Hal Laycoe (June 23, 1922 – April 29, 1998) lived an incredible hockey life spanning five decades as player, coach and front office leader. His stop in Portland as coach of the Buckaroos made him a legend in the Rose City.
Laycoe arrived in Portland in 1960 when the Western Hockey League re-located the team from New Westminster, BC that would become the Buckaroos. During the 1960s, the Buckaroos were the most successful professional hockey team, winning three Lester Patrick Cups in the WHL and consistently filling the Memorial Coliseum in the process.
Hal had and eventful pro career as a hard-hitting, glasses-wearing defenseman for the Rangers, Canadians and Bruins in the rough and tumble NHL of the 1950s. Laycoe’s high sticking incident with Canadiens’ legend Maurice Richard led to the infamous “Richard Riot” of 1955. Laycoe appeared in one Stanley Cup final with Boston and stepped directly into a coaching role with New Westminster following his retirement as a player.
After the move to Portland, Laycoe led the Buckaroos to a winning record each of the nine seasons he served as head coach and led the team to the league title in 1961 and ’65.
In 1969, Laycoe left the Buckaroos and returned to the NHL, becoming the head coach for the Los Angeles Kings. He was released after LA won just five of their first 24 games. He returned to coach the expansion Vancouver Canucks for two seasons (1970-72). Laycoe later coached the Dutch National team and finally earned two Stanley Cup rings as a scout for the New York Islanders in the ‘80s.