A visually stunning cultural history of the beloved hockey star who came to symbolize a nation. The fiery Maurice Richard was the highestscoring NHL player of his era, the first to achieve the feat of fifty goals in fifty games. Les yeux de Maurice Richard, as it was first published in 2006 in Quebec, won the Prix Marcel Couture 2007 from the Salon du livre de MontrÈal. Translated here by the award-winning Fred A. Reed, The Rocketrevisits highlights of the esteemed Number 9's greatest feats and most memorable moments, including his 1955 suspension for hitting a referee and the famous street riot that followed. The author goes well beyond the man to fully explore the myth that remains today. From Bob Hill's song "Saga of Maurice Richard" to Roch Carrier's The Hockey Sweater and Al Purdy's "Homage to Reeshard," cultural historian BenoÓt MelanÁon draws on print sources, photos, and illustrations to show how sportswriters, artists, playwrights, politicians, and citizens immortalized the Rocket. The Rocketcelebrates Richard in all his glory. This book is also in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Montreal Canadiens, the Rocket's one and only team. "