Blaine Lacher
Encyclopedia
Blaine Lacher (born September 5, 1970 in Medicine Hat, Alberta
) was a goaltender for the Boston Bruins
of the National Hockey League
in the mid-1990s.
Lacher was a standout goaltender at Lake Superior State University
in college, leading his team to a national championship in 1994. In his final season at Lake Superior State, Lacher led the nation in both save percentage (SV%) and goals against average (GAA) at .918 and 1.98, respectively. Lacher gave up his final year of eligibility to sign as a free agent with the Boston Bruins
.
Lacher started his professional career with the Bruins with a bang, losing only one of his starts down the stretch to get the team into the 1995 NHL Playoffs, where they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the New Jersey Devils
. Lacher had a spectacular season in 1994–95, making 35 appearances. His record in those games was 19–11–2 with a 2.41 goals against average (GAA), a .902 save percentage (SV%), and four shutouts.
Unfortunately, after being promoted to the full-time starting goaltender the next season, Lacher went into a downward spiral from which he would never recover. He was part of a revolving door of goaltenders in the 1995–96 season, a door that stopped when Craig Billington
was signed and when the Bruins traded for one-time Bruins prospect Bill Ranford
from the Edmonton Oilers
. Lacher bounced around for a while in the '95-'96 season, playing for the Cleveland Lumberjacks
of the IHL, and the Bruins' minor-league affiliate, the Providence Bruins
. Even in Providence, Lacher's record was hardly up to his numbers from the previous season. With Boston, Lacher's record was 3–5–2 with a ghastly 3.93 GAA and a porous .845 SV%. Lacher did not return with the Bruins after that season.
Lacher retired from professional hockey after another disastrous season in the IHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins
. In 11 games with the Griffins, Lacher was 1–8–1 with a 3.76 GAA and a .877 SV%.
The frequency with which he let goals in during his disastrous 1995–96 campaign gave him the nickname, "Let 'Em In" Lacher.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
) was a goaltender for the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
in the mid-1990s.
Lacher was a standout goaltender at Lake Superior State University
Lake Superior State University
Lake Superior State University is a small public university in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It is Michigan's smallest public university with an enrollment around 3,000 students. Due to its proximity to the border, notably the twin city of Sault Ste...
in college, leading his team to a national championship in 1994. In his final season at Lake Superior State, Lacher led the nation in both save percentage (SV%) and goals against average (GAA) at .918 and 1.98, respectively. Lacher gave up his final year of eligibility to sign as a free agent with the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
.
Lacher started his professional career with the Bruins with a bang, losing only one of his starts down the stretch to get the team into the 1995 NHL Playoffs, where they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Lacher had a spectacular season in 1994–95, making 35 appearances. His record in those games was 19–11–2 with a 2.41 goals against average (GAA), a .902 save percentage (SV%), and four shutouts.
Unfortunately, after being promoted to the full-time starting goaltender the next season, Lacher went into a downward spiral from which he would never recover. He was part of a revolving door of goaltenders in the 1995–96 season, a door that stopped when Craig Billington
Craig Billington
-International:-External links:*...
was signed and when the Bruins traded for one-time Bruins prospect Bill Ranford
Bill Ranford
William Edward Ranford is a former professional ice hockey goaltender and current goaltending coach for the Los Angeles Kings. He graduated from New Westminster Secondary School in 1985. He was selected in the third round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, 52nd overall, by the Boston Bruins...
from the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. Lacher bounced around for a while in the '95-'96 season, playing for the Cleveland Lumberjacks
Cleveland Lumberjacks
The Cleveland Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Facts:The Cleveland Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Facts:...
of the IHL, and the Bruins' minor-league affiliate, the Providence Bruins
Providence Bruins
The Providence Bruins are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL's Boston Bruins. They play in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.-History:...
. Even in Providence, Lacher's record was hardly up to his numbers from the previous season. With Boston, Lacher's record was 3–5–2 with a ghastly 3.93 GAA and a porous .845 SV%. Lacher did not return with the Bruins after that season.
Lacher retired from professional hockey after another disastrous season in the IHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins
Grand Rapids Griffins
The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League....
. In 11 games with the Griffins, Lacher was 1–8–1 with a 3.76 GAA and a .877 SV%.
The frequency with which he let goals in during his disastrous 1995–96 campaign gave him the nickname, "Let 'Em In" Lacher.