Henri-André Laperrière

Joseph Henri Eugene André Laperrière (June 12, 1925 – March 8, 2015) was a Canadian ice hockey defenseman. He was a member of the Ottawa RCAF Flyers who won the gold medal at the 1948 Winter Olympics. In 2001 Laperrière was honoured by the Canadian Forces when the 1948 RCAF Flyers were selected as Canada's greatest military athletes of the 20th century.[1] He was inducted into the Canadian Forces Sports Hall of Fame in 1971 and into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2008.[2]

André Laperrière

Laperrière in 1948
Personal information
Full name	Henri Eugene André Laperrière
Born	(1925-06-12)June 12, 1925 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	March 8, 2015(2015-03-08) (aged 89) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	77 kg (170 lb)
Sport
Country	Canada
Sport	Ice hockey
Club	Verdun Terriers (1944–1945) Montreal Carabins (1946–1950) Ottawa RCAF Flyers (1948)
Retired	1950
Medal record Representing  Canada 1948 St. Moritz Ice hockey

Laperrière was born to a streetcar operator in Montreal and was playing for the University of Montreal, before accepting an invitation to the 1948 Olympic team. That team was entirely composed of military staff, hence Laperrière was quickly instated as a private in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He played eight matches and scored one goal. During the final eight seconds of the last game against Sweden he replaced the goaltender Murray Dowey who received a penalty. Canadians won 3–1 and received gold medals. After the Olympics Laperrière declined an offer to play for the New York Rangers. Instead he stayed with the University of Montreal, and won two Canadian Intercollegiate Hockey Union championships before retiring in 1950. After that he worked as a graphic designer and served as President of the Outremont Hockey Association (for five years) and as member of the Outremont City Council (1970–1982). His son also played ice hockey.[3]