Bill LaForge

Bill LaForge was a successful, but controversial coach. He was known for his tough tactics that saw opponents bruised both physically and mentally. He had three tenets for his teams: pride, hustle and desire (PhD). More than anything else, he wanted a player to play for his team, not for the name on the back of his jersey.

LaForge started coaching with OHL Oshawa Generals, but moved to the WHL after receiving a 50-game suspension for fighting with Peterborough Petes coach Dave Dryden on center ice during a pre-game skate. His success in the juniors landed him behind the bench with the Vancouver Canucks. However, his unorthodox coaching methods and punishing emphasis on physical play was too much for the pros. Canucks' General Manager Harry Neale took over the coaching duties only after 20 games in the season. He then went on to coach the Hamilton Steelhawks and Niagara Falls Thunder in the OHL. The WHL Tri-City Americans hired him as the Director of Player Personnel in 1989, but we was reassigned to scouting duties after the players refused to play under his supervision. LaForge passed away on June 19, 2005.

Family relations
Cousin: Patrick LaForge
Son: Bill LaForge