1978-79 O-Pee-Chee 35 Pierre Larouche Hockey Card (Front)
1978-79 O-Pee-Chee 35 Pierre Larouche Hockey Card (Back)
1978-79 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
The holder of numerous Penguins’ club scoring records, Pierre was dealt to Montreal last season. He was leading scorer for Team Canada in Vienna games, 1976.
Details
Pierre Larouche came to the Montreal Canadiens in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 29, 1977, 20 games into his 1977-78 season. He as joined by Peter Marsh, in exchange for Pete Mahovlich and Peter Lee.
This card contains an error on the back. The 1976 World Championships were held in Poland. It was the 1977 tournament that was held in Vienna, Austria. That year, Larouche had seven goals and eight assists for 15 points over ten games. He did lead the team in points with Phil Esposito and Wilf Paiement behind him with ten points each. He tied Espo for the team lead in goals scored.
In 1977, Canada finished fourth with Czechoslovakia taking gold. In between, there was Sweden taking the silver and the Soviet Union earning the bronze.
Pierre Larouche was a 50 goal scorer twice during his National Hockey League career. He scored 53 goals for the Penguins in 1975-76, his second year in the league. He also had a 50 goal season with the Habs in 1979-80.
Of course, his offensive abilities first got attention in 1973-74. Playing for the Sorel Blackhawks in the QMJHL, Pierre scored 94 goals and assisted on 157 for an astounding 251 points in just 67 games. Surprisingly, seven teams passed him over before the Penguins took him eighth overall at the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft.