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There are few heroes in
Quebec.
Although our people are
proud and kind of shy, perhaps wounded, they do not praise their
peers easily. They rarely do it, and if they dare do it, it will
be in a most generous way. Maurice Richard was a cherished hero.
Quebec loves him in a unique way as if looking itself in a mirror.
Because we look alike, everyone identifies himself to him. He
is a simple and ordinary man but his strength, courage and determination
are outstanding and we feel that he portrays us. This is our
paradox.
He is a great man, perhaps
without knowing it but at times someone must play a role greater
than himself.
Maurice Richard was like
an hymn to life and to courage, enjoying life he gave everything
to the game, leaving an ineffaceable mark on his sport..
 Maurice was a winner
and he knew it. He was haunted by his urge to win. His physical
fitness gave him the power needed to accomplish his goal, achieving
records that took a long time to be surpassed in the world of
hockey.
He always had a fiery look
in his eyes...
I saw it myself and it
was remarkable. Even as the years went by his eyes were transmitting
a powerful energy. Powerful like the look of a great feline.
A tremendous willpower which reminded me of another look...
July 1994
At last freedom : it is
4 :30 PM on a hot summer day. The return home.
Jocelyne and I were tired after a
rough day at the hospital walking to the next bus stop or ready
to get to the next Metro station. The sun was burning.
We walked through Mailloux Pavilion to Lachapelle. So we went
through both Pavilions and ended up on Sherbrooke street as usual.
This journey takes us through two cafeterias , endless hallways,
including the Hall of Fame of old doctors, the Medical Library,
the archives and the main Hall. We finally reached the exit and
at the last door a man of a certain age open the door for me.
A good looking man with a beautiful smile. I thanked him while
returning his smile.
He was Maurice Richard.
He came to visit his wife
seriously ill.
A lot of people met him at the hospital that summer.
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Right
away he reminded me of Roy.
I saw Roy in True West
and they both had the same fire in their eyes. Although many
years were separating them they look alike like twin brothers.
Like soul brothers. But Maurice Richard had a special light in
his eyes which was different from Roy. They were on different
path. But you would notice the same energy and the same desire
to accomplish things that had to be done.
At the office, the next
day, Jocelyne was waiting for me holding in her hands so preciously
a book on Maurice Richard. We first look at the pictures and
one of them arouse my curiosity. It only showed his face. When
he was about 20. He just looked like Roy. The shape of the face
was there, his forehead, his jaw...
But something was different in the look of his eyes.
Maurice Richard eyes were
very special, something unique in them. His passionate dark eyes
showing alertness determination. The eagle’s eyes.
Looking at him straight in the eyes, you could feel its warmth
and power and a look of an unbelievable strength. Now I knew
with whom I was dealing with.
The look of a fortress.
The only occasion that
I saw Roy Dupuis was on the stage.
But you can not say that you actually exchange looks with an
actor while he is playing on the stage because he is already
in an another world. When I saw him he may be Adrien or Lee.
So it is hard to tell that way. Instead I will base my opinion
on interviews. But again the presence is not there. You do not
feel the nature of human being if he is behind a screen but you
do if he is near you. Then you are able to feel his aura , to
take his pulse...to feel his soul.
From this knowledge, which
is not personal, I am able to say that the look in his eyes is
his own trade mark. He tuned up himself on the same wave length
of Maurice Richard. A tranquil look resembling to a sleeping
volcano. But always ready to explode, which would only need a
spark or a word to fire it up.
The first time that I saw
Maurice Richard, I was sure that nobody but Roy Dupuis could
play that role. To me it was very clear. I was hoping that someone
would go ahead to make a film or a TV series before Maurice Richard
quits this world or before Roy gets too old to play the role.
I knew that it had to be done. They looked alike so much.
Finally my wish came true.
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