Lumberjacks Sign Larocque
February 11, 2010 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- Having achieved a 6-points' lead atop the IHL league standings through a sparkling season record of 45(32-10-3) for 67-points, the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League are demonstrating that they are not resting on their laurels in their concerted effort to capture the league's 2009-10 championship title.
On this date, the Lumberjacks General Manager / Governor Tim Taylor has announced that veteran defenseman MARIO LAROCQUE has assented to terms and signed a contract deal with Muskegon for the remainder of the 2009-10 IHL season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
LAROCQUE (lah-ROCK), 31, is currently in his 12th pro season and will be undertaking his second tour of duty in the IHL; his first stint in the most recent incarnation of the league. The rangy and rugged 6-5, 230lb left-hand shooting rearguard will touch down on the Muskegon hockey landscape armed with a vast arsenal of credentials and career achievements born from his unique blend of being a physical, intimidating on-ice presence coupled with his outstanding flair offensively.
The Montreal, PQ native has been playing overseas in the European theater for the past three seasons, including the begin-ning of this current campaign where he was under the employ of the EIHL Nottingham Panthers. Before his departure from the England-based squadron, he had performed his craft in 21-games, having essayed 6-points on 1-goal, 5-assists while totaling 80-PIM.
A former #1 draft choice, 16th overall, of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Larocque, perhaps, enjoyed his best-ever season as a pro as a member of Muskegon's opposition and competition in 2006-07 when he starred with the rival Fort Wayne Komets. That season, he emerged as a major catalyst in the Komets UHL Tarry Cup Championship, topping all league defensemen in goal-cannoneering with a prolific 27-snipes while finishing tied for second in UHL Defense scoring and 16th in the league's overall scoring derby with 67-points in 76-games on those 27-goals and 40-assists. Moreover, he led the league defensemen in PPG with 17 and GWG with 4. Larocque recorded a masterful +23 rating that same season along with 231-PIM and crowned the campaign by being named to the UHL Second All-Star Team.
Previous to his 2006-07 campaign in Fort Wayne, the newest Lumberjacks defenseman spent two seasons under the auspices of the UHL Danbury Trashers (2004-05, 2005-06) reaching the Colonial Cup Finals in the latter season with the since-defunct Connecticut club. In the 2004-05 season, he was a member in good standing of the Danbury team which Muskegon ousted in the playoffs' semi-finals as the home team laid claim to its second consecutive league crown.
Following his drafting by Tampa Bay, Larocque actually commenced his pro career in the 1998-99 season in the former IHL with the Cleveland Lumberjacks where in 57-games as a rookie, he registered 12-points on 5-goals, 7-assists with 202-PIM.
Among his other pro employment stops have been the IHL Detroit Vipers, the AHL Rochester Americans, Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins and Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He also had a Wheeling Nailers ECHL address for two seasons as well.
Mario Larocque is slated to make his Lumberjacks IHL debut this upcoming weekend when Muskegon broaches a two-games' home-and-home series with the Dayton Gems. The first place `Jacks will be in Dayton Friday night for a 7:30 assignment against the Gems before reciprocating and guesting the Dayton club Saturday night at 7:00 pm at Walker Arena on "NASCAR NIGHT."
International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 11, 2010
- PrairieThunder Play Twice this Weekend - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Lumberjacks Sign Larocque - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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