Hal Laycoe

Harold Richardson Laycoe (June 23, 1922 – April 29, 1998) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman and coach. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Boston Bruins between 1945 and 1956. After his playing career he became a coach, working as both a coach and general manager in the Western Hockey League between 1956 and 1969. He coached the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL for the first part of the 1969–70 season, and in 1970 became the inaugural coach of the Vancouver Canucks, spending two seasons as coach and a final season as the general manager in 1973–74.

Playing career Laycoe grew up in rural Sutherland, Saskatchewan. He played junior hockey in Saskatoon, but his dreams of turning pro in the sport were interrupted by World War II. Laycoe served in the Royal Canadian Navy and played on travelling teams while completing his military service. He started his National Hockey League career with the New York Rangers after signing with this team in 1945.

In 1947, Laycoe joined the Montreal Canadiens. Despite wearing eyeglasses during games due to his vision, Laycoe gained a reputation as one of the most physical players in the league. However, he struggled to find playing time on an exceptionally deep team. He was a midseason trade acquisition by the Boston Bruins in 1951, and he received an increased number of minutes on the blue line with his new club. His high stick on and subsequent fight with French-Canadian superstar Maurice Richard was the catalyst for the infamous Richard Riot. Laycoe retired after the 1955-1956 season.

Coaching career

Laycoe coached the New Westminster Royals of the Western Hockey League in 1956–57 and remained with the franchise when it moved to Portland, Oregon for the 1960–1961 season and was renamed the Portland Buckaroos. The Buckaroos won the league championship Lester Patrick Cup its first year in existence. Laycoe coached the Buckaroos for nine seasons and won another league championship in 1964–1965. The Islanders gave team Stanley Cup rings to Laycoe after each of their 1980 to 1984 Stanley Cup wins.

Personal life and honours Laycoe and his wife, Marjorie had two sons, Bob and Bryan, and a daughter, Rhonda.

He was named to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.

The Hal Laycoe Cup was presented to the most outstanding defenseman in the Western Hockey League from 1964 to 1973.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1938–39 Saskatoon Chiefs NSJHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1939–40 Saskatoon Dodgers NSJHL 4 1 5 6 6 2 0 4 4 4 1940–41 Saskatoon Quakers NSJHL 11 12 11 23 13 2 3 4 7 0 1940–41 Saskatoon Quakers SSHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1940–41 Saskatoon Quakers M-Cup — — — — — 10 4 8 12 22 1941–42 Saskatoon Quakers SSHL 28 14 13 27 27 9 3 4 7 4 1941–42 Saskatoon Quakers Al-Cup — — — — — 4 0 1 1 0 1942–43 Ottawa Postal Corps OCHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1943–44 Toronto Navy OHA 14 6 6 12 4 — — — — — 1943–44 Toronto People's Credit TIHL 9 3 1 4 2 9 2 6 8 11 1944–45 Winnipeg Navy WNDHL 15 10 15 25 8 5 5 8 13 0 1945–46 New York Rangers NHL 17 0 2 2 6 — — — — — 1945–46 New York Rovers EAHL 35 7 22 29 25 — — — — — 1946–47 New York Rangers NHL 58 1 12 13 25 — — — — — 1947–48 Montreal Canadiens NHL 14 1 2 3 4 — — — — — 1947–48 Buffalo Bisons AHL 45 8 25 33 36 8 2 0 2 15 1948–49 Montreal Canadiens NHL 51 3 5 8 31 7 0 1 1 13 1948–49 Buffalo Bisons AHL 10 4 1 5 10 — — — — — 1949–50 Montreal Canadiens NHL 30 0 2 2 21 2 0 0 0 0 1950–51 Montreal Canadiens NHL 34 0 2 2 25 — — — — — 1950–51 Boston Bruins NHL 10 1 1 2 4 6 0 1 1 5 1951–52 Boston Bruins NHL 70 5 7 12 61 7 1 1 2 11 1952–53 Boston Bruins NHL 54 2 10 12 36 11 0 2 2 10 1953–54 Boston Bruins NHL 57 3 16 19 29 2 0 0 0 0 1954–55 Boston Bruins NHL 70 4 13 17 32 5 1 0 1 0 1955–56 Boston Bruins NHL 65 5 5 10 16 — — — — — 1956–57 New Westminster Royals WHL — — — — — — — — — — NHL totals 530 25 77 102 290 40 2 5 7 39

Coaching record Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GC W L T Finish GC W L Result 1956–57 New Westminster Royals WHL 70 34 34 5 2nd, WHL 13 6 7 Lost in Final 1957–58 New Westminster Royals WHL 70 39 28 3 3rd, WHL 4 1 3 Lost in First Round 1958–59 New Westminster Royals WHL 70 23 45 2 5th, WHL — — — — 1959–60 Victoria Cougars WHL 70 37 29 4 3rd, WHL 6 4 5 Lost in Final 1960–61 Portland Buckaroos WHL 70 38 23 9 2nd, WHL 14 10 4 Won Lester Patrick Cup 1961–62 Portland Buckaroos WHL 70 42 23 5 1st, WHL 7 3 4 Lost in Second Round 1962–63 Portland Buckaroos WHL 70 43 21 6 1st, WHL 7 3 4 Lost in Second Round 1963–64 Portland Buckaroos WHL 70 33 30 7 2nd, WHL 5 1 4 Lost in First Round 1964–65 Portland Buckaroos WHL 70 42 23 5 1st, WHL 10 8 2 Won Lester Patrick Trophy 1965–66 Portland Buckaroos WHL 72 43 24 5 1st, WHL 8 4 4 Lost in Final 1966–67 Portland Buckaroos WHL 72 41 24 7 1st, WHL 4 0 4 Lost in First Round 1967–68 Portland Buckaroos WHL 72 40 26 6 1st, WHL 12 5 7 Lost in Final 1968–69 Portland Buckaroos WHL 74 40 18 16 1st, WHL 11 4 7 Lost in Final 1969–70 Los Angeles Kings NHL 24 5 18 1 6th, West — — — — 1969–70 Vancouver Canucks WHL 9 5 3 1 1st, WHL 11 8 3 Won Lester Patrick Trophy 1970–71 Vancouver Canucks NHL 78 24 46 8 6th, East — — — — 1971–72 Vancouver Canucks NHL 78 20 50 8 7th, East — — — — NHL totals 180 49 114 17 — — — — —