The hockey career of Rejean Giroux was compact with just
eight years from his first year in the QMJHL with the Quebec Remparts to his
final year in the NAHL with the Beauce Jaros. However, Giroux made the best of
it, especially with the Maine Nordiques of the NAHL in 1973-74.
Rejean Giroux – NAHL
In 1973-74, Giroux played 68 games for the Maine
Nordiques, scoring 64 goals and assisting on 58 for 122 points. He led the
Nordiques in goals and points while finishing fourth on the team for assists behind
Paul
Larose, Michel Rouleau and Michel Archambault. His 64 goals placed him
second in the league, three behind Luc Simard of the Cape Cod Cubs. Giroux was
ninth in assists and just one point behind Simard for the overall lead in
points.
Maine placed second overall but went 1-7 in the opening
round round-robin playoff. Over the eight playoff games, Rejean scored three
goals and assisted on four. Giroux also played 12 games for the Quebec
Nordiques in the World Hockey Association that year.
In 1976-77, he returned to the NAHL to play for the Beauce Jaros.
Over 13 games, he scored six and assisted on four. The Jaros folded 30 games
into the season and Giroux didn’t catch on with another team.
Rejean Giroux – QMJHL
For three years from 1969-70 to 1971-72, Giroux played in
the QMJHL for the Quebec Remparts. In his first year, he scored 38 and assisted
on 43 for 81 points over 55 regular season games. His 175 penalty minutes
placed him seventh in the league. Rejean was fourth on the team in scoring
behind Guy Lafleur, Jacques Richard and Andre Savard. Lafleur had 103 goals and
170 points that year.
Quebec finished first overall and took the President’s Cup
championship by sweeping the St. Jerome Alouettes in the finals. Giroux scored
16 and totalled 29 points over 15 playoff games, third on the team behind
Lafleur’s 43 points and Paul Larose’s 30. The Remparts lost in the Memorial Cup
semi-finals to the Montreal Junior Canadiens.
Giroux took a step back in his second year with the Remparts
with 25 goals and 34 assists for 59 points over 50 regular season games. He was
fifth on the team in points with Lafleur once again leading the way, this time
with a record 130 goals and 209 points.
The Remparts once again finished first overall in the QMJHL,
this time 32 points better than the second place Shawinigan Bruins. Quebec and
Shawinigan met in the President’s Cup finals and the Remparts won the series in
five games. The team then beat out the Edmonton Oil Kings for the Memorial Cup
championship.
In 1971-72, Guy Lafleur was gone and it was up to Jacques
Richard and Rejean to lead the team. Giroux scored 58 goals and assisted on 51
for 109 points, second on the team in each category to Richard. His 58 goals
were also second in the QMJHL behind his teammate while he tied for eighth in
points.
Quebec finished third overall and once again reached the
President’s Cup finals. This time, the Remparts fell to the Cornwall Royals in
six games. Giroux scored 16 and assisted on 15 for 31 points over 15 playoff
games.
Rejean Giroux – Pro Hockey
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Giroux in the fifth round of
the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft, 77th overall. He never played in the
National Hockey League but did appear in 59 games in the WHA with the Quebec
Nordiques in 1972-73 and 12 more with the club in 1973-74.
In 1974-75 and 1975-76, Rejean played for the Dallas Black
Hawks of the Central Hockey League. In his first year, he was fourth on the
team with 60 points over 68 games. His 27 goals were the second best on the
Black Hawks. Dallas reached the finals before falling to the Salt Lake Golden
Eagles in seven games. The Black Hawks outscored their opponents 28-24 on the
series with games 1, 2 and 7 decided in overtime.
Alexandre Giroux
Rejean’s son has enjoyed maybe a bit more success in the
world of pro hockey. Alexandre also spent three years in the QMJHL, from
1998-99 to 2000-01 with the Hull Olympiques and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
In the American Hockey League, the younger Giroux led the
league in goals scored in consecutive seasons, 2008-09 and 2009-10, earning him
the Willie Marshall Award for his efforts. He scored 60 goals the first year
and 50 the next, playing for the Hershey Bears in both seasons.
The veteran of 48 NHL games between 2005-06 and 2011-12 with
the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue
Jackets has signed an extension in Switzerland’s National League A. 2014-15
will be his second year with Ambri-Piotta in the NLA.
