Michel Larocque
Encyclopedia
Michel Raymond "Bunny" Larocque (June 4, 1952 - July 29, 1992) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 professional 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
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...

 who played for 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 ...

, Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

, Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 and St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...

 in the 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...

.

Playing career

In his junior hockey days, he played with the Ottawa 67's
Ottawa 67's
The Ottawa 67’s are a junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. They have played in the Ontario Hockey League since 1967, Canada's centennial year. The current coach is Chris Byrne.-History:...

 of the OHA
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...

 from 1968 to 1972. He led the league in shutouts for the last 3 of those years. He was also one of the most penalized goalies, and was regularly involved in fights. In 1973
1972–73 AHL season
The 1972–73 AHL season was the 37th season of the American Hockey League. Twelve teams played 76 games each in the schedule. The Cincinnati Swords finished first overall in the regular season, and won the Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...

 he played with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
The Nova Scotia Voyageurs were a professional ice hockey team, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They played in the American Hockey League, from 1971 to 1984. The Voyageurs played their first two seasons , as the Montreal Voyageurs....

 of the AHL
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...

, his first taste of professional hockey. For his outstanding play, Larocque was awarded the Hap Holmes Memorial Award
Hap Holmes Memorial Award
The Hap Holmes Memorial Award is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the goaltenders of the American Hockey League team with the lowest goals against average, and who have appeared in at least 25 regular season games....

 with teammate Michel Deguise and was selected to the Second All-Star Team. In 1972
1971-72 NHL season
-Final:New York Rangers vs. Boston BruinsBoston Bruins win the best-of-seven series 4 games to 2 for the Stanley Cup-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:-Leading goaltenders:...

, he was selected 6th overall by 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 ...

 in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft
1972 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1972 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft...

.

Larocque started his NHL
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...

 career in 1974
1973-74 NHL season
-NHL awards:A new award, the Jack Adams for the best coach, was introduced for this season. The first winner was Fred Shero of the Philadelphia Flyers.-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:...

. He was mainly the backup for 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 ...

 as Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden
Kenneth Wayne Dryden, PC, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, author, and former NHL goaltender. Dryden is married with two children and four grandchildren and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame...

 was one of the top goalies in that era. He dedicated himself to his role of back-up, although Larocque was considered a top backup and could have been the No.1 goalie for most NHL teams. Larocque would be co-winner of four Vezina Trophies
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...

. During that era, the trophy was given to the principal goalies on the team allowing the fewest goals in the regular season. The first three were largely because of the all-star play of Ken Dryden. In 1977
1976-77 NHL season
-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties In Minutes-Leading goaltenders:...

, he led the NHL with a 2.09 goals against average, but with Dryden ahead of him in the Canadiens net, he only managed to play 26 games.

In 1980
1979-80 NHL season
The 1979–80 NHL season was the 63rd season of the National Hockey League. This season saw the addition of four teams from the disbanded World Hockey Association as expansion franchises. The Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, New England Whalers , and Quebec Nordiques joined the NHL, bringing the total...

, Ken Dryden retired from hockey, which forced the Canadiens to find a new goalie. They picked Denis Herron
Denis Herron
Denis Bernard Herron is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Kansas City Scouts, and Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 and he shared his duties with Larocque. His fourth and final Vezina Trophy was shared with Denis Herron and Richard Sevigny
Richard Sevigny
Richard Sevigny was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Quebec Nordiques in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 in 1981. He won a total of four 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...

s with Montreal in 1976
1976 Stanley Cup Finals
-References:...

, 1977
1977 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1977 Stanley Cup Final championship series was contested by the Boston Bruins and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins were making their first appearance in the Final series since their loss in the 1974 Final. The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to none,...

, 1978
1978 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1978 Stanley Cup Final championship series was contested by the Boston Bruins and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens, making their third-straight appearance. The series was a rematch of the 1977 final...

 and 1979
1979 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1979 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the New York Rangers and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens, making their fourth straight appearance. It was New York's first appearance since . The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to one, to win...

.

