Andre Racicot
Encyclopedia
André Racicot, nicknamed "Red Light" (born June 9, 1969 in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec
) is a retired ice hockey
goaltender.
Racicot started his National Hockey League
(NHL) career with the Montreal Canadiens
, for whom he played from 1989 to 1993, and won a Stanley Cup
with in 1993.
Racicot is perhaps unfairly best remembered for his infamous nickname, "Red Light" (although not the original owner of the name as it was originally given to former Maple Leafs netminder Ken Wregget
) earned by allowing three goals on six shots in his first NHL game. The nickname was first used by Don Cherry
in 1991, although Racicot had the NHL's second-highest winning percentage that season and a slightly worse goals against average
than Patrick Roy
. While he spent most of his career playing as Roy's backup, he had a very successful career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
and in the American Hockey League
(AHL) for the Canadiens' farm teams, sharing the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for fewest goals allowed in the AHL in 1990.
Racicot left the NHL after the 1994 season, spending several seasons with various teams in the AHL, International Hockey League, and East Coast Hockey League. The 1999–2000 season saw Racicot move to Russia
, playing in 20 games with HC Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik before returning to North America for another five seasons of minor-pro hockey. He retired as a player in 2004.
Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec
Rouyn-Noranda is a city on Osisko Lake in northwestern Quebec, Canada.The city of Rouyn-Noranda is coextensive with a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality and census division of Quebec of the same name...
) is a retired ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender.
Racicot started his National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) career with the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, for whom he played from 1989 to 1993, and won a Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
with in 1993.
Racicot is perhaps unfairly best remembered for his infamous nickname, "Red Light" (although not the original owner of the name as it was originally given to former Maple Leafs netminder Ken Wregget
Ken Wregget
Kenneth Wregget is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He won the Stanley Cup in 1992 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.-Playing career:...
) earned by allowing three goals on six shots in his first NHL game. The nickname was first used by Don Cherry
Don Cherry
Don Cherry may refer to:* Don Cherry hockey player, coach, and commentator* Don Cherry , trumpeter* Don Cherry...
in 1991, although Racicot had the NHL's second-highest winning percentage that season and a slightly worse goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
than Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
. While he spent most of his career playing as Roy's backup, he had a very successful career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
and in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) for the Canadiens' farm teams, sharing the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for fewest goals allowed in the AHL in 1990.
Racicot left the NHL after the 1994 season, spending several seasons with various teams in the AHL, International Hockey League, and East Coast Hockey League. The 1999–2000 season saw Racicot move to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, playing in 20 games with HC Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik before returning to North America for another five seasons of minor-pro hockey. He retired as a player in 2004.