The hockey world is mourning one of its most-honoured players of all-time.
Henri Richard, the Montreal Canadiens centre who played his entire 20-year NHL career for the Habs, died Friday in a long-term care facility in Laval, Quebec. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2015. He was 84.
"Henri 'Pocket Rocket' Richard was a great player and a great ambassador for the Montreal Canadiens organization," said Canadiens owner Geoff Molson. "His passing is a great loss for all. My thoughts are with his family."
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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman praised Richard's contributions to hockey.
"Henri Richard was one of the true giants of the game," said Bettman. "The entire National Hockey League family mourns the passing of this incomparable winner, leader, gentleman and ambassador for our sport and the Montreal Canadiens."
First known as the younger brother of Canadiens legend Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Henri Richard became a hockey legend in his own right. He won 11 Stanley Cups while wearing the Canadiens crest, an all-time NHL record that is unlikely to be broken. The "Pocket Rocket" nickname was due to his 5' 7" frame and his age, 15 years younger than Maurice.
Born in Montreal, Richard played his junior hockey for the old Montreal Nationale of the Quebec Junior Hockey League, then the former Montreal Royals and the Junior Canadiens. He made his NHL debut in the 1955-1956 season, playing on a line with his brother.
Maurice retired in 1960, but Henri carried the Richard name and wrote his own chapter of the Canadiens' history. His career spanned four head coaches - Toe Blake, Claude Ruel, Al MacNeil, and Scotty Bowman. Upon his retirement after the 1974-1975 season, Richard had a career total of 1,256 games played, 358 goals, and 1,046 points. His #16 was retired by Montreal in 1975, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979.
While his 11 championships as a player is an all-time NHL record, Richard was tied for the most championships in North American sports with NBA legend Bill Russell. Richard's teammate, the late Jean Beliveau, had his name on the Stanley Cup 17 times, but only ten times as a player.
Richard is survived by his wife Lise, five children, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.