Near the trade deadline in 1981, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 for defenceman Robert Picard
Robert Picard
Robert Rene Joseph Picard is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player.-Career:Robert Picard established himself as a highly regarded defensive prospect with the Montreal Juniors and Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge from 1973 to 1977...

. Larocque played 50 games next season
1981-82 NHL season
The 1981–82 NHL season was the 65th season of the National Hockey League. The William M. Jennings Trophy made its debut this year as the trophy for the goaltenders from the team with the fewest goals against...

 with a struggling Leafs team. Michel was in net when the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...

 scored a NHL record of 9 goals in one period in a 14-4 loss. He was again traded to the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 in 1983, for goaltender Rick St. Croix
Rick St. Croix
Richard St. Croix is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently one of the assistant coaches of the AHL's Manitoba Moose. He was a 4th round NHL draft pick, as were his two sons.-Playing career:St...

 and finished his NHL career with the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...

 in 1984 after being sold by the Flyers, who'd settled on Pelle Lindbergh
Pelle Lindbergh
Per-Eric Göran "Pelle" Lindbergh was a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender who played parts of five seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers.-Playing career:...

 in goal. Larocque finally retired from hockey in 1985 after playing 13 games with the Peoria Rivermen
Peoria Rivermen (IHL)
The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the International Hockey League. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena....

 in the IHL.

Retirement and death

After his playing career ended, he served as general manager of the Victoriaville Tigres
Victoriaville Tigres
The Victoriaville Tigres are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team is based out of Victoriaville, Quebec. The team plays its home games at the Colisée Desjardins.-History:...

 (QMJHL
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...

) during the 1989–90 season
1989–90 QMJHL season
The 1989–90 QMJHL season was the 21st season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates five new awards for accomplishments during the season. Shell Canada sponsored two Shell Cup "Player of the Year" awards, one each for offensive and defensive players....

 and won QMJHL executive of the year
John Horman Trophy
The John Horman Trophy is awarded annually to the Executive of the Year in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.-Winners:-External links:* List of trophy winners....

 for 1989–90. He was vice president of the QMJHL during the 1991–92 season
1991–92 QMJHL season
The 1991–92 QMJHL season was the 23rd season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates the Molson Cup, awarded to the overall "Rookie of the Year," in addition to the existing Michel Bergeron Trophy and Raymond Lagacé Trophy.The top three scorers in the league,...

 and still held the position at time of his death.

He died of brain cancer at age 40 in his hometown of Hull, Quebec
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...

.

Awards and achievements

  • Selected to the OHA-Jr.
    Ontario Hockey Association
    The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...

     Second All-Star Team in 1971.
  • Selected to the OHA-Jr. First All-Star Team in 1972.
  • Hap Holmes Memorial Award
    Hap Holmes Memorial Award
    The Hap Holmes Memorial Award is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the goaltenders of the American Hockey League team with the lowest goals against average, and who have appeared in at least 25 regular season games....

     winner in 1973 (shared with Michel Deguise).
  • Selected to the AHL Second All-Star Team in 1973.
  • Vezina Trophy
    Vezina Trophy
    The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...

     winner in 1977
    1976-77 NHL season
    -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties In Minutes-Leading goaltenders:...

    *, 1978
    1977-78 NHL season
    Game 5 was Fred Shero's last game as head coach of the Flyers and Gerry Cheevers left the ice without shaking hands with any of the Flyers. -Finals:Boston Bruins vs...

    *, 1979
    1978-79 NHL season
    The 1978–79 NHL season was the 62nd season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens beat the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup finals four games to one for their fourth Cup in a row...

    *, 1981
    1980-81 NHL season
    The 1980–81 NHL season was the 64th season of the National Hockey League. This was the first season that the Calgary Flames played in Calgary, Alberta. Previously, they were the Atlanta Flames and played in Atlanta, Georgia. The New York Islanders won their second consecutive Stanley Cup, defeating...

     (shared with Denis Herron
    Denis Herron
    Denis Bernard Herron is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Kansas City Scouts, and Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

     and Richard Sevigny
    Richard Sevigny
    Richard Sevigny was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Quebec Nordiques in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...

    ).
  • 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...

     championship in 1976
    1976 Stanley Cup Finals
    -References:...

