Roger Lafreniere was a Canadian ice hockey player who had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 1960s and early 1970s. He was born on October 2, 1943, in Sudbury, Ontario, and began playing hockey at a young age.
Lafreniere played junior hockey for the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1960 to 1963. He was known for his speed and agility on the ice, as well as his scoring ability. In his final season with the Wolves, he scored 44 goals and had 44 assists in just 48 games.
In 1963, Lafreniere was signed by the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL. He spent most of his first two seasons with the Canadiens' minor league affiliate, the Quebec Aces, but did play in a handful of games with the Canadiens during that time. He scored his first NHL goal on December 28, 1963, against the Boston Bruins.
Lafreniere became a regular player for the Canadiens in the 1965-66 season. He played on a line with Henri Richard and Bobby Rousseau and helped the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup that year. Lafreniere had a career-high 23 goals and 22 assists that season.
Over the next few seasons, Lafreniere continued to be a solid contributor for the Canadiens. He was known for his speed and his ability to create scoring chances for himself and his teammates. He played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1967 and 1968.
In 1970, Lafreniere was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. He played two seasons with the Red Wings, but his production declined during that time. He was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1972, but played in just 10 games with the Kings before being sent to the minors.
Lafreniere retired from professional hockey in 1973. In his NHL career, he played in 447 games and scored 105 goals and 118 assists. He also played in 45 playoff games and had 10 goals and 10 assists.
After retiring from hockey, Lafreniere worked as a sales representative for a sporting goods company. He also coached youth hockey in his hometown of Sudbury.
Overall, Roger Lafreniere had a successful career in the NHL. He was a fast and skilled player who was able to contribute to his teams both offensively and defensively. He won a Stanley Cup with the Canadiens and was a two-time All-Star. While his career was relatively short, he left a lasting impact on the game of hockey.
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