Montreal Canadiens legend Maurice Richard is among the best to ever lace up hockey skates and his family hopes to help kids play the game as well.
The Richard family honoured his legacy by starting the Maurice Richard Family Foundation, which will raise money to send underprivileged children to hockey camp.
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Richard’s youngest son Jean Richard and granddaughter Claudia Richard joined Global’s Laura Casella to talk about the foundation and what it means to the Maurice Richard legacy.
Richard was known for his hardworking habits. He continued to work a day job when he first started in the NHL to support his family.
“If he wanted to help the family, he needed to work.”
Richard himself came from a lower class neighbourhood during the Great Depression of the 1930s. He managed to overcome poverty and eventually made it to super-stardom.
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The cost of Canada’s favourite game is growing. Claudia says the family launched the foundation two years ago to make hockey accessible for those that can’t afford it.
“We wanted to make a difference and help kids pursue a career or just have the passion of playing hockey,” said Claudia.
“We know that it’s hard to play hockey. It is expensive, compared to back in the day.”
The Maurice Richard Family Foundation’s first fundraiser will be an AHL hockey game when the Laval Rocket host the Belleville Senators at Laval’s Place Bell on March 10. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.
Eight dollars from every ticket sold using a promo code RICHARD will go toward the foundation. Tickets can be purchased through the ticketmaster website.
More information about the event can be found on the Maurice Richard Family Foundation Facebook page.