Former NHL enforcer uses hockey connections to help Haiti
MONTREAL, QC—"Making it into the NHL was the best thing that ever happened to me. The second best thing was being laid off," says Georges Laraque, former tough guy for the Montreal Canadiens. Laraque, it seems, has other things on his mind these days besides hockey.
The 2009-2010 season was Laraque's second with the Canadiens after playing nine years with the Edmonton Oilers and one each with the Phoenix Coyotes and Pittsburgh Penguins. The 6' 4", 260-pound hulk's job was to fight, but he was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with that role. "When you hear a kid stand up and cry 'Kill him!' you know you're not a role model," he says. "I did not like fighting for a living."
So when a devastating earthquake hit Haiti in January, Laraque, whose parents are Haitian, saw an opportunity to use his notoriety in a positive way. He prayed to score a goal. "I had never scored for the Canadiens," he says. "After the earthquake, I wanted a goal that I could dedicate to the people of Haiti."
On January 14, two days after the earthquake, Laraque scored his first goal. One week later he was released from the team.
"It might seem like strange timing to be laid off, but for me, it was great timing," he says. "I needed to put my energy into other things. The Haitian people needed my help."
Laraque got together with the NHL Player's Association, and after wide-ranging research, they chose World Vision as their charity of choice. "World Vision has been in Haiti for 30 years and I know Haiti will need help for the long run," he says. "And World Vision is a Christian organization. That was important for me."
The collaboration, dubbed "Hockey for Haiti," is raising money to reconstruct a children's hospital in Port-au-Prince through fundraisers that include the recent auction of Olympic hockey jerseys. The sale of Team Canada jerseys alone brought in almost $100,000.
For Laraque, the project is imbued with divine purpose.
"I defeated the odds as a black kid getting into the NHL," he says. "God put me here for a reason. I have a mission to help others, to improve society. I want to change the world."
And although much of his time is presently being devoted to Hockey for Haiti, Laraque is still finding time for some of his other favourite causes, including the Green Party, the David Suzuki Foundation and the defense of animal rights.
"I am appalled at the way animals are being abused," he says. Laraque became a vegan after watching a documentary on animal welfare, and now also operates a vegan restaurant in Montreal.
As for hockey, he remains extremely proud of his team for their incredible playoff run this spring, and of the Canadiens fans. "We eliminated two great teams," he says, referring to the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. "The fans deserved that—they are so passionate. This city vibrates with hockey. I really wanted them to win."
How did it feel being a spectator while his team was pushing forward in their best play-off showing in years? "I only listened to the highlights," he admits. "I don't watch hockey."
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