Larmer an Iron Man throughout career
Former Pete in awe playing alongside likes of Tony Esposito
Every year in the social media frenzy around Hockey Hall of Fame nominations, fans and media consistently ask how Steve Larmer has yet to be honoured.
Despite his Iron Man status, a Stanley Cup ring and 441 NHL goals, Larmer doesn’t take himself too seriously and admits to being star-struck around some of the game’s biggest superstars.
Although he only played one season (1977-78) for the Petes, Larmer maintains it was a critical moment in his personal and hockey development.
“It was a really awesome opportunity first and foremost to play for Gary Green,” Larmer said.
“He was the most honest coach I ever played for and a great communicator. Right from day one he made me feel real comfortable as a local kid who kind of made it as a walkon.
“He took a chance on me and I certainly appreciated that.”
Larmer points to inclusivity curated by veteran players as reason for the team’s success.
“We had a veteran team with a lot of good players. Guys like Randy Johnston, Paul MacKinnon, Keith Acton and Greg Theberge. Once the season started they made you feel welcome and like you were part of it.”
Larmer spent the remainder of his junior career with the Niagara Falls Flyers from 1978 to 1981.
In the 1980 NHL draft he was selected in the sixth round by the Chicago Blackhawks, a position that failed to accurately predict the breadth of his talent.
“The fact that I got drafted was an honour, I always looked at it like that. It’s kind of like the OHL draft, where the door kind of opens and you have to take the initiative to open it all the way.
“Everybody can’t always be a first rounder or second rounder but that doesn’t mean that you can’t play for a long time.”
He certainly outperformed his draft selection and became a star for the Original Six franchise. In 1983, Larmer won the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year and set the record for most game winning goals scored by a rookie. In 1991, he won a gold medal with Team Canada at the Canada Cup and across his 11 years with Chicago didn’t miss a single game.
“The whole mid-west has this attitude of you work hard, you play hard. I think Chicago in particular appreciated hard working players and hopefully that’s what I am remembered for.”
Although Larmer’s name is all over the NHL record books, he maintains that he spent a large portion of his career in shock of who he sat beside in the dressing room.
“My first two years when I was playing in Chicago I got to spend it with Tony Esposito who was a childhood idol of mine. Every kid who played ball hockey and was in the net pretended they were Tony Esposito.
“I can remember the first year coming in after games saying, ‘Great game Mr. Esposito.’ I always called him Mr. Esposito. I have so much respect for those guys. They were my idols. Sometimes I had to pinch myself that I was in the same dressing room as them playing with them.”
Larmer also points to guys like Doug Wilson, Bob Murray and Rich Preston with appreciation for their willingness to take him under their wing and support his evolution as a professional hockey player.
“I always tell people I have been fortunate enough to play on some teams with not just good hockey players but really good people. Dennis Savard and Al Secord, I mean to come into the league my first year and play on a line with them was special and I owe a great debt of gratitude to those guys.”
Today, Larmer steps onto the ice in a much more casual manner using it as an opportunity to share jokes alongside the buddies he grew up with, his favourite part of the game.
“You have to have a sense of humour to play the game. It’s a game of mistakes. Every time you’re on the ice there is always something that can go wrong so you have to be able to take some criticism and ribbing not only from your coach but your teammates as well.
“All the teams I played on were real close and tight-knit. I think at the end of the day the part you miss the most is being in the dressing room and all the banter that goes back and forth.”
When he isn’t at the Memorial Centre to lace up his skates, Larmer is in the stands cheering on his stepson, current Pete J.R. Avon, or hitting the links in the summer.
Larmer’s monumental career matched with his small-town humility and sincerity makes him a fan favourite in the hockey community.