Complex sentence: Goaltender Jacques Plante claimed it to be one of the most appropriate nicknames given to an athlete, noting the fierce intensity that often showed in Richard's eyes and comparing it to "the rocket's red glare" referenced in "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Split into simpler sentences: Goaltender Jacques Plante claimed it to be one of the most appropriate nicknames given to an athlete. He made note of the fierce intensity that often showed in Richard's eyes and compared it to "the rocket's red glare" referenced in "The Star-Spangled Banner".