Larry Thibeault

Lorrain Lawrence "Larry Half-n-Half" Thibeault (October 2, 1915 – April 2, 1977) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 6 games in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings during the 1944–45 and 1945–46 seasons. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1936 to 1956, was spent in various minor and senior leagues.

Playing career Born near Charleston Lake, Ontario, Thibeault first played senior ice hockey for the Cornwall Flyers of the Ottawa City League in 1936–37, before moving to the Hull Volants of the Ottawa District senior league for 1937–38 and 1938–39. He left the Volants in the 1938–39 season to turn professional, joining the Springfield Indians of the International-American Hockey League. In 1941, he returned to the Cornwall Flyers, now playing in the Quebec Senior League, for one season. He joined the Canadian Army and played for the Cornwall Army team in the Quebec league for a season.

In 1943, Thibeault signed with the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League (AHL). He had an excellent season contributing 63 points in 51 games. Buffalo traded him to the Detroit Red Wings in 1944. He managed to get into four games with Detroit, getting two assists but played most of the season with the Indianapolis Capitals of the AHL scoring 18 points in 31 games. In 1945, he was traded back to Buffalo by Detroit. In October 1945, Buffalo loaned him to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the loan of Wilf Field, Kenny Mosdell and Frank Eddolls. He played one game with Montreal but was returned to Buffalo in November 1945. Thibeault was reinstated as an amateur and returned to the Hull Volants where he played the balance of the 1945–46 season and six games of the 1946–47 season.

Thibeault was moved to the Victoriaville Tigre in 1946 and scored 35 goals and 62 points in the 1946–47 season. His season attracted the attention of the Houston Huskies who convinced him to return to the pro ranks for the 1947–48 season. He scored 12 goals and 29 points in 46 games for the Huskies. During the 1948–49 season, Thibeault split his season with Houston and the San Diego Skyhawks of the Pacific Coast League. He played his final professional season in 1949–50 with the Victoria Cougars of the PCHL, scoring 20 goals and 48 points in 66 games.

Thibeault returned to the Ottawa Valley and returned to senior hockey to play with the Buckingham Bucs and the Thurso Lumber Kings, finishing his hockey career in 1952.

After hockey, Thibeault became a full-time policeman with the Quebec Provincial Police.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1936–37 Cornwall Flyers OCHL 23 3 4 7 10 6 0 0 0 0 1937–38 Hull Volants OCHL 20 10 4 14 6 9 2 2 4 5 1938–39 Hull Volants OCHL 9 15 2 17 14 — — — — — 1938–39 Springfield Indians IAHL 8 0 1 1 7 3 0 0 0 0 1939–40 Springfield Indians IAHL 29 11 14 25 6 3 0 0 0 2 1940–41 Springfield Indians AHL 54 14 18 32 32 3 1 0 1 2 1941–42 Cornwall Flyers QSHL 36 17 18 35 45 5 1 4 5 6 1942–43 Cornwall Army QSHL 33 21 27 48 22 6 1 2 3 2 1943–44 Buffalo Bisons AHL 51 18 45 63 46 9 7 10 17 14 1944–45 Indianapolis Capitals AHL 31 2 12 14 20 2 0 0 0 2 1944–45 Detroit Red Wings NHL 4 0 2 2 2 — — — — — 1945–46 Montreal Canadiens NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1945–46 Buffalo Bisons AHL 6 2 3 5 4 — — — — — 1945–46 Hull Volants QSHL 25 9 18 27 48 — — — — — 1946–47 Victoriaville Tigres QSHL 35 21 41 62 40 5 2 3 5 2 1947–48 Houston Huskies USHL 46 12 17 29 28 4 0 0 0 ) 1948–49 Houston Huskies USHL 22 7 6 13 14 — — — — — 1948–49 San Diego Skyhawks PCHL 15 6 4 10 18 — — — — — 1949–50 Vancouver Canucks PCHL 66 20 28 48 46 — — — — — 1950–51 Buckingham Beavers ECSHL — — — — — — — — — — 1951–52 Buckingham Beavers ECSHL 24 10 16 26 24 — — — — — 1951–52 Thurso Lumber Kings ECSHL 10 3 3 6 15 6 1 1 2 4 1952–53 Thurso Lumber Kings ECSHL — — — — — — — — — — 1953–54 Edmonton Flyers WHL 61 4 8 12 6 13 2 1 3 2 1954–55 Quebec Aces QSHL 39 1 8 9 27 1 0 0 0 0 1955–56 Quebec Aces QSHL 28 1 5 6 6 — — — — — IAHL/AHL totals 179 47 93 140 115 20 8 10 18 20 NHL totals 6 0 2 2 2 — — — — —