Former Lévis hockey player André Lacroix wants the arena that bears his name to look great and regrets its closure since 2020 and the slow pace of renovations.
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“I don’t understand why it’s taking so long to fix the arena.”
The Journal followed Lauzon’s earlier fame at his home in Cleveland, Ohio. A 1970s World Hockey Association (WHA) star who also played in the National Hockey League (NHL), he gave his name to the Lauzon Arena, built in 1969.
With kind approval
The Lauzon Arena bears the name of Mr. Lacroix already written on the facade. but the wind has overwhelmed the letters.
Three closed seasons
This is closed for a third full season due to the slow replacement of the concrete slab. Otherwise it doesn’t look like much. The siding is showing its age, the main entrance is quite rickety and the grandstands deserve an update. The ice hockey player’s nameplate, which fell down in strong winds, was not even put back on the outside facade.
“It makes me sad,” says Mr. Lacroix, 77, over the phone. He said he has expressed his desire to renovate the arena on several occasions, even to Mayor Gilles Lehouillier himself. He also offered to borrow career-related objects for an exhibition (see other text below).
With kind approval
André Lacroix now lives in Cleveland, Ohio.
He would have hoped the city would use the repairs to the rink’s surface to renovate the rest of the building. “It is important to me. My name is in the arena. It’s my reputation that’s online here.”
Promise
He remains hopeful but expects concrete gestures. “I was confident that Mayor Lehouillier would keep his promise. I’m sure he’ll hold it and it’ll happen.”
Mr Lacroix’s former coach, who was also mayor of Lauzon and Lévis, Robert Guay supports his move. It was Mr. Guay who went to great lengths to get the arena built in the late 1960s. He recalls approaching business people and raising $255,000 for a project that has cost a total of $550,000 .
Now 91 years old and still passionate about ice hockey, he regrets that this building is not given special attention.
“It doesn’t move”
“I told Gilles [Lehouillier] : It’s time for a renovation! says Mr. Guay. It doesn’t move. I expect things will change next spring. I still have my two legs, I will go and see him again if necessary. Because I want it to happen!”
For his part, André Lacroix fears that the extended closure will discourage young people from playing as it entails longer travel.
Though he excelled in the pro ranks, he says his hockey prime was spent in Lauzon, at the midget level. He also enjoyed an official puck drop at the Lévis Arena just a few weeks ago. “But I would have been much happier to go to the André Lacroix Arena.”
meeting cancelled
At the time, a meeting with Gilles Lehouillier had been scheduled but had to be canceled due to the mayor’s recovery, who underwent minor surgery, Mr Lacroix said.
The Journal wanted to know if a renovation project for the arena is on the horizon and if funds have been set aside for it. The city of Lévis has not responded to our request for information in this regard.
THE CAREER OF ANDRÉ LACROIX IN NUMBERS
Photo Stephanie Martin
He played with several WHA and NHL teams including the San Diego Mariners. We see his player card here.
NHL
- 325 games played
- 79 goals
- 119 templates
- 198 points
AMH
- 551 games played
- 251 goals
- 547 assists
- 798 points
Little-known feats to discover
With kind approval
During his career, André Lacroix faced several hockey greats, including Gordie Howe (left).
Little known in his own region, André Lacroix wants to share his exploits to show young people that with effort anything is possible.
The former center player admits it himself: The people who frequented the arena that bears his name know very little about the player he was.
“Young people have no idea who André Lacroix is. I suggested that to them [la Ville de Lévis] do something,” he says. Mr. Lacroix wanted to showcase his hockey career through an exhibition in the hall of the building.
Unbeatable record
Born in Lauzon in 1945, André Lacroix is the last of a family of 14 children, the only one to have played ice hockey and left his mark on the World Hockey Association. He holds an unbeatable record of being the all-time top scorer at this circuit that has been dubbed “cursed”.
In the National Hockey League (NHL), he was one of the early members of the Philadelphia Flyers. He is also one of four professional hockey players to have over 100 assists in a season, along with big names Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky.
At a meeting with Gilles Lehouillier a few years ago, he suggested that the city and the mayor exhibit objects related to his career.
“I wanted young people to know they had a chance to play hockey. I am very proud to be from Lauzon. […] I want young people today to know that even if you come from a small town, if you work hard you have a chance to play hockey.
Memories to exhibit
He has several souvenirs in his possession that he would like to borrow: the trophy for the third provincial midget championship he won with his team from Lauzon and his photo as a young player, the last pair of skates of his career, the puck from his first goal in the NHL in his first game, his first hat trick, the Team Canada jersey he wore in 1974, his most valuable player awards two consecutive years in the junior league.
She is still waiting for a concrete answer from the city of Lévis.
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