Richard Sévigny facts for kids

Richard Sévigny (born April 11, 1957) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played for two famous teams in the NHL: the Montreal Canadiens and the Quebec Nordiques. After his time in the NHL, he moved to France to coach ice hockey teams. He is also known for being the last Montreal Canadiens player to wear jersey number 33 before the legendary goalie Patrick Roy.

Playing Career

Early Hockey Days

Before joining the NHL, Richard Sévigny played for several different teams. He started his junior hockey career in the QMJHL. He played for the Granby Vicks and the Sherbrooke Castors.

In 1976, Richard was chosen for the QMJHL West First All-Star Team. This was a big honor! He played 55 games that season. His strong performance also caught the eye of Team Canada.

Playing for Team Canada

Richard was picked to play in the 1976 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. This is a major tournament for young hockey players from around the world. He helped Team Canada win a silver medal.

His great play at this international event got the attention of the Montreal Canadiens. In 1977, they chose him in the 1977 NHL amateur draft. He was the 124th player picked overall. The Canadiens actually drafted seven other goalies that year, so there was a lot of competition!

Minor League Journey

In 1978, Richard played for the Kalamazoo Wings in the IHL. He played 35 games and was named to the Second All-Star Team.

The next season, he played in the AHL. He played for both the Springfield Indians and the Nova Scotia Voyageurs. These leagues help players get ready for the NHL.

A Stanley Cup Surprise

In the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals, something amazing happened to Richard. He was supposed to be a backup goalie for the Montreal Canadiens. The starting goalie got hurt during warm-ups before Game Two.

Suddenly, Richard had to get ready as the backup! The Canadiens went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. Even though he hadn't played a single NHL game yet, Richard's name was engraved on the famous Stanley Cup trophy!

Becoming an NHL Star

After legendary goalie Ken Dryden retired in 1979, spots opened up on the Canadiens team. Richard played very well at training camp. He earned a spot and played in eleven regular season games in 1979-80.

The next season, 1980-81, was a huge year for him. He played in 33 games and won 20 of them! He also had the best GAA (a stat for goalies) in the entire league.

Richard won the Vezina Trophy that season. This award goes to the best goalie in the NHL! He shared the award with two other Canadiens goalies, Denis Herron and Michel Larocque.

A Famous Hockey Fight

On April 20, 1984, Richard was part of a very famous game. It was against the Quebec Nordiques, a big rival team. This game is known as the "Vendredi Saint" brawl.

During the game, both teams' benches emptied twice! The game was delayed for over an hour because of all the commotion. Richard even got into a fight with the Nordiques' backup goalie, Clint Malarchuk. He was given a penalty for fighting.

Moving to Quebec and France

Richard had two more good seasons with the Canadiens. But then, they did not offer him a new contract. The Quebec Nordiques quickly signed him to a four-year deal.

He played for the Nordiques for three seasons. He also played for their AHL team, the Fredericton Express. Richard finished his professional playing career in France in 1990.

Richard Sévigny

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver	1976 Finland	Ice hockey

Life After Hockey

After retiring from playing, Richard Sévigny stayed involved in hockey. He has played in charity hockey games for former players. He also coached the semi-pro team, the Verdun Dragons.

There's a famous story about Richard from the 1981 playoffs. He was quoted saying that Guy Lafleur would easily handle Wayne Gretzky. This quote supposedly motivated the Edmonton Oilers to win against the Canadiens!

Awards and Achievements

• Selected to the QMJHL First All-Star Team in 1976.
• Selected to the IHL Second All-Star Team in 1978.
• Stanley Cup champion in 1979.
• Vezina Trophy winner in 1981 (shared with Michel Larocque and Denis Herron).