Howe Foundation

The NHL Alumni Association is saddened to learn that André Lacroix has passed away at the age of 81. From Lauzon, Quebec, André was an original member of the Philadelphia Flyers during their inaugural season in 1967-68, making his NHL debut on February 21, 1968, on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. In the second period of his first NHL game, André joined an exclusive club when he scored his first NHL goal in just his first NHL game. André entered the following season still with rookie status, and went on to finish fifth in Calder Memorial Trophy voting as the league’s top rookie, registering 24 goals and 56 points across 75 regular season games. After playing 245 games for Philadelphia over the course of four seasons before joining the Chicago Black Hawks for the 1971-72 campaign. The following season, André joined the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Philadelphia Blazers and captured the Bill Hunter Trophy as the league’s top point scorer, a feat he’d achieve again two seasons later with the San Diego Mariners. In his seventh and final WHA season with the New England Whalers in 1978-79, André recorded 88 points in 78 games, bringing his career WHA total to 798 points over 551 games and earning the honours of the league’s all-time leading point scorer. André remained with the Whalers organization after their admission to the NHL ahead of the 1979-80 season, playing 29 games for the club. Internationally, André proudly represented Canada at the 1974 Summit Series. After he retired from professional hockey, André was deeply committed to hockey at the grassroots level, founding his own hockey academy and coaching youth hockey, and in Lévis, Quebec, located in the area he grew up, sits the André Lacroix Arena. We send our sincere condolences to André’s family, friends, and former teammates during this difficult time.

The NHL Alumni Association is deeply saddened to learn that Alex Delvecchio has passed away at the age of 93. Making his NHL debut on March 25, 1951, Alex played every one of his 1,550 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, registering 1,281 points and winning three Stanley Cups (1952, 54-55). He only missed 43 games throughout his career and was well-known for his gentlemanly style of play, winning the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy on three occasions. After centreman Sid Abel was moved to the Blackhawks ahead of the 1951-52 season, Alex found himself between Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, thus forming the second iteration of the famous Production Line. Alex served as team captain from 1962 to 1973, and upon his retirement in 1974, served as head coach from 1973 to 1976. A prominent member of the Red Wings Alumni, Alex was often seen attending various community events and supporting charitable causes. We send our heartfelt condolences to Alex’s family, friends, and former teammates during this incredibly difficult time.