Montreal’s deep connection to hockey was celebrated Sunday at the Bell Centre with the unveiling of two commemorative plaques marking key moments in the province’s sporting history.
The plaques recognize the first official game of ice hockey, played in Montreal in 1875, and honour Maurice “Rocket” Richard, the legendary Montreal Canadiens forward whose career left a lasting mark on the sport and Quebec society.
The ceremony took place as part of the 30th anniversary of the Bell Centre and brought together members of Richard’s family and friends as well as former hockey players.
One of the plaques commemorates what is widely recognized as the first official ice hockey game, played on March 3, 1875.
Installed at the entrance of the Bell Centre on avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, the plaque explains how the historic matchup pitted a team led by captain James G. A. Creighton against a team led by captain Charles E. Torrance. All players were members of the Victoria skating club.
Creighton’s team won the game 2–1, which was played in front of spectators invited to watch what was then a novel demonstration of the sport.
The designation of the game as a historic event under Quebec’s Cultural Heritage Act was announced March 3, 2025, marking the 150th anniversary of the milestone.
A second plaque unveiled at the same location honours Maurice Richard, one of the most iconic players in Montreal Canadiens history and a central figure in Quebec’s sporting culture.
During over 18 seasons with the Canadiens, Richard helped the team win eight Stanley Cups and finished as the NHL’s leading goal scorer five times.
In the 1944-45 season, he became the first NHL player to score 50 goals in a single season, reaching the milestone in 50 games.
Richard remains the Canadiens’ all-time leading goal scorer in both the regular season and playoffs, and the NHL trophy awarded annually to the league’s top goal scorer now bears his name.
Richard was designated a historic figure under Quebec’s Cultural Heritage Act on May 25, 2025, marking the 25th anniversary of his death.
Government officials said the plaques recognize hockey’s importance in Quebec’s cultural identity.
Mathieu Lacombe, Quebec’s minister of culture and communications, said celebrating the province’s history means recognizing the people and events that shaped its identity.
“Celebrating our culture and history means honoring those who have shaped our identity and passing on their legacy to future generations. Today, we are pleased to unveil these two commemorative plaques, one marking the 150th anniversary of the first ice hockey game and the other honoring Maurice Richard, who embodied the pride and aspirations of the Quebec nation. “Thank you to Groupe CH for allowing the Bell Centre to host these two commemorative plaques, which are so important to our history and our collective identity.”
Isabelle Charest, Quebec’s minister responsible for sport and recreation, said hockey continues to play a unifying role across the province.
“Hockey has always held a unique place in the lives of Quebecers. Played in every region, in cities as well as in rural communities, it remains one of the most unifying sports. It is also a sport that fosters inclusion, and we are working to make it accessible to everyone. I am very proud to be part of a government that is taking concrete steps to promote ice hockey, a sport born here in the city that continues to thrill all of Quebec.”
City officials also emphasized Montreal’s historic role in the development of the sport.
Andréanne Moreau, a member of Montreal’s executive committee responsible for culture and heritage, said the plaques highlight the city’s place in hockey history.
“For 150 years, hockey has been woven into our culture and deeply rooted in our collective heritage. It inspires us, brings us together, and, in its own way, is part of our identity as Montrealers. It is a source of great pride to know that our national sport was born right here in Montreal. No player has captured the imagination and inspired generations quite like Maurice Richard. Victory after victory, he showed thousands—even hundreds of thousands—of fans that anything is possible. I would like to thank Ministers Lacombe and Charest for highlighting this important chapter in our history and for helping to pass it on with pride to future generations.”
The plaques will remain at the Bell Centre, home of the Montreal Canadiens.
France Margaret Bélanger, president of sports and entertainment at Groupe CH, said the arena has hosted many memorable moments for fans over the past three decades.
“For 30 years, the Bell Centre has been the setting for memorable moments that bring fans together around their passion for hockey. We are honored to welcome these two commemorative plaques to the Bell Centre: one marking the 150th anniversary of the first ice hockey game, and the other paying tribute to Maurice Richard, an iconic figure in our sporting history. These plaques serve as a reminder of a precious legacy and allow us to share it with fans of today and tomorrow. ”
The commemorations follow recent legislative recognition of hockey’s cultural importance in Quebec.
On Feb. 27, 2025, the National Assembly adopted legislation recognizing ice hockey as Quebec’s national sport and establishing the first Saturday of February as National Ice Hockey Day.
The first celebration took place on Feb. 7, 2026, and will now be observed annually.
