Larry Popein was a pure Saskatchewan lad until he played his first game with the Vancouver Canucks of the PCHL in 1951. From that point on, no matter where he played or coached, Vancouver was the place he liked to be.
In 1954, while skating for the Canucks, the New