When the NHL gave Marty McSorley its harshest suspension ever for attacking Donald Brashear with his stick, the reaction from the public was overwhelmingly supportive. Things weren't quite the same 45 years ago following a much uglier incident that involved legendary Canadiens right winger Maurice "Rocket" Richard and the rabid Montreal hockey fans.

As the 1954-55 season was drawing to a close and Richard was zeroing in on his first overall scoring title, the Canadiens found themselves playing in Boston on March 13. Late in the game, Richard was charging toward the Boston goal when he got clipped in the head by Bruins defenseman Hal Laycoe's stick.

The referee immediately signaled for a penalty, but that wasn't enough for Richard. He went after Laycoe and hit him with his stick. Linesman Cliff Thompson wrestled the stick away from Richard, but the incensed player broke loose, grabbed another stick and attacked Laycoe again.

The incident would be repeated one more time, and then Richard punched the lineman before finally being subdued and thrown out of the game. Three days later, NHL President Clarence Campbell announced Richard would be suspended for the remainder of the season and the playoffs.

That didn't sit well with the Canadiens hero's fans, who bombarded Campbell with death threats. The league's chief executive remained unruffled, and on March 17, despite police warnings, he took his customary seat at the Forum to watch the Canadiens host the Detroit Red Wings. It was a big mistake.

A few minutes into the game, a man punched Campbell several times before being arrested. Another fan crushed tomatoes into Campbell's chest. Others threw paper cups and programs and then suddenly, a tear gas bomb went off.

The game was stopped and later forfeited to Detroit, but in the meantime, fans scrambled into the streets. They started vandalizing cars, breaking windows and looting stores. Calm was not restored until 3 a.m. when Richard himself went on the radio and made a personal plea for order.

With television still in its infancy, the Richard riot did not gain anywhere near the notoriety that the McSorley incident did, yet its impact was far more profound. In fact, the episode is widely considered the spark for Quebec's Quiet Revolution, a nationalist movement that began in the 1960s and continues today to drive the French-language province's effort to secede from the rest of English-speaking Canada.

Richard was allowed to return the following season, and played four more seasons before retiring as the greatest goal scorer of his era. But for all his wonderful achievements on the ice, he will always be remembered for causing a riot that took place during the week of March 13-19

March 13

Billy Reay was Chicago's most successful coach.(Provided to SportsLine)

Billy Reay had a decent career with the Montreal Canadiens in the 1940s and 50s, but his greatest impact in hockey was behind the bench of the Chicago Blackhawks. With a lineup that included Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Glenn Hall and Pierre Pilote, Reay coached the Windy City team from 1963 until 1976, leading his club to five first-place finishes and three Finals appearances. Reay never won a Stanley Cup with Chicago, but on this date in 1976, he posted his 501st victory for the Blackhawks, giving him the most wins of any coach in history with one team.

March 14

Joe Mullen knew his way around the net.(Allsport)

Joe Mullen played 16 seasons in the NHL and established himself as one of the finest U.S.-born players to ever lace up a pair of skates. A three-time All-Star and a two-time winner of the Lady Byng Trophy, scored more than 40 goals in a season four times, and became the second-oldest player to ever score at least 50, when he reached the plateau at the age of 32. On this date in 1997 while playing for Pittsburgh, Mullen made a case for a future Hall of Fame bid when he scored in a 6-3 loss to Colorado, thus becoming the first American to score 500 goals in his career.

March 15

Craig Simpson helped Edmonton win a Stanley Cup without Gretzky.(Allsport)

After a great college career at Michigan State, Craig Simpson was made the second overall pick of the 1985 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Simpson had some decent years with the Pens, but he truly blossomed after he was dealt to Edmonton in 1987, a trade that brought Paul Coffey to Pittsburgh. Simpson had 13 goals at the time of the move, and on this date in 1988, scored his 50th goal of the season, making him the first player in league history to reach that milestone while playing for two teams in one campaign. Simpson finished the year with 56 goals, the highest total he recorded during his 10-year career.

March 16

Billy Taylor gambled and lost.(Provided to SportsLine)

Billy Taylor had a brief NHL career with four teams in the 1940s and will be best remembered for being suspended for life as a result of his association with gamblers. He did however have some notable accomplishments on the ice, the most memorable of which took place on this date in 1947. Playing for the Red Wings, Taylor set a league record by assisting on seven goals to help Detroit beat Chicago 10-6. The record has never been broken, although Wayne Gretzky equaled the mark three times.

March 17

Milt Schmidt played, coached and served as GM for the Bruins.(Provided to SportsLine)

There have been many great lines over the years, but none has ever had as great a single season together as Boston's famed "Kraut Line" did in 1940. The trio of Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer, all of whom ended up in the Hall of Fame, helped the Bruins end their season with a 7-2 win over Montreal on this night in 1940, and in the process finished 1-2-3 in scoring. It was the first time in history one line has accomplished that feat.

March 18

Dick Irvin won four Stanley Cups as a coach.(Provided to SportsLine)

Dick Irvin was a legendary coach, who spent 26 years behind the bench with Chicago, Toronto and Montreal. His greatest success came with Montreal, and on this date in 1956, the team helped Irvin's career come to an end with two milestones. Montreal posted its 45th victory of the season, setting a new record at the time, and Irvin won his 690th career game, a mark that would last 28 years until it was broken by Scotty Bowman. Montreal went on to win the first of five consecutive Stanley Cups that season, and Irvin retired as a champion.

March 19

Danny Gare led the high-scoring Sabres in points that season.(Provided to SportsLine)

Yes Virginia, there was a time when the trap and the left-wing lock were not part of hockey's lexicon, even if it was an during era when goaltenders would cringe. Still, for fans who love wide-open, high-scoring hockey, there was nothing better than the the game played on this date in 1981 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres. The two teams set an NHL record when the combined for 12 goals in the second period. Buffalo scored nine of those goals in the middle period en route to posting a 14-4 victory.

Historical photos courtesy of Hockeyonline.com