Pierre Lacroix (b. 1959)



Pierre Lacroix (born April 11, 1959, in Sainte-Foy, Quebec) is a former professional ice hockey player who played 274 NHL games for the Quebec Nordiques and the Hartford Whalers, scoring 24 goals and 108 assists.

He played five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1975-79 with the Quebec Remparts and the Trois-Rivières Draveurs. In 1979 he was named CHL Player of the Year and also played in the 1976, 1977, and 1979 Memorial Cup tournaments.

The Quebec Nordiques chose him 104th in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. He played three seasons with the Nordiques and was sent down to the Fredericton Express in the middle of the 1982-83 season. Later on he was traded to the Hartford Whalers, with whom he finished the season.

In the 1983 off-season, Lacroix was in a serious car accident. He required surgery on his heart and missed two seasons. Although he wanted to return to the NHL, he never did.

He played seven seasons with various teams in France & Switzerland until he retired in 1992. He then became a coach in France.

In 1996 he made a comeback in the Quebec Semi Professional Hockey League. He retired for good in 2000.

Awards

 * 1979 Michel Brière Memorial Trophy