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Lacroix left his job as a players agent in May 1994 and took over as CEO of Quebec Nordiques.
He moved with the team to Denver in the US when Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche for the 1995-96 season.
A year later, they had won the Stanley Cup and it became another championship title under Lacroix in 2001.
– You could say that we came to the club almost at the same time in 1994 and Pierre was always right with me. He had a big heart, says Foppa.
Peter Forsberg mourns Pierre Lacroix
Pierre Lacroix was behind several major changes during his time in Colorado.
The first was the signing of goalkeeper star Patrick Roy in December 1995, which gave Avalanche a top-tier goalkeeper and was a contributing factor to the club’s victory in the Stanley Cup in June 1996.
In March 2000, Lacroix attracted Ray Bourque from the Boston Bruins, and in February 2001, another established NHL giant arrived in Colorado, Rob Blake from the Los Angeles Kings.
The duo helped Avalanche win the championship in 2001.
Piere Lacroix left the general manager position in 2006 and served as club president until 2013 before retiring from hockey.
He spent a lot of time in the last few years in his house outside of Las Vegas.
– We met there a few times when I had a house in Las Vegas myself and we celebrated Thanksgiving together for a year, says Foppa.
When was the last time you were in contact with Lacroix?
– I texted him just a few months ago telling him I’d take care of himself and think about his health in these times of covid, says Foppa.
Lacroix died in covid-19
According to the Canadian newspaper Le Journal de Quebe, Lacroix died of the suites after suffering from covid-19.
Lacroix leaves behind his wife Colombe and their children Martin and Eric. The latter played eight seasons in the NHL with Toronto, LA Kings, New York Rangers and Ottawa.
He also served for a time as a scout and assistant general manager for Colorado Avalanche and is now an expert commentator for the SportsNet Rocky Mountain television channel during Vegas Golden Knights games.
