Paul Larose played in all four North American Hockey League
seasons and was one of the league’s most consistent offensive producers. Larose
played all four years, his final four as a pro hockey player, with the Maine
Nordiques, helping the club to a Lockhart Cup finals appearance in 1976-77.
Paul Larose – NAHL
Over 287 regular season NAHL games, Paul scored 179 goals
and assisted on 248 for 427 points. Twice he topped the 50 goal plateau and
surpassed 100 points in three of his four years.
In his first year with the Nordiques, Larose scored 53 and
assisted on 66 for 119 points over 70 games. He placed third in the NAHL for
goals, second for assists and third for points.
1974-75 saw Paul score 54 but add just 49 assists for 103
points in 73 games. He was the team leader with Maine for goals, assists and
points. Larose’s 54 goals placed him second in the league, one goal behind Rod
Bloomfield of the Binghamton Dusters. Paul placed tenth for assists and tied
for third for points.
Larose once again led the Nordiques in goals, assists and points
in 1975-76 with 41 goals and 73 assists for 114 points over 71 games. His
assist total placed him fifth in the league. 114 points would have tied Paul
for the league lead in 1974-75. In 1975-76, the total placed him down in eighth
spot in a NAHL led by Joe Hardy of the Beauce Jaros
who amassed an amazing 208 points.
In his final season of pro hockey, Paul’s numbers dropped
but the Nordiques excelled with their most successful season in their stay in
the NAHL. Over 73 regular season games, he scored 31 and assisted on 60 for 91
points. He placed eighth in the league for assists. Maine reached the Lockhart
Cup finals before being swept in four by the Syracuse
Blazers.
Paul Larose – QMJHL
Paul played just one year of junior in the QMJHL, Quebec’s
contribution to the Canadian Hockey League. Larose started out the season with
the Trois Rivieres Ducs, scoring 31 and totalling 66 points over 33 games
before being traded to the Quebec Remparts. With Quebec, he also totalled 66
points but in just 24 games.
Combined, Larose played 57 games, scoring 52 and assisting on
80 for 132 points. In the high scoring QMJHL, Paul finished ninth for goals,
fifth for assists and sixth for points. The Remparts were led by Guy
Lafleur who scored 103 goals and totalled 170 points in 56 games.
Quebec was crowned President’s Cup champions as QMJHL
playoff champs after sweeping the St. Jerome Alouettes in the finals. Larose
finished second to Lafleur on the team for playoff points with 30 in 15 games.
Guy amassed 43 in the same 15 games.
Paul Larose – Pro Hockey
Larose was taken by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the seventh
round of the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, 91st overall. He played pro
hockey from 1970-71 to 1976-77 in the EHL, WHA and NAHL. In the World Hockey
Association, Paul played 28 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1972-73 and five
with the Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades in 1974-75.
Larose’s top year in pro hockey came in 1971-72 with the
Syracuse Blazers of the Eastern Hockey League. Paul finished his second year of
pro hockey with 67 goals and 62 assists for 129 points over 75 regular season
games. His 67 goals led the EHL and his 129 points placed him second behind
teammate Ray Adduono’s 165. Syracuse reached the finals before being swept by
the Charlotte Checkers.
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