56 years ago tonight

56 years ago tonight, the worst riot in NHL history took place in Montreal.
To set the scene, the Red Wings were first and the Canadiens second, as the teams began a home-and-home at the Forum that would end the regular season, and decide the league championship.

In the game before the home-and-home with the Wings, the Habs had a brawl with the Bruins(some things never change, doesn't it ALWAYS come down to the Habs and B's about something?-Richard and Laycoe then, Chara and Pacioretty now). Maurice "Rocket" Richard was fighting with Hal Laycoe, when linesman Cliff Thompson attempted to break it up, when Richard accidentally punched him. The NHL was not about to let that go, so NHL president Clarence Campbell suspended Richard for the remainder of the regular season AND the playoffs. Needless to say, the atmosphere in the Forum was surly when the Wings and Habs began the home-and-home on St. Patrick's night, 1955. The Wings raced out to a 4-1 lead, as the crowd got more-and-more incensed, and to make matters worse, Campbell showed up with his fiancee (who was also his assistant, which angered the crowd even more. A young man approached Campbell, seemingly to shake his hand, but instead he punched him. Then, someone lit a smoke bomb, and Campbell met with the Fire Marshall, ordered the Forum cleared, and the game forfeited to the Wings.

Campbell sent a message to Jack Adams (the Jack Adams who the coach-of-the-year trophy is named after) that the game was forfeited and he could take his team "on their way". The Wings got a police escort out of the area, but the nightmare in Montreal was just beginning. The crowd ran amok, smashing windows causing over $100,000 in damage, and injuring over 100 people. The Detroit News ran a headline saying "Over 100 Hurt In Wing Riot". The next morning Richard went onto the radio, and told the fans to calm down and go home, and he was hoping to help the Canadiens win the Cup the next year.

When the teams returned to Detroit, they played the second half of the home-and home at Olympia Stadium, where the Wings blew out the Habs 6-0, winning the regular season title, and gaining home-ice throughout the playoffs. They would need it, as they won the Cup in a seven-game final. Richard paid the price, as he lost what would prove to be his best chance to win the scoring championship. The rest of the Rocket's career was much better, as the Habs won the next five Stanley Cups.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1GQ1ulT1rs