Hal Laycoe was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 11 seasons. He began his career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1949 and played with them for three seasons before being traded to the Boston Bruins in 1952. He played with the Bruins for six seasons and was named team captain in 1956.

Laycoe was known for his physical play and was often involved in fights on the ice. He was suspended for a total of 45 games during his career for various infractions, including a 10-game suspension in 1956 for hitting a linesman. Despite his aggressive style of play, Laycoe was also a skilled defenseman and was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1954.

After his playing career ended, Laycoe became a coach and spent several years coaching in the minor leagues before joining the NHL as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings in 1969. He later became head coach of the Kings in 1970 and coached them for two seasons before being fired in 1972.

Laycoe's hockey career was not without controversy. In 1955, he was involved in an incident with Maurice Richard of the Canadiens that led to Richard being suspended for the remainder of the season and the playoffs. The incident sparked a riot in Montreal and is still remembered as one of the most infamous moments in NHL history.

Despite the controversy, Laycoe was a respected player and coach in the NHL. He was known for his toughness and his ability to motivate his players. He passed away in 1998 at the age of 71.

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