Montreal Canadiens legend Henri Richard posthumously diagnosed with CTE

The family of the late Montreal Canadiens legend Henri Richard announced that he has tested positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, according to a story from TSN’s Rick Westhead.

Richard was posthumously diagnosed with stage three of a possible four of CTE, something that was confirmed by Dr. Stephen Saikali of Universite Laval in Quebec City. Richard becomes the 16th known former player and second Hall of Famer to be diagnosed with the disorder.

CTE is a disease to the brain, causing the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain. It as been commonly linked to contact sports due to the repetitive brain trauma that occurs to players, and can only be accurately diagnosed posthumously during an autopsy of the brain. Richard also played without a helmet throughout his career, increasing the likelihood of this occuring.

“I played with Henri. We won two Cups together. He fits none of the easy stereotypes, checks none of the easy boxes,” former Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden said in a statement. “Played in a different time, old-time hockey, all the fights? Not Henri. Big hitter? Not Henri. Like Stan Mikita and Ralph Backstrom, he was a great skater, and physical, but he had a playmaker’s mind, and played that way. But all those hits to the head. We have to understand, whatever the sport, a hit to the head is not a good thing.”

Other players that have been diagnosed with CTE are Stan Mikita, Bob Probert, Derek Boogaard, Jeff Parker, Wade Belak, Larry Zeidel, Reggie Fleming, Rick Martin, Ralph Backstrom, Steve Montador, Zarley Zalapski, Todd Ewen and Dan Maloney. Westhead also reported that four former junior hockey players also tested positive for the disorder, with all four committing suicide before the age of 30.

The NHL, especially commissioner Gary Bettman, has consistently denied the link between the repeated brain trauma in hockey and long-term degenerative diseases, something the NFL admitted to in 2016. However, the NHLPA has rejected the NHL’s stance on the issue.

Often called the “Pocket Rocket” throughout his career due to being the younger brother of Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Henri Richard spent the entirety of his 20-season career with the Canadiens from 1955 to 1975. He finished his career with 358 goals, 688 assists, and 1,046 points in 1,258 regular season games, along with 49 goals, 80 assists, and 129 points in 180 playoff games. He won a Bill Masterton Trophy in 1973-74, but is better known for holding the record for most Stanley Cups won in a career with 11. He also only got into 19 fights in his NHL career.

Richard died in 2020 at the age of 84, with his family saying he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease at the time of his death.