Career
Before playing in the NHL, Laraque played parts of three seasons with the Saint-Jean Lynx, one season with the Laval Titan Collège Français, one season with the Saint-Hyacinthe Laser, and one season with the Granby Prédateurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He had a successful time with his teams. He helped the team during the playoffs.
He helped the Prédateurs during the playoffs, defeating the Saint-Hyacinthe Laser and Chicoutimi Saguenéens. They went on to eventually defeat the Beauport Harfangs four games to one in the finals to win the President's Cup. The team also won the Jean Rougeau Trophy for being the QMJHL's leading point-scoring team. They earned a berth into the Memorial Cup tournament and defeated the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) to win the Memorial Cup.
He was drafted 31st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1995 NHL entry draft. He was immediately sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs. On November 15, 1997, the Oilers called him up and Laraque made his NHL debut in a 2–2 overtime against the Calgary Flames. During the first period, Laraque got into his first NHL fight against Todd Simpson. On January 7, 1999, Laraque scored his first two NHL goals back-to-back against Pekka Rinne in the third period of a 7–1 win against the Phoenix Coyotes. He also got into a fight with Steve Leach. On February 21, 2000, Laraque scored his first NHL hat-trick in a 2–2 overtime against the Calgary Flames. On September 8, 2000, Laraque signed a three-year contract to stay with the Oilers. On September 11, 2003, Laraque signed another three-year contract to stay with the Oilers.
On July 5, 2006, Laraque signed a two-year contract to join the Phoenix Coyotes. He scored 5 goals and recorded 17 assists for 22 points in 56 regular season games for the Coyotes.
On February 27, 2007, the Coyotes traded Laraque to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Daniel Carcillo and a 2008 third-round draft pick. He was awarded the Edward J. DeBartolo Award for his time and effort towards the community and his multiple charity projects. He played parts of two seasons with the Penguins.
On July 5, 2006, Laraque signed a three-year, $4.5 million contract to join his hometown team, Montreal Canadiens. He played arts of two seasons for the Canadiens.
On June 15, 2010, the Canadiens bought out the rest of Laraque's contract and he became a free agent. He retired from playing professional ice hockey shortly afterwards because of the many injuries he had sustained over his career.
Personal life and after retirement
Laraque's cousin Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre also played in the NHL for six seasons.
Laraque has pursued many different ventures since his retirement. Laraque is known for his charitable work, donating and spending time with the multiple communities he has played in and also raising money alongside World Vision and the National Hockey League Players' Association to help rebuild the Grace Children's Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti after it was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake. He has also used his platform to fight against racism which he faced much of during his playing career.
He is also an LGBTQ ally. On August 10, 2018, Laraque attended Montréal ride and participated in a celebrity drag competition. He wore a wedding gown and performed a lip-sync of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" before donating $1,000 to local LGBTQ+ groups.
Laraque has appeared in many television shows and movies. He was in the 2011 movie Goon where he portrayed Huntington, an enforcer for the Albany Patriots. He also appeared on CBC's Canada Reads competition and was a contestant on the second season of Battle of the Blades, teaming with Anabelle Langlois and finishing in seventh.
On February 13, 2010, Laraque entered politics and joined the Green Party of Canada. On July 31, 2010, the Green Party named Laraque as one of their Deputy Leaders. On July 9, 2013, he campaigned for the federal Green Party in the by-election in Bourassa. On October 17, 2013, Laraque decided to resign as the Green Party deputy leader.
