Session 1 Live and On-line June 20th, 7:30 PM EST (Lots 1-43)

Lot #36:

Rocket Richard MLG Photo

Amazing and very famous original photo from the hallowed halls of Maple Leaf Gardens. The date was December 14,1949 with the Montreal Canadiens visiting the hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. This well known check that sent Maurice Rocket Richard flying end over end was courtesy of Bill "The Beast" Juzda. His nickname came from his bone crushing hits and being a very tough individual. Juzda is not even in the photo as he had already skated away after delivering this blow that sent the Rocket sky high into the glass with his skates shattering the Gardens glass. The Leafs player looking on in shock is Vic Lynn. Richard hated Juzda as was the word from the hard hitting defensemen son and this hit did little to change his mind.  The game ended in a two all tie with Lynn assisting on the first goal, Juzda assisting on the second and Rocket scoring Montreal's first of the evening. This was the caption in the paper the day after this famous hit along with the photo up for auction. Rocket Richard is shown falling to the ice, just after his skate had shattered the glass back of the Toronto net in last night's hockey game at the Gardens. Bits of glass are shown showering down on the Rocket. Vic Lynn, one of the two Leafs who thumped Richard with body slams as he came in on the play, is shown looking back over his shoulder in amazement at the damage. The remaining piece of the specially treated panel has turned white. These Gardens photos were sold off years ago and have become very hard to pry from private collectors hands and with good reason.   Some lucky bidder will have this incredible conversation piece in their home, why not you. This photo is 21 inches long and 17 inches wide. Maple Leaf Gardens is a historic building located at the northwest corner of  and  in , , Canada. The building was originally constructed in 1931 as an  to host  games. Considered one of the "cathedrals" of hockey, it was home to the  of the  from 1931 to 1999. The Leafs won the  11 times from 1932 to 1967 while playing at the Gardens. The first NHL All-Star Game, albeit , was held at the Gardens in 1934 as a benefit for Leafs forward , who had suffered a career-ending head injury. The first official annual  was also held at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1947. Bill Juzda (October 29, 1920 – February 17, 2008) was a Canadian professional   from , . He played with the  and  of the  (NHL) between 1940 and 1952 and won the  with the Leafs twice, in  and . Not a prolific goal scorer, Juzda built a reputation as one of hockey's hardest hitters. One of his hits ended 's NHL career in the .  Maurice "Rocket" Richard  (August 4, 1921 – May 27, 2000) was a Canadian professional  player who played 18 seasons in the  (NHL) for the . He was the first player in NHL history to score , accomplishing the feat in  in , and the first to reach .