Georges Laraque

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Right Wing
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 243
team = Montreal Canadiens
league = NHL
nationality = Canada
birth_date = Birth date and age|1976|12|7|mf=y
birth_place = Montreal, QC, CAN
career_start = 1996
draft = 31st overall
draft_year = 1995
draft_team = Edmonton Oilers


image_size = 230px
nickname = The Rock, The Enforcer, Gorgeous George, Big Georges
former_teams = Edmonton Oilers
Phoenix Coyotes
Pittsburgh Penguins

Georges Laraque (born December 7, 1976) is a professional ice hockey forward, and a radio host for CFRN. He is currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League. He is an enforcer.

Playing career

Born in Montreal, Laraque entered the QMJHL, where he played for a variety of teams. In 173 games at the junior level, Laraque stockpiled 107 points and 661 penalty minutes. Laraque was a member of the 1996 Granby Prédateurs team which won the Memorial Cup.

After finishing junior, Laraque spent parts of three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Despite concerns about his skating, Laraque showed enough at the AHL-level for Edmonton to bring him to the NHL. Although he was something of a power forward in junior, Laraque is considered primarily as an enforcer at the NHL level. His 6'3" frame and his habit of fighting made him one of the most feared forwards in the league (in terms of checking and fighting). He was unanimously awarded the 'Best Fighter' award from The Hockey News in 2003. Despite his reputation as a fighting-only player, Laraque has had offensive bursts during his career and on February 22, 2000, Laraque scored a hat trick against the Los Angeles Kings.

During the NHL lockout, he played in Sweden, signing on with AIK. In the 2006 off season, Laraque was up for free agency and wanted to stay in Edmonton and play. He even said he was willing to take a salary cut if the Oilers accepted on giving him a long-term, no trade clause deal. The Oilers did not agree with Laraque's demand for a no trade clause thus the contract was never signed. On July 5, 2006, Laraque signed with the Phoenix Coyotes. He scored his first goal as a Phoenix Coyote against Edmonton on October 26, 2006.

On February 27, 2007, Laraque waived his no-trade clause and was dealt by the Phoenix Coyotes to the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward Daniel Carcillo and a third-round draft pick.

On July 3, 2008, Laraque signed a contract as a free agent with the Montreal Canadiens. He will wear number 17 with the Habs rather than his usual 27, which is currently Alex Kovalev's number.

In the off-season, Laraque resides back in Edmonton where he considers his home away from home. On Fridays during the off-season, Laraque can often be heard hosting Team 1260 in Edmonton. [http://www.cfrn.com/] . Laraque also commits a lot of his time to local charity work to help the local people of Edmonton and Pittsburgh.

Transactions

* Edmonton Oilers' second choice (31st overall)in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft
* July 6, 2006: Signed with Phoenix Coyotes as a free agent
* February 27, 2007: Traded to Pittsburgh Penguins for Daniel Carcillo and a third-round draft pick
*July 3, 2008: Signed with Montreal Canadiens as free agent

ee also

*List of Montreal athletes
*List of famous Montrealers
*List of black NHL players
*List of current NHL players
*List of NHL seasons
*List of Pittsburgh Penguins players

External links

* [http://www.georgeslaraque.com Georges Laraque official site]
*nhlprofile|8462060
*TSN-NHL-profile|68
*hockeydb|19350
* [http://www.hockeyfights.com/players/110 Georges Laraque's fight info - hockeyfights.com]

Persondata
NAME = Laraque, Georges
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Canadian ice hockey player
DATE OF BIRTH = December 7, 1976
PLACE OF BIRTH = Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =