Former Edmonton Oilers left winger Georges Laraque of Montreal, Quebec has been diagnosed with coronavirus according to The Canadian Press on Thursday. Laraque played eight seasons with the Oilers from 1997 to 2006. He also played one season with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2006-07 and two seasons each with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2006 to 2008) and the Montreal Canadiens (2008 to 2010).
Regarded as an enforcer on the ice, Laraque had 1126 penalty minutes in 695 NHL regular season games. Five times Laraque passed the century mark in a season for penalty minutes, as he had a career-high 157 penalty minutes with the Oilers in 2001-02. When the Oilers reached the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games, Laraque led all players in penalty minutes in the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 44.
For his career, Laraque had 53 goals and 100 assists for 153 points. He was also a +1 with 10 power play points, seven game winning goals and 485 shots on goal. Laraque also had one National Hockey League career hat trick. It came in a 6-3 Oilers win over the Los Angeles Kings on February 21, 2000.
Laraque had been volunteering for a company called “Give Protection.” On April 1, he was seen giving personal protective equipment outside a Quebec hospital. The equipment was used for front line workers.
Laraque, who has asthma, is currently 43 years of age and is hospitalized. He also has medical equipment in his nose. There are currently 28 648 cases of coronavirus in Quebec and 2022 deaths.
