Hec Lalande

Hec Lalande was from North Bay and he never got too far away from the Northern Ontario city. Lalande broke into the NHL during the 1953-54 season with the Chicago Blackhawks and continued playing with various professional teams until 1968. In between the centerman played 266 games for the Hershey Bears. He also picked up two Calder Cup Championships with the Bears. As a member of the Bears, Lalande scored over 200 points and led the AHL in assists and points in the 1961 playoffs.
After hockey Lalande coached local hockey and baseball teams in North Bay. He also was active in organizing and coaching sled hockey for disabled athletes. It seems many former players remember the Hershey area for the golf, for Lalande it was the hunting available in the area.
Lalande has three children, two of which were born in Central Pennsylvania. One in Harrisburg and one in Hershey.