Hartford, CT … Whalers Sports and Entertainment announced today that World Hockey Association pioneers, and ex-New England Whaler stalwarts, Jim Dorey and Andre Lacroix will join the group of Whaler legends for the Hartford Whalers legends vs. Boston Bruins legends game February 19, 2011 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
The legends game is part of the “Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl,” the featured event of the two-week outdoor Whalers Hockey Fest spectacular at Rentschler Field that will include numerous collegiate, high school, prep school and youth hockey games. The legends game will face off at 4:00 PM on February 19 and will be followed by the outdoor AHL game between the Connecticut Whale and the Providence Bruins at 7:00 PM.
Dorey was a main cog on the New England Whaler blueline for their first two-and-a-half seasons of existence, 1972-1974. He led New England defensemen in scoring in both 1972-73 (7-56-63 in 75 GP), when he captured an AVCO Cup with the Whalers and was a Second-Team WHA All-Star selection, and 1973-74 (6-40-46 in 77 GP). Dorey was traded by the Whalers to the Toronto Toros in December of 1974 and would remain in the WHA with the rest of its existence, through the 1978-79 season. He won another AVCO Cup in 1976-77, with the Quebec Nordiques, and would finish his WHA career with 431 games-played, 52 goals and 232 assists for 284 points, and 617 penalty minutes.
Prior to making the move to the WHA, the Kingston, Ontario-born Dorey played four NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers, totaling 25 goals and 74 assists for 99 points, along with 553 PIM, in 232 games.
Lacroix was the all-time leading scorer in the history of the WHA, led the league in points twice and put up better than 100 points in six of the loop’s seven years of existence. Lacroix spent the last of those years, the 1978-79 WHA season, with the Whalers and finished second on the New England club in points, with 32-56-88 in 78 games. Lacroix then made the jump to the NHL with the Whalers the next season and played 29 games, scoring three goals and adding 14 assists for 17 points, before hanging up his skates.
A native of Lauzon, Quebec, Lacroix topped all WHA scorers in the league’s inaugural season, 1972-73, as a member of the Philadelphia Blazers, with 50 goals and 74 assists for 124 points in 78 games. He was also the WHA scoring champ in 1974-75 with the San Diego Mariners, with totals of 41-106-147 in 78 contests. His league-record career totals in the WHA were 251-547-798 in 551 games, including time with the New York Golden Blades/Jersey Knights and Houston Aeros in addition to his Blazer, Mariner and Whaler action.
In addition to his WHA exploits, Lacroix played 325 NHL games during his 14-year pro career, with the Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks and Whalers, notching 79 goals and 119 assists for 198 points.
Tickets for the February 19 Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl, which include admission to both the AHL game and the legends game, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com., as well as at the Bushnell box office from Monday through Friday, 12 noon-5:00 PM. Ticket prices range from $20 to $85 and can also be purchased by calling the Connecticut Whale at 860-728-3366. Tickets purchased online can be printed immediately (via Ticketmaster).
