Jacques Richard

Jacques Richard (born October 7, 1952 in Quebec City, Quebec - died October 8, 2002) was a professional ice hockey centre who played in the NHL for the Atlanta Flames, Buffalo Sabres, and Quebec Nordiques.

Richard was drafted 2nd overall by the Flames in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. He had a spectacular junior career with the Quebec Remparts, scoring 186 goals and 213 assists for 399 points in only 169 games. At the time he was considered by some to have equal if not more pro potential than teammate Guy Lafluer. [http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=14113] However he was to have a mostly indifferent pro career. Alternating seasons between the NHL and the minors and traded to Buffalo and finally Quebec. Except for a single season , playing on a line with the Stasny brothers for the Quebec Nordiques, the city of his junior triumphs, in the 1980–81 season, Richard tallied 52 goals and 51 assists for 103 points, to finish 10th in league scoring. This was to be the only time he was to show this potential. He was moved off the line with the Stasnys the next season and his mediocre play returned. He retired in 1983.

In 1989 he was arrested for attempting to smuggle cocaine into Canada. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01E2D7103AF937A25753C1A9649C8B63]

He was named to QMJHL all-time All-Star team by the Canadian Hockey League in 1999. [http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1972/72002.html]

Jacques Richard died October 8, 2002 in a car accident at age 50. [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2002/10/09/richard021009.html]

Career statistics

				Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1972–1983	Season Highs	NHL		78	52	51	103	77		10	3	4	6	14
10 Seasons	Career	NHL		556	160	187	347	307		35	5	5	10	34