‘Rocket’ Richard’s Condition Deteriorating

MONTREAL — Hockey great Maurice “Rocket” Richard is semi-comatose and fighting for his life, with the cancer in his abdomen spreading, agent Jean Roy said Saturday.

“Things seem to have dramatically worsened in a short time,” Roy told the French service of Broadcast News. “His health has deteriorated and the cancer has spread.”

Roy said the 78-year-old former Montreal Canadien is battling for his life at Hotel-Dieu hospital.

“We have determined that the cancer has spread throughout his body and that he’s in a semi-comatose state,” Roy told RDI, the French-language version of CBC Newsworld. “They’re giving him medication to ease his pain.”

Hospital spokesman Gerard Cellier refused to comment Saturday on Richard’s health and said the hospital would issue a statement if his condition takes a turn for the worse.

In addition to cancer, the Hall of Famer also is battling Parkinson’s disease and might have Alzheimer’s.

In 1944-45, Richard became the first NHL player to score 50 goals in a season, which he accomplished in only 50 games.

Richard scored a team-record 544 goals and won eight Stanley Cups with the Canadiens in the 1940s and 1950s. He also had 82 goals in the playoffs.