Claude Vilgrain

Last updated
Claude Vilgrain
Born (1963-03-01) March 1, 1963 (age 61)
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Vancouver Canucks
New Jersey Devils
Philadelphia Flyers
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
NHL draft 107th overall, 1982
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 1988–2002

Claude Vilgrain (born March 1, 1963) is a Haitian-born Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He played in 89 National Hockey League games with the Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, and Philadelphia Flyers. He played in the 1988 Winter Olympics for the Canadian national team.

Contents

Early life

Vilgrain was born on March 1, 1963, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. [1] He was born into an academically inclined family as his great-uncle was a doctor, his grandfather was a judge, [2] and his father was an economist. [3] When he was around one year old, his father Alix moved the family to Quebec City for an economist job after having studied there for seven years. [3] Vilgrain later credited his success in hockey to his parents' willingness to adapt to Canadian culture and allow him to play sports. [4] As he had grown up in a small suburb of Quebec City, Vilgrain first experienced racism while playing junior hockey in Montreal. [5]

Career

Junior

Vilgrain played junior hockey with the Laval Voisins in the QMJHL from 1980 to 1983. [1] He played two seasons alongside future Pittsburgh Penguins star Mario Lemieux and finished second in team scoring with 126 points. [6] Vilgrain reflected positively on his time as Lemieux's teammate and said he tried to emulate his moves. [4] Despite his on-ice success, Vilgrain said he was thrown by the racial taunts he received during games. [2] Following the 1981–92 season, Vilgrain was drafted in the sixth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. [7] Vilgrain spent another season with the Voisins, where he scored 46 goals and 80 points to be selected for the QMJHL Second All-Star Team. [8] However, after he was not invited to the Red Wings 1983 training camp and refused to report for another season with the Voisins, the Red Wings left him unsigned to a contract. [4]

Université de Moncton

As an unsigned free agent, Vilgrain decided to continue his education and joined the Moncton Aigles Bleus at the Université de Moncton from 1983 to 1986. [1]

Personal life

Vilgrain's daughter Cassandra also played collegiate ice hockey before joining Brynäs IF of the Swedish Women's Hockey League. [9]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1980–81 Laval Voisins QMJHL 7220315165—————
1981–82 Laval VoisinsQMJHL58262955641714102422
1982–83 Laval VoisinsQMJHL6946801267412104144
1983–84 Université de Moncton AUS 201120318—————
1984–85Université de MonctonAUS2435286320—————
1985–86Université de MonctonAUS1917203725—————
1985–86 Canada Intl10000—————
1986–87CanadaIntl7828427038—————
1987–88CanadaIntl6721204141—————
1987–88 Vancouver Canucks NHL 61120—————
1988–89 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 239132226—————
1988–89 Utica Devils AHL 552330534150222
1989–90 New Jersey Devils NHL6123440000
1989–90 Utica DevilsAHL7337528932—————
1990–91 Utica DevilsAHL5932467826—————
1991–92 New Jersey DevilsNHL7119274674711217
1992–93 New Jersey DevilsNHL40220—————
1992–93 Cincinnati Cyclones IHL5719264522—————
1992–93 Utica DevilsAHL226814450110
1993–94 Philadelphia Flyers NHL20000—————
1993–94 Hershey Bears AHL7630538345111672
1994–95 SC Herisau SUI.2 3627336044432510
1995–96SC HerisauSUI.236274168445551012
1996–97SC HerisauSUI.24230467664119122110
1997–98 Frankfurt Lions DEL 381713305471238
1998–99 SERC Wild Wings DEL5216294526—————
1999–2000 EHC Biel-Bienne SUI.2362644701692101214
2000–01EHC Biel-BienneSUI.239253156201035816
2001–02 SC Bern NLA —————42240
NHL totals89213253781111217
AHL totals2851281893171482119104
SUI.2 totals1891311993301883922345662

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1988 Canada OG 60000
Senior totals60000

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Claude Vilgrain". Elite Prospects. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Vergian, Bill (October 20, 1991). "A Devil's Due". Daily News. Retrieved December 26, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 Ross, Rosemarie (January 12, 1992). "A reluctant pioneer". The Herald-News. Retrieved December 26, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 "Where to play hockey in Haiti? 'On ice cubes,' Olympian jokes". Times Colonist. January 24, 1988. Retrieved December 26, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ McPhaden, Megan (February 3, 2019). "They would 'make monkey noises': former NHLer reflects on his experience for Black History Month". City News. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ Keating, Jack (June 19, 1987). "Olympic star joins Canuck fold". The Province . Retrieved December 26, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Olson, Arv (June 10, 1982). "A smorgasbord of talent". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved December 26, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Zurkowsky, Herb (May 6, 1983). "Lafontaine, mate only two Juniors on all-star teams". Montreal Gazette . Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Cassandra Vilgrain joins Swedish Women's Hockey League". University of British Columbia. May 9, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
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