Richard Riot - Riot

Riot

Public outrage from Montreal poured in about what residents felt was a too-severe punishment. Many Quebecers saw the suspension as the English minority further attempting to subjugate the French majority and an attempt to humiliate French Canadiens by "excessively punishing their favorite player". Campbell, who received death threats, stated that he would not back down and announced his intention to attend the Canadiens' next home game against the Red Wings on March 17, despite advice that he not do so. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the Montreal Forum lobby two hours before the game. Attempts to "crash the gate" by these fans without tickets were denied by police. They then began to gather at Cabot Square across from the Forum. The crowd of demonstrators grew to 6,000. Some carried signs that denounced Campbell, and others had signs reading - "Vive Richard" (Long live Richard), "No Richard, no Cup", "Our national sport destroyed", and many others. The crowd, originally described as "jovial", turned "surly" after police intervened at the ticket gate. After the mood turned foul, some members of the crowd began smashing windows and throwing ice chunks at passing streetcars.

The game vs. Detroit was a battle for first place, but the suspension unsettled the Canadiens. Goaltender Jacques Plante later recalled that the game seemed secondary, and players and officials were "casting worried glances at the sullen crowd". Montreal coach Dick Irvin likewise said afterward, "The people didn't care if we got licked 100-1 that night." Midway through the first period, with Montreal already down 2–0, Campbell arrived with three secretaries from his office (one of which he would later marry). The 15,000 in attendance immediately started booing Campbell. Some fans began pelting them with eggs, vegetables, and various debris for six straight minutes. At the end of the first period, Detroit had taken 4–1 lead, and the barrage began again. Despite police and ushers' attempts to keep fans away from Campbell, a fan, pretending to be a friend of Campbell's, managed to elude security. As he approached, the fan extended his hand as if to shake Campbell's. When Campbell reached out to shake his hand, the fan slapped him. As Campbell reeled from the attack, the fan reached back and delivered a punch. Police dragged the attacker away while he attempted to kick the NHL president. Shortly after the fan attack, a tear gas bomb was set off inside the Forum, not far from where Campbell was sitting. Montreal Fire Chief Armand Pare mandated that the game be suspended for "the protection of the fans," and The Forum was evacuated. Following the evacuation, Campbell took refuge in the Forum clinic, where he met with Canadiens' General manager Frank Selke. The two wrote a note to Adams declaring the Red Wings the winner of the game due to the Forum's ordered closure.

The departing crowd joined the demonstrators, and a riot ensued outside the Forum. Rioters were heard chanting "À bas Campbell" (Down with Campbell) and "Vive Richard" while they smashed windows, attacked bystanders, set fires to newsstands, and overturned cars. Over 50 stores were looted and vandalized within a 15-block radius of the Forum. Twelve policemen and twenty-five civilians were injured. The riot continued well into the night, eventually ending at 3 a.m., and it left Montreal's Saint Catherine Street in shambles. Police estimated between 41 and 100 individuals were arrested. Damage was estimated to be $100,000 ($849,645 in 2013 dollars) to the neighborhood and the Forum itself. One jewelry store alone estimated its losses at $7,000 ($59,475 in 2013 dollars).

Adams blamed Montreal officials after the game: "If they hadn't pampered Maurice Richard, built him up as a hero until he felt he was bigger than hockey itself, this wouldn't have happened."

The incident was national news in Canada. Reporters lined up to see both Campbell and Richard on March 18. Richard was reluctant to make a statement, fearing it could start another riot, but he eventually gave the following statement, both in French and English, over television to a national audience:

Because I always try so hard to win and had my troubles in Boston, I was suspended. At playoff time it hurts not be in the game with the boys. However, I want to do what is good for the people of Montreal and the team. So that no further harm will be done, I would like to ask everyone to get behind the team and to help the boys win from the New York Rangers and Detroit. I will take my punishment and come back next year to help the club and the younger players to win the Cup.

Campbell was unapologetic. He said that he considered it his "duty" as president to attend the game. Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau was livid at Campbell for attending, and he laid the blame for the riot on Campbell. A Montreal city councilor wanted Campbell arrested for inciting the riot. Years later Canadiens' centre Jean Beliveau stated that, although he disagreed with Campbell's decision to attend the game, as well as feeling Campbell might have been using his appearance to make a statement, he concluded that Campbell may have felt that if he did not attend he could appear to be hiding. He also noted that Campbell's absence might not have made much of a difference.