Leo W. Vaillancourt
Year Inducted: 2003
Birthday: October 20, 1917
City/Town: Berlin, NH
Leo Vaillancourt grew up during the time when the young sport of ice hockey was growing rapidly in Berlin. In 1920 the local paper mill organized a company hockey league, and nearly a dozen social clubs sponsored their own teams. Leo played for the Joliette Hockey Club in the mid-1930s. After high school graduation, Vaillancourt played for the Berlin Hockey Club that became the Berlin Maroons in January 1937. Leo was part of the high scoring “Kid Line” with Hall of Famer Barney LaRoche as his teammate. Soon the Berlin Maroons became a powerhouse winning the 1941 New England AHA Championship with Vaillancourt scoring seven goals in that tournament.
Leo then served in the European Campaign of WWII from 1942 to 1945.
The Maroons resumed playing in 1946/47. In 1947/48, Vaillancourt led them to another New England title as their team captain. The Maroons won a third NE Title in 1949 with Vaillancourt scoring 48 goals and 23 assists that season. Leo was selected to the 1949 New England AHA All-Star Team. He was top scorer the following year with 74 points. In 1951, Captain Vaillancourt led the Maroons to another NE title.
In the 1953/54 season, Leo gave up the uniform and became Coach Vaillancourt. The Maroons became the dominant amateur hockey team in New England winning the National AHA Championship.
Including and following his playing years, Leo Vaillancourt became a member of the National Athletic Amateur Association (NAAA) and the National Intercollegiate Hockey Official Association from 1950 to 1975. In addition, he was a member of the NAAA Evaluation Committee.
