MONTREAL -- Successful seasons for both men's and women's hockey teams at Plattsburgh State University are about to culminate in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournaments.

While waiting for the next major hockey event, the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs, take a ride north to Montreal for a special hockey exhibit. At Chateau Ramezay, in Old Montreal, legendary player Maurice "Rocket" Richard (pronounced ree-char) is being honored by a special installation, "Rocket Richard -- The Legend -- The Legacy."

For those who aren't hockey fans, Richard (1921-2000) was the nucleus of the Montreal Canadiens championship teams of the 1950s. Along with such players as Jean Beliveau and brother Henri Richard (the "Pocket Rocket"), he led a hockey dynasty largely equivalent to that claimed by the New York Yankees of the same era.

PRO AT 21

During his record-breaking heyday, Richard's goals were followed every bit as closely as the home runs of Barry Bonds in his pursuit of Hank Aaron's record last year. Thus, just as non-baseball fans are intrigued by the Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore, one doesn't have to follow hockey to enjoy this exhibit on Richard.

Photographs, trophies, newspaper headlines and scrapbooks provide the basic time line of Richard's career. Personal memorabilia ranges from uniforms he wore and sticks he used to some of his contracts (in 1958-59 he was paid $12,000 plus $100 for every goal) and his passport. Of course, there's a gold ring awarded for one of the eight Stanley Cups won by his teams.

Born in the St. Denis area of Montreal, the "Rocket" was skating by age 4. His progression through the hockey ranks brought him to the pros by age 21. Along the way, he always remembered how he was rebuffed when, as a youngster, he had asked a Montreal player for an autograph. Legend has it that he never refused such a request himself.

544 LIFETIME GOALS

A referee once commented, "God put Maurice Richard on this earth to do one thing -- score goals."

And score goals, he did. Video clips show some of his most famous plays; the excitement of announcers is palpable. His single-season record of 50 goals stood for decades until the arrival of Bobby Hull and Wayne Gretzky. Similarly, his lifetime total of 544 set a new professional standard. When he set the career record, he had the puck gold-plated and sent to one of his special fans -- Queen Elizabeth II.

I knew nothing about the fervent response to National Hockey League Commissioner Clarence Campbell's suspension of Richard for rough play during the 1955 season. Fan riots led to the need for Richard himself to plead for calm.

Picking up audiophones, we could listen to both Campbell's announcement of the suspension and Richard's eventual plea for harmony. One entrepreneurial fan marketed "Rocket 9" tomato soup so that no one needed to buy Campbell's! (No relation, however.)

FRANCOPHONE HERO

The legendary hockey player's exploits on the rink made him a hero, especially to French-Canadians. Playing during a time of Anglophone domination in Quebec, he gave French-speaking citizens someone to revere. A victim of discrimination at times during his career, he became a spokesperson for those sharing his heritage.

Naturally, there was a thriving business in souvenirs. Shirts with the number "9" sold well. So did Maurice Richard hockey games. My favorite among those displayed was the puck-shaped Maurice Richard transistor radio.