Michel Larocque (ice hockey, born 1952)
Michel Raymond "Bunny" Larocque ( born April 6, 1952 in Hull, Quebec, † July 29, 1992 ) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goalie who from 1973 to 1984 for the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues played in the National Hockey League.
Career
During his youth, he played together with Denis Potvin at the Ottawa 67 's. He was one of the most talented young goalkeeper in his class. In the NHL Amateur Draft 1972, the Montréal Canadiens picked him in the first round as the Sixth.
He was also nominated for the training camp to the Summit Series in 1972. His first season as a professional he played with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs of the AHL. After a strong season there, the Canadiens brought him to the 1973/74 season in the NHL. The number one goal of the team, Ken Dryden put in a year's break, and so he came up as number two behind Wayne Thomas to 27 inserts. As Dryden returned to the following season, he was the sole number two behind the Toptorwart the league. During this time the Torwartduo won three Vezina Trophy and the Canadiens won four Stanley Cups.
After Dryden had ended his career, Larocque played in the 1979/80 season, the most games for the Canadiens. But the new Number Two Denis Herron was almost the same number of games. With both Richard Sevigny pandered around the trunk space and was able to record the following season, the starting place for themselves. After was another goalkeeper on the go in the squad with Rick Wamsley, the paths of the Canadiens and Larocque parted.
The Toronto Maple Leafs he solved Jiří Crha from the target. The defense of the Leafs was weak and he had very often resort behind. During the season 1982/83 he moved to the Philadelphia Flyers, for whom he played only twice and not passed by Pelle Lindbergh. In the 1983/84 season he started with the St. Louis Blues. He usually played in the AHL with the Springfield Indians and in the IHL with the Peoria Rivermen. There, he finished his career in 1985.
Michel Larocque died in 1992 at the age of 40 years with a brain tumor in his hometown of Hull.
NHL stats
Sporting successes
- Stanley Cup: 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979
Personal Awards
- OHA -Jr. Second All-Star Team: 1971
- OMJHL First All -Star Team: 1972
- AHL Second All-Star Team: 1973
- Harry " Hap " Holmes Memorial Award: 1973, together with Michel Deguise
- Vezina Trophy: 1977, 1978 and 1979, respectively, together with Ken Dryden in 1981 and together with Denis Herron and Richard Sevigny