FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT GEORGES LARAQUE JOINS HOCKEYCENTRAL’S NICK KYPREOS FOR A SPECIAL LOOK AT LIFE AS AN NHL ENFORCER

Laraque sits in-studio with Hockeycentral panel to examine the toughest job in sports

TORONTO (November 22, 2010) – After a hockey career highlighted by fists and fury, former NHL heavyweight Georges Laraque joins Hockeycentral’s Nick Kypreos and Daren Millard to discuss the perils of being an enforcer in the NHL.

The Hockeycentral Tonight special edition will air on Tuesday, November 23 at 8 p.m. (ET)/ 9:30 p.m. (MT)/ 9:30 p.m. (PT) on the Rogers Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific channels.

Laraque, 33, originally presented a fascinating and honest look at his life as an enforcer in a special column for sportsnet.ca when he was a member of the Montreal Canadiens. Now retired, Laraque promises to offer insight on a subject rarely spoken about, especially by the men who are chosen to do the enforcer job.

Along with Kypreos, former Stanley Cup winner, both will share their experiences on dealing with the emotional toll their career had on family and friends, the stress of having to defend teammates and the fear of having a career ended by a single punch. They will also go deep into the enforcer’s “Code”, the controversy around staged fights and how enforcers prepare on and off the ice.

Laraque was originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. The Montreal native later signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2006 before being dealt at the trade deadline to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007. Laraque signed as free agent with the Canadiens in July of 2008 before retiring in 2010 with 1219 penalty minutes in 720 NHL games.

For all the scores, highlights, breaking news and inside stories from the NHL tune in to Sportsnet Connected and log on to sportsnet.ca. “Your home team. First.”

-END-