beginnings as a machinist during the Great Depression to being the star of the Montreal Canadiens. With that in mind, one thing to note is that this is way more than just a sports movie.
Richard, although a man of few words, finally finds his voice and speaks out about the prejudice and inequality that French Canadians have been experiencing. When Richard was suspended in 1955, riots spread throughout the country, and this could go on to be the catalyst that sparked the Quiet Revolution in Quebec.
A Blockbuster Full of Heart
This blockbuster movie is full of heart, and it does a great job of detailing the influence that Richard had on ice hockey as a whole. Since its release, it has won nine Genie Awards and been nominated for 13. This isn’t the only depiction of ice hockey in the media though, as many other movies have since been released. This includes Miracle, Ice Guardians and Mystery, Alaska.
Ice hockey has also been prevalent in online games, including Break Away. Microgaming created this slot, featured on the Lucky Days online casino Canada website. The game has flaming puck symbols and numerous animated player images, paying homage to the sport of ice hockey while embracing the sporting theme.
Online games like this have helped ice hockey to break through into new countries as well, including the UK. Latest stats show that 5% of people in the UK actively watch ice hockey, which is substantial when you consider the fact that there is yet to be a major television provider to sign a broadcasting deal.
Maurice Richard and his NHL Career
The Rocket’s director, Charles Binamé does a fantastic job of framing the story of Maurice Richard. Richard, during his NHL career, led in total goals scored during his 18-season career. He performed well under pressure, with 82 playoff goals accredited to him.
Six of them happened during overtime, with seven hattricks during crucial playoff games. During his playoff game against Toronto in 1944, he scored all five goals in the game, leading them to a 5-1 win. In 1947, he was given the Hart Trophy, to recognise his efforts. Even though he was a hit in the NHL, his success was hampered early on as he was plagued by injuries.
A broken ankle stunted his career just 16 games into his rookie season. He clawed his way back and made sure that his injury wasn’t going to hold him back from achieving his hopes and dreams. As a result of his tenacity, his teammate Raymond Getcliffe awarded him the nickname, “Rocket”. During practice, he was able to outperform the entire ice hockey team with both speed and efficiency.
That nickname would go on to be the name of the movie about his life, which has since become a blockbuster success for the Canadian market and inspired a lot of other media, including online games.