    , 1977
    1977 Stanley Cup Finals
    The 1977 Stanley Cup Final championship series was contested by the Boston Bruins and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins were making their first appearance in the Final series since their loss in the 1974 Final. The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to none,...

    , 1978
    1978 Stanley Cup Finals
    The 1978 Stanley Cup Final championship series was contested by the Boston Bruins and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens, making their third-straight appearance. The series was a rematch of the 1977 final...

    , 1979
    1979 Stanley Cup Finals
    The 1979 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the New York Rangers and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens, making their fourth straight appearance. It was New York's first appearance since . The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to one, to win...

    .
  • John Horman Trophy
    John Horman Trophy
    The John Horman Trophy is awarded annually to the Executive of the Year in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.-Winners:-External links:* List of trophy winners....

     winner in 1990.

* Shared with Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden
Kenneth Wayne Dryden, PC, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, author, and former NHL goaltender. Dryden is married with two children and four grandchildren and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame...

.

Regular season

Season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...

Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA
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....

1967-68 Ottawa 67's
Ottawa 67's
The Ottawa 67’s are a junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. They have played in the Ontario Hockey League since 1967, Canada's centennial year. The current coach is Chris Byrne.-History:...

OHA-Jr.
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...

4 210 32 0 9.14
1968-69 Ottawa 67's OHA-Jr. 4 190 24 0 7.58
1969-70 Ottawa 67's OHA-Jr. 51 3060 185 3 3.63
1970-71 Ottawa 67's OHA-Jr. 56 3345 189 5 3.39
1971-72 Ottawa 67's OHA-Jr. 55 3287 189 4 3.45
1972-73 Nova Scotia Voyageurs
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
The Nova Scotia Voyageurs were a professional ice hockey team, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They played in the American Hockey League, from 1971 to 1984. The Voyageurs played their first two seasons , as the Montreal Voyageurs....

AHL
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...

47 2705 113 1 2.50
1973-74 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 ...

NHL
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...

27 15 8 2 1431 69 0 2.89
1974-75 Montreal Canadiens NHL 25 17 5 3 1480 74 3 3.00
1975-76 Montreal Canadiens NHL 22 16 1 3 1220 50 2 2.46
1976-77 Montreal Canadiens NHL 26 19 2 4 1525 53 4 2.09
1977-78 Montreal Canadiens NHL 30 22 3 4 1729 77 1 2.67
1978-79 Montreal Canadiens NHL 34 22 7 4 1986 94 3 2.84
1979-80 Montreal Canadiens NHL 39 17 13 8 2259 125 3 3.32
1980-81 Montreal Canadiens NHL 28 16 9 3 1623 82 1 3.03
1980-81 Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

NHL 8 3 3 2 460 40 0 5.22
1981-82 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 50 10 24 8 2647 207 0 4.69
1982-83 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 16 3 8 3 835 68 0 4.89
1982-83 Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

NHL 2 0 1 1 120 8 0 4.00
1983-84 Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...

AHL 5 5 3 2 301 21 0 4.18
1983-84
1983-84 NHL season
The 1983–84 NHL season was the 67th season of the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers de-throned the four-time defending Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders four games to one in the Cup finals.-League business:...

St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...

NHL 5 0 5 0 300 31 0 6.20
1984-85 Peoria Rivermen
Peoria Rivermen (IHL)
The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the International Hockey League. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena....

IHL 13 7 3 3 786 41 0 3.13
NHL totals 312 160 89 45 17,615 978 17 3.33

Playoffs

Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA
1969-70 Ottawa 67's OHA-Jr. 11 4 6 1 625 36 3 3.46
1971-72 Ottawa 67's OHA-Jr. 18 8 7 3 1029 55 1 3.29
1972-73 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 13 760 36 0 2.84
1973-74 Montreal Canadiens NHL 6 2 4 364 18 0 2.97
1978-79 Montreal Canadiens NHL 1 0 0 20 0 0 0.00
1979-80 Montreal Canadiens NHL 5 4 1 300 11 1 2.20
1980-81 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 2 0 1 75 8 0 6.40
NHL totals 14 6 6 759 37 1 2.92

External links

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