Centre Gord Labossiere was a creative playmaker who played over 200 NHL games in the 1960s and '70s. His greatest success came in the WHA and the minors where he was consistent threat on offense.
The native of St. Boniface, Manitoba was an imposing force in the Manitoba junior league with three teams. His best year was 1957-58 when he scored a league leading 44 goals for the Brandon Rangers. He spent his first five years as a pro in the WHL and EPHL before joining the New York Rangers for 15 games in 1963-64.
During the mid-'60s Labossiere was a top scorer in the AHL. His best year was a 95-point performance in 1966-67 for the Quebec Aces which earned him selection to the league's first all-star team. Expansion provided the talented pivot with his first real chance to show what he could do in the NHL. He was acquired by the Los Angeles Kings and played two years of solid two-way hockey for them.
In 1969-70, he was sent back to the AHL but returned to score eleven goals in the first 45 games of the 1970-71 season before he joined the Minnesota North Stars. Labossiere was essentially a third and fourth liner for his new club and only played nine games the following season.
After scoring 85 points in 66 games for the AHL's Cleveland Barons in 1971-72, he signed with the Houston Aeros of the WHA. Labossiere was an important two-way player for the club when it captured consecutive Avco World trophies as playoff champions in 1974 and 1975. He retired in 1976 after scoring 24 goals for the Aeros.
