Thunder Ink Former 16th Overall Pick

December 26, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


The Stockton Thunder have signed veteran defenseman and former first round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning Mario Larocque to an ECHL contract

Stockton, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's New York Islanders and AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers have signed veteran defenseman Mario Larocque to an ECHL contract. Larocque, 36, is a former first round, 16th overall draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. The defenseman has played in over 600 professional contests in the NHL, AHL, ECHL, CHL and IHL in addition to over 100 games overseas.

The 6-foot-3, 229 pound defenseman spent last year in Scotland playing with the Braehead Clan of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) of the United Kingdom. Larocque last played in the ECHL in 2011-12 with the Elmira Jackals, skating in 69 games and registering 45 points.

The Montreal, Quebec native has played 201 of his pro games in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers and Elmira Jackals. In 2009-10 after playing 21 games in the EIHL, he signed with Coach Kromm's Muskegon Lumberjacks of the IHL and played 31 games picking up 24 points.

The following season Larocque followed Kromm to serve as an alternate captain with the Evansville Icemen in the Central Hockey League, playing 64 of the 66 games and registering 44 points. Larocque made his NHL debut on January 7, 1999 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played a total of five NHL games all with the Lightning.

Thunder fan's get the creative juices flowing as the Thunder will once again paint the ice on WE PAINT the Ice Night on December 30 after the game against the Ontario Reign beginning at 7:30 p.m. The following day, New Year's Eve, come watch the Ray Morgan Company's Painted Classic as the Thunder and Reign will play a regular season contest on the one-of-a-kind sheet of ice. For tickets call (209) 373-1500 or visit StocktonThunder.com .



ECHL Stories from December 26, 2014


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