SPORTY PEACHY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HOCKEY LEGEND ANDRE LACROIX! HE TELLS WHOM YOU KNOW READERS WHAT HE THINKS OF THE STANLEY CUP FINALS! Our Coverage Sponsored by Stribling and Associates
Andre Lacroix
photo credit: Hartford Whalers site
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It's not who you know, it's Whom You Know and Peachy has known Andre since her first memory of seeing a puck drop in the Hartford Civic Center at about age 5. We are absolutely thrilled to present this interview with Andre Lacroix, Hockey Legend.
Andre Lacroix was a dangerous offensive player who enjoyed six solid years in the NHL. His most noteworthy scoring feats took place in junior and the WHA.
The native of Lauzon, Quebec spent the 1963-64 season with the Montreal Junior Canadiens before joining the Peterborough Petes. He led the OHA in assists twice and won the scoring title with 120 points in 1965-66. Lacroix began his pro career with the AHL's Quebec Aces and became the property of the expansion Philadelphia Flyers when the minor pro club was purchased in May 1967.
The talented centre impressed by scoring 14 points in 18 games during the 1967-68 season. The next year he scored 24 goals playing with Dick Sarrazin and Jean-Guy Gendron which began a string of three straight 20-goal performances. Early in the 1971-72 season, Lacroix was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks because the Flyers had Bobby Clarke, Bill Clement Eddie Joyal, Michel Parizeau and young Rick MacLeish waiting in the wings.
Prior to the 1972-73 season, Lacroix decided to try his luck with the Philadelphia Blazers of the WHA. He blossomed with a league leading 124 points and was named to the first all-star team. Lacroix proved he was no flash in the pan by leading the WHA with 80 assists in 1973-74 and topping the scoring parade with 147 points for the San Diego Mariners the next season. He also took part in the 1974 Summit Series versus the USSR and was selected to the WHA first all-star team in 1974 and 1975.
Lacroix topped the 100-point mark six times during the league's seven year existence. He retired in 1980 after returning to the NHL for 29 games as a member of the Hartford Whalers following the NHL/WHA merger. Today, Andre is 66 years old and turning 67 in early June and he now lives in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. He is
the Hockey Director at the Pond, an ice rink in Auburn Township.
Andre spoke to us on the last round:
And we are thrilled to present his thoughts on the Stanley Cup Finals! Peachy Deegan interviewed Andre Lacroix for Whom You Know.
Peachy Deegan: Since the Kings scored first in Game 1 do you think that gives them a
leg
up in the series?
Andre Lacroix: No. I thought that both teams did not come to play playoff hockey
We thought the Kings exhibited stronger forechecking and cleaner
passes....what do you think?
I think it was more the fact that the Devils did not forecheck the way
they did against the Rangers and it opened the door for the Kings.
Do you think home ice advantage means anything at this stage or does it
just come down to the talent, grit and energy of each team?
I really believe that home ice advantage will have no effect on the
final result of the series. It will come down to special teams and who
wants it more.
What team do you feel is reading the game better and why?
I thought the kings read the Devils better. The Kings did not give the
Devils any chance to come up with the puck when the Devils dumped the
puck in which they were able to do against the Rangers but the series is
too early to call.
Do you think Martin Brodeur is over the hill and is there a magic
number
for a hockey retirement age?
Nobody is over the hill if you reach the Stanley Cup Finals and you were
a factor. He is playing better now than he did during the season.
Which coach do you think is more capable of changing the momentum in
the
series?
I believe coaches at this time of the year don't try to overcoach and
the players know what they need to do. The only thing a coach can do to
hurt the team is not to match lines. It could hurt the team if the
coach does not pay attention who is on defense and forward for the other
team.
New Jersey has played more playoff games than LA. Do you think their
greater probable fatigue affects their play and if so to what degree?
They had enough rest. They are getting three days off between the first
and second game. I think the effect will come after the second game when
they have to travel coast to coast and only get one day off. That might
be the time when the age of certain players might have an effect.
Prior to Game 1, do you think the East or West was stronger in the
first 3
rounds and did your opinion change after Game 1?
I still believe that the East is stronger than the west and the east
will win the Stanley Cup.
In the Geico commercial they highlight hockey fights and ice
resurfacers
75 years ago. What other aspects of 75 years ago in hockey should be
highlighted?
They should highlight the equipment that the goalies and players were
wearing as well as the hockey sticks.
What thoughts, hopes and expectations do you have for the NHL draft
this
summer?
I believe that the draft is really a shot in the dark because they draft
the players when they are too young. The players might have a great
career in Junior and be average in the Pros because of the speed and
size difference.
I hope the teams don't draft players just to sell tickets but be patient
with the player and look at the long term career of their draft choice.
In the book Moneyball, Michael Lewis captured the idea that a great
team
can be built on winning statistics. Do you believe that this can be
done
in hockey as well as baseball or do you think there are too many
intangible
measures in hockey for this to be as successful a strategy?
It can't be done with hockey because too many things can happen such as
injuries, trades, movement of players. Some players might have a great
year in one city and not adjust to the team the player is traded to.
Do you think it is a coincidence that LA and NJ(which is part of the NY
market) are successful because they are such major cities with major m
arkets?
No because the one good thing the NHL has going for them is the salary
cap. All the teams now are on the same playing field. In the past the
Rangers. The Flyers were going out and spend a lot of money thinking
they could win and it did not work. Anybody could be a General manager
before they install the new salary cap. Now you need to be more careful
about the decisions you are going to make because it could hurt you for
years to come.
What is your final Stanley Cup prediction-do you believe in the
monarchy
or in the opposite of heaven?
My prediction is that the Devils will win in 6 games because they will
be more disciplined than the Kings.
What else should Whom You Know readers know about hockey, which we
believe
to be the greatest game on earth?
Hockey is the greatest game on Earth but the NHL is and doing a good
enough job to promote it and there are too many teams in the league.
I also believe that the NHL should consider going to two 30 minutes
period and only have one intermission instead of two and they should
also keep changing the puck during the game. Last night the puck kept
bouncing because the puck was not frozen anymore. They do it in baseball
why can't they do it in hockey when there is a stoppage of the play.
How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers?
