Laurent "Larry" Bergeron

Laurent "Larry" Bergeron's life on the ice stretched from a small Quebec town in the late 1930s all the way to a rinkside in Montreal in 2019 — more than eight decades of hockey. He wasn't simply a player. He was a builder of communities, an organizer of tournaments that raised money for Alzheimer's research, a man who visited his teammates when they could no longer skate, and a leader who believed that as long as you showed up, you played. The ice was where he felt most alive, and he made sure everyone around him felt it too.

Period 1 — The Beginning (Richmond, Quebec · 1937–1951)

Larry Bergeron laced up his first pair of skates at age 6 in Richmond, Quebec — a small town in the Eastern Townships where winters were long and hockey was simply part of life. He played through his school years without helmets, with equipment that barely deserved the name, and loved every minute of it. What drew him wasn't only the competition. It was something harder to measure.

"There were no helmets and equipment wasn't that great — but he loved the social aspect of hockey. No talk of social rank or income. Just play."

From Richmond High School, Larry's talent took him further than most. He earned a spot on the hockey team at Bishop's University in Lennoxville, Quebec in 1950–51 — intercollegiate hockey that put him among the best young players in the region. It was a meaningful achievement for a kid from a small Quebec town.

Period 2 — The Break and the Return (Ages 20s–40)

Like many players of his generation, life pulled Larry away from the ice for nearly 20 years. Career, family, and responsibility came first. But when he returned at 40, there was nothing passive about it. He came back with a purpose — and brought others with him.

The idea was characteristic of the man: he wanted to give his employees a reason to connect across departments and company plants. Hockey was the answer. He organized it, ran it, and it worked.

"He came back to create an activity that would get his employees to socialize with all departments — and with other plants with the same company."

From that return at 40, he never stopped. He played twice a week, September through April, every year, for the rest of his life — through sore knees, arthritis, and a hip replacement that COVID ultimately delayed.

Period 3 — President of The Sages (Montreal · 18 Years)

For 18 years, Larry served as president of La Ligue des Sages de la Rive-Sud — a 70+ hockey league on Montreal's South Shore that he shaped into something far bigger than a recreational team. His leadership style was simple and non-negotiable:

"He was tough but made sure everyone played equally no matter how good you were. 'You're here, you play.'"

The Sages were more than a hockey league. The friendships built on the ice extended well beyond the rink — dinners out with spouses, visits when a teammate was incapacitated or ill. When a player could no longer skate, Larry didn't forget about them. He showed up.

In 2012, Larry was recognized by the 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame Canada — the organization founded by Fred Merchant, who would later become a fellow 2025 inductee into the USA 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame alongside Larry. The two men never met the same ice, but they shared the same belief: that hockey has no age limit, and the game is worth playing as long as you can lace up.

Period 4 — Organizer, Fundraiser, and Tournament Builder

As president of The Sages, Larry didn't just run a hockey league — he built events that mattered to the broader community. The most significant was the Tournoi Lassonde-Tyler, an annual Alzheimer's fundraiser he organized and presided over for more than a decade.

The tournament became one of the most unique senior hockey events in North America. At its 14th edition in 2018, more than 240 hockey players between the ages of 70 and 90 participated — roughly 20 teams from across Quebec and Ontario — at the Centre Sportif Gaétan-Boucher. Larry was the man who made it happen every year.

That same year, Larry organized teams to participate in the Canada 55+ Games — a national multi-sport competition held every two years in cities across Canada. At 87, he was still building, still connecting people, still making hockey happen.

Period 5 — Hockey Was for Everyone He Loved

Hockey was never just Larry's sport. It was how he connected his family across generations. Every year he hosted a Christmas skating party with his league — and his grandchildren, son, and nephew were right there on the ice beside him.

Period 6 — Playing Through Everything

Larry's philosophy wasn't something he just said. He demonstrated it on the ice, year after year, even when his body was fighting back. Arthritis, sore knees, the slow grind of age — none of it kept him off the ice for long.

His hip eventually required replacement surgery. COVID delayed the procedure and, with it, the movement that had sustained him. He was never able to return to hockey after that. His family knows he felt that deeply.

But what stands out is what Larry did from his hospital bed after the operation. Even then, his first thought was for his teammates.

"Even when in the hospital after the hip replacement, he sent out emails wishing everyone happy New Year and asking advice from his fellow teammates on recuperating."

What He Would Tell You

"Unless it was a serious health problem, he would tell them: don't stop. Don't let aging ailments stop you. The important thing is to keep active and get out of the house to be with others."

The Hockey Smile

His family says there was something about Larry on the ice that never aged. They call it his "hockey smile." It wasn't about scoring goals or playing flawlessly. It was about something simpler.

"The joy of getting together with people of all walks of life and enjoying the camaraderie. He did love being on the ice."

The Induction

When Laurent "Larry" Bergeron's name was called as a 2025 posthumous inductee into the USA 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame, his family was there to receive the honor on his behalf — proud, grateful, and carrying the memory of a man who gave so much of himself to the sport and to the people who played it.

"We felt very proud and honoured to be asked to represent him. We thank everyone that made this happen."

Career Highlights

• Began playing hockey at age 6 in Richmond, Quebec
• Played for Richmond High School — 1949–50
• Played intercollegiate hockey at Bishop's University, Lennoxville, QC — 1950–51
• Returned to hockey at age 40 after a 20-year break
• Played twice weekly, September through April, for the rest of his life
• President of La Ligue des Sages de la Rive-Sud — 18 years
• Organized the Tournoi Lassonde-Tyler Alzheimer fundraiser — 14+ editions, 240+ players ages 70–90
• Organized teams for the Canada 55+ Games — 2018
• Participated in tournaments across the U.S. and Canada
• Inducted into the 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame Canada — 2012
• Wore jersey #2 his entire career
• 2025 USA 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee — Posthumous