Colombe Lacroix is nervous as her late spouse’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame approaches. She knows this moment will create a whirlwind of emotions for her.
“It was a shock when he left, and it still is,” she said.
“His last days were difficult. We weren’t allowed to visit him in hospital (due to COVID-19 restrictions).”
Lacroix was in excellent shape before illness struck him. He took full advantage of the little joys that life could give him.
Three weeks before his death, he visited Raymond Bourque in Boston, accompanied by his son Éric and his grandson Max, who was entertained by the former star defender and his wife Christiane during his stay at a school there.
Everything was good.
“He was in better shape than he had been in a long time,” says Eric, now 52 years old.
“Although he had a knee problem, it didn’t stop him from functioning. We had a great time at Raymond’s. They looked like two brothers who hadn’t seen each other for a long time. Raymond asked him a lot of questions about the trade my dad got him from the Bruins.
“That was the last time I saw my father.”
A week after returning to Las Vegas, his father became ill with COVID-19. He was taken to hospital where it was discovered he had a spot on his lung.
He was x-rayed and released after two days in the hospital. But he wasn’t at his best. His oxygen levels were low and he had to return to the hospital.
He impatiently spent a lot of time on the phone and computer, chatting with his loved ones. His doctor believed he wasn’t getting enough rest due to his medical condition and moved him to the intensive care unit so he could take the time to get a good rest.
His condition stabilized and he was told he would be released shortly. Then everything turned upside down. His organs began to fail and he suffered a heart attack.
Sadness and resignation
His death remains a mystery to his eldest Martin.
“It’s life,” he says resignedly.
“The hardest thing was that in the end we couldn’t visit him or communicate with him. It was very emotional for my mother. »
Martin feels a great emptiness.
“I loved his sense of humor,” he said.
“He was the most positive and convincing person I knew. He conveyed his self-confidence to people. He told them to never stop believing in their abilities.
“My mother supported him all her life. She was, as they say, the woman behind the man. »
Logical nomination
For Martin, his father’s election to the Hockey Hall of Fame was a given.
“He led the Avalanche to two Stanley Cups and nine straight division championships,” he recalls.
“The first Cup was the first major title won by a Colorado team. The Avalanche played to sold-out crowds for ten years. His successes contributed to the growth of hockey in Denver.
“That’s a good track record!” »
Like Eric, Martin played hockey. He is 54 years old. Both transferred to Saint Lawrence University in New York State. Eric was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Martin by the New York Islanders.
Eric played for the Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, Avalanche, New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators in the NHL. Martin was playing in the minor leagues when his career was cut short by a knee injury.
Busy after career
Both brothers have found their way in life.
Éric has held several leadership positions in ice hockey. He spent two stints in the Colorado Avalanche organization, rising to vice president of hockey operations. He was a professional scout for the Arizona Coyotes and co-owner of a small professional team in Phoenix.
He was an analyst for the Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights television networks. He currently holds a similar position for a podcast network (DNVR) affiliated with the Avalanche and other professional sports organizations in Denver.
After his hockey career, Martin worked for his father’s agency before going into business. He lives in Las Vegas.