Habs history

Maurice (Rocket) Richard celebrates his 500th NHL goal on Oct. 19, 1957 with adoring fans.
Courtesy Montreal Canadiens

Fifty years ago last Friday, Maurice (Rocket) Richard scored his 500th NHL goal.

Lost in the glow of the achievement was the role played by Paul Haynes, a former Canadien and later coach of the senior-league Montreal Amateurs, who saw in the future Rocket a great ability on the right wing – the opposite side of Richard's natural left wing.

Here is how Haynes helped to shape one of the greatest talents in hockey history – aided in part by Haynes's love of the opera.

I've been enjoying, from afar, the views and news posted here the past couple of weeks by colleagues Mike Boone and Kevin Mio. Yes, it's 3:45 a.m. ET as this is posted, and I'm hungry for dinner, not breakfast, but that's what I get for having spent two weeks in Japan covering the world track and field championships...

If you haven't already, visit Mike and Kevin's posts of the past day on the Canadiens' unveiling of the club's new uniforms, a look just slightly tweaked from the old. And below, glommed from the Habs media guide of last season, is a look at the history of the uniform, twinned with Mike's look back.

Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda was exposed to some great hockey while pitching for the International League's Montreal Royals in the 1950s, the farm club of the Brooklyn Dodgers and springboard to the major leagues of pioneer Jackie Robinson.