Andre Lacroix Named New Hockey Coach

Andre Lacroix, University School's assistant hockey coach for the past three seasons and currently director of Geauga Youth Hockey, has been named University School's new varsity hockey coach. He succeeds Bill Beard who resigned from the position earlier this month.

Nicknamed "The Magician," Lacroix played professional hockey for 13 years with the Philadelphia Flyers, The Chicago Black Hawks, and the Hartford Whalers. He served as assistant hockey coach at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., for ten years.

In making the announcement, Athletic Director John Ptacek, said, "We are delighted to have Andre on board. His background as both a professional player and as a coach will serve our hockey team well in the years ahead."

Lacroix was the all-time leading scorer in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with 251 goals and 547 assists in the 1970s. He holds a WHA record with 106 assists in one season with the San Diego Mariners, and with at least one point in 32 straight games with the San Diego Mariners.

A member of Team Canada in 1974, Lacroix was named Professional Canadian Athlete of the Year in 1974. An ice arena is named in his honor in his hometown of Lauzon, Quebec.

Lacroix was voted most valuable player twice while playing for the Peterborough Petes in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, and was voted to the first All-Star team two years in a row while playing for the team in 1964 and in 1965.

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