Mario Larocque
Encyclopedia
Mario Larocque is a Canadian
professional ice hockey
defenceman
who currently plays for the Evansville IceMen
in the Central Hockey League (CHL)
.
in 1996
. He managed to play five NHL games for the Lightning during the 1998–99 NHL season, scoring no points with 16 penalty minutes. He spent the rest of that season in the International Hockey League with the Cleveland Lumberjacks
before playing two seasons with the Detroit Vipers
of the same league. After the IHL folded, he was signed by the Buffalo Sabres
but was assigned to the American Hockey League
with the Rochester Americans
and never saw any ice time with the Sabres.
He spent the next five seasons in the ECHL
with the Wheeling Nailers
and the United Hockey League
with the Danbury Trashers
and the Fort Wayne Komets
, along with brief spells in the AHL for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers
. In 2007, he joined Austrian team HC TWK Innsbruck
and in September 2008 he signed with Sport Ghiaccio Pontebba. He then joined the EC Red Bull Salzburg on December 1, 2008, and later signed with the Nottingham Panthers on November 5, 2009.
Larocque signed with the Muskegon Lumberjacks
on February 12, 2010. Larocque joined the Evansville IceMen
in October 2010, after the team relocated from Muskegon, for his 13th pro season and first full campaign under Head Coach Rich Kromm after finishing last season with Kromm in Muskegon.
Entering the 2010-2011 season, his pro totals are 283 points (102 goals and 181 assists) and 2301 penalty minutes in 724 regular season games. In "Double-A," he has amassed 217 points (74 goals and 143 assists) in 353 games, good for a points-per-game average of 0.615 - very good for a defenseman.
Like many of those chosen in the first round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft
, Larocque has only seen minimal time in the National Hockey League
, having played in only five career NHL games.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who currently plays for the Evansville IceMen
Evansville IceMen
The Evansville IceMen were a professional hockey team based in Evansville, Indiana. The team folded in 2010, as IceMen owner Ron Geary purchased the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League and moved the team to Evansville, taking on the name "Evansville IceMen".The AAHL IceMen...
in the Central Hockey League (CHL)
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
.
Hockey career
Larocque was drafted in the first round, 16th overall by the Tampa Bay LightningTampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
in 1996
1996 NHL Entry Draft
The 1996 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 22, 1996.- Selections by round :Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.- Round one :- Round two :...
. He managed to play five NHL games for the Lightning during the 1998–99 NHL season, scoring no points with 16 penalty minutes. He spent the rest of that season in the International Hockey League with 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:...
before playing two seasons with the Detroit Vipers
Detroit Vipers
The Detroit Vipers was an International Hockey League team. The team was founded in 1994, and played at The Palace of Auburn Hills.-Beginning:...
of the same league. After the IHL folded, he was signed by the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
but was assigned to the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
with the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
and never saw any ice time with the Sabres.
He spent the next five seasons in the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
with the Wheeling Nailers
Wheeling Nailers
The Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL....
and the United Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
with the Danbury Trashers
Danbury Trashers
The Danbury Trashers were a United Hockey League ice hockey team located in Danbury, Connecticut. They played their home games at the Danbury Ice Arena....
and the Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
, along with brief spells in the AHL for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are an ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. It has been the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, who also own the franchise, since its inception, and use the same team colors as the parent Islanders do. The team is based in...
. In 2007, he joined Austrian team HC TWK Innsbruck
HC TWK Innsbruck
HC Tiroler Wasserkraft Innsbruck is an Austrian ice hockey team that currently plays in the Austrian National League. They play their home games at Olympiahalle Innsbruck in Innsbruck.-External links:*...
and in September 2008 he signed with Sport Ghiaccio Pontebba. He then joined the EC Red Bull Salzburg on December 1, 2008, and later signed with the Nottingham Panthers on November 5, 2009.
Larocque signed with the Muskegon Lumberjacks
Muskegon Lumberjacks
The Muskegon Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Muskegon, Michigan.-Facts:-Season-by-Season record:Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses/Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in...
on February 12, 2010. Larocque joined the Evansville IceMen
Evansville IceMen
The Evansville IceMen were a professional hockey team based in Evansville, Indiana. The team folded in 2010, as IceMen owner Ron Geary purchased the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League and moved the team to Evansville, taking on the name "Evansville IceMen".The AAHL IceMen...
in October 2010, after the team relocated from Muskegon, for his 13th pro season and first full campaign under Head Coach Rich Kromm after finishing last season with Kromm in Muskegon.
Entering the 2010-2011 season, his pro totals are 283 points (102 goals and 181 assists) and 2301 penalty minutes in 724 regular season games. In "Double-A," he has amassed 217 points (74 goals and 143 assists) in 353 games, good for a points-per-game average of 0.615 - very good for a defenseman.
Like many of those chosen in the first round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft
1996 NHL Entry Draft
The 1996 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 22, 1996.- Selections by round :Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.- Round one :- Round two :...
, Larocque has only seen minimal time in 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...
, having played in only five career NHL games.