(Jun. 23, 1922 – Apr. 29, 1998) Hal Laycoe came to Oregon via the Portland Buckaroos of the Western Hockey League and left an indelible mark on the Rose City through the team’s success. In 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.

Born in Sutherland, Saskatoon in 1922, Laycoe excelled as a hockey defenseman and reached the professional level with the Saskatoon Quakers in 1941. He returned to pro hockey following World War II with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League in 1945-46. Laycoe moved between the NHL, Eastern Hockey League and American Hockey League for the next three seasons before settling in with the Montreal Canadiens (1949-51) and then the Boston Bruins (1951-56). The Bruins reached the Stanley Cup in 1953, but lost to the Canadiens.

Immediately after his retirement, he was named head coach of the New Westminster Royals of the WHL and guided them for three seasons when the franchise moved to Portland and renamed itself. 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 to become coach for the Los Angeles Kings, but was released after winning just five of their first 24 games. He returned to coach the expansion Vancouver Canucks for two seasons (1970-72) before retiring.

Laycoe was inducted to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.