André Lacroix (ice hockey)

André Lacroix
Born	(1945-06-05) June 5, 1945 (age 78) Lauzon, Quebec, Canada
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	NHL Philadelphia Flyers Chicago Black Hawks Hartford Whalers WHA Philadelphia Blazers New York Golden Blades Jersey Knights San Diego Mariners Houston Aeros New England Whalers AHL Quebec Aces
National team	Canada
Playing career	1964–1980

André Joseph Lacroix (born June 5, 1945) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association, and is the WHA's all-time leading career scorer.

Playing career

A centre notable for his playmaking, penalty-killing, and faceoff skill, Lacroix played junior hockey for the Peterborough Petes, leading the league in assists in both the 1964–65 and 1965–66 seasons and in points the latter season. He then played two seasons for the minor-league Quebec Aces of the AHL, playing brilliantly in the 1968 season before being recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL in the spring of 1968. Paired on a forward line with fellow ex-Quebec wingers Jean-Guy Gendron and Simon Nolet, he was an immediate star, leading the Flyers in scoring in both 1969 and 1970.

After the 1971 season, Lacroix was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks and was dismayed at the change of scenery, playing poorly the next year. However, in the fall of 1972, the upstart World Hockey Association began play, and he wasted no time returning to Philadelphia and signing with the league's Philadelphia Blazers franchise. Despite the team going through much tumult and controversy, Lacroix was an immediate star for the squad, leading the WHA in points that season with a 50–74–124 mark.

However, in the offseason, the franchise was transferred to Vancouver, and Lacroix refused to move with the team. Thus, he was traded to an even shakier team, the New York Golden Blades for the 1974 season. Again, despite payrolls being missed, ownership folding, and the league moving the team to New Jersey on November 21, as the Jersey Knights,^[1] he was a standout, leading the WHA in assists with 80. That fall, Lacroix was named to Team Canada for the 1974 Summit Series against the Soviet Union, scoring one goal and six assists for seven points in eight games to be the team's fourth-leading scorer.^[2] His lone goal was the game-winner in Canada's only win of the series, Game 2 at Maple Leaf Gardens.^[3]

The New York-New Jersey team moved yet again for the 1975 to California to become the San Diego Mariners, and Lacroix continued his success. In that first season in San Diego, he achieved his second league scoring title and racked up 106 assists, the professional record at the time and the only player other than Bobby Orr (who scored 102 assists in 1970 - 71) who had ever reached 100 assists in a single season of professional hockey. This professional record would stand until Wayne Gretzky scored 109 assists in 1980 - 81. As of 2013, only Orr, Lacroix, Wayne Gretzky, and Mario Lemieux have accumulated 100 assists in a season. Lacroix scored over 100 points the next two seasons with the Mariners as well, before the franchise folded.

It was during this time that Lacroix began to be referred to in broadcasts of the games, as "The Magician". This was in reference to his ability to make the puck disappear --- and then reappear, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of his hat. The opposing goalie would lose track of the puck, only to have it reappear in his net.

He continued to star in two more seasons before the end of the WHA, for the Houston Aeros in 1978 and the New England Whalers in 1979. His skills diminishing at last, Lacroix played briefly and respectably for the Whalers after their move to the NHL in the 1980 season (with Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull) before retiring.

Retirement

Lacroix has been involved with hockey since retiring, creating the André Lacroix Power Hockey Academy, and he was the Director of hockey programs at the Oakland Ice Centre until 2005. He provided color commentary for the official Hartford Whalers radio broadcasts for several seasons.

Lacroix currently owns and operates The Pond ice rink in Bainbridge/Auburn Township, Ohio. The Pond is notable for deriving part of its electrical power from wind turbines located at the rink.

On May 28, 2014, Lacroix was named the head coach of the University School varsity hockey team.

Career records and achievements

79 goals and 119 assists for 198 points in 325 games in the NHL.
251 goals and 547 assists for 798 points in 551 games in the WHA.
Named to the WHA's First All-Star Team in 1973, 1974 and 1975.
Won the Bill Hunter Trophy as the WHA's leading scorer in 1973 and 1975.
Scored one hundred points or more in six consecutive seasons, a mark achieved by only six other major professional players.
The WHA's all-time leader in games played, assists (by nearly two hundred) and points (by over a hundred).
Fourth all-time in WHA history in goals scored.

Awards

Red Tilson Trophy

In 1965 and 1966 with the Peterborough Petes (OHL)

Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (MVP):

In 1966 with the Peterborough Petes (OHL)

W.D. (Bill) Hunter Trophy:

In 1973 with the Philadelphia Blazers (WHA)
In 1975 with the San Diego Mariners (WHA)

In 2010, he was elected as an inaugural inductee into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame.^[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1961–62	Quebec Citadelles	QJHL	—	—	—	—	—	3	0	0	0	16
1961–62	Quebec Citadelles	M-Cup	—	—	—	—	—	2	0	0	0	4
1962–63	Quebec Citadelles	QJHL	50	45	50	95	—	12	10	13	23	8
1963–64	Montreal Junior Canadiens	OHA-Jr.	34	12	18	30	13	17	8	13	21	8
1964–65	Peterborough Petes	OHA-Jr.	49	45	74	119	24	12	8	12	20	4
1964–65	Quebec Aces	AHL	1	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
1965–66	Peterborough Petes	OHA-Jr.	48	40	80	120	20	6	4	8	12	6
1965–66	Quebec Aces	AHL	2	1	3	4	0	—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Quebec Aces	AHL	67	25	24	49	14	5	3	2	5	2
1967–68	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL	18	6	8	14	6	7	2	3	5	0
1967–68	Quebec Aces	AHL	54	41	46	87	18	—	—	—	—	—
1968–69	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL	75	24	32	56	4	4	0	0	0	0
1969–70	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL	74	22	36	58	14	—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL	78	20	22	42	12	4	0	2	2	0
1971–72	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL	51	4	7	11	6	1	0	0	0	0
1972–73	Philadelphia Blazers	WHA	78	50	74	124	83	4	0	2	2	18
1973–74	New York Golden Blades/Jersey Knights	WHA	71	31	80	111	54	—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	San Diego Mariners	WHA	78	41	106	147	63	10	3	9	12	2
1975–76	San Diego Mariners	WHA	80	29	72	101	42	11	4	6	10	4
1976–77	San Diego Mariners	WHA	81	32	82	114	79	7	1	6	7	6
1977–78	Houston Aeros	WHA	78	36	77	113	57	6	2	2	4	0
1978–79	New England Whalers	WHA	78	32	56	88	34	10	4	4	8	0
1979–80	Hartford Whalers	NHL	29	3	14	17	2	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals			325	79	119	198	44	16	2	5	7	0
WHA totals			551	251	547	798	412	48	14	29	43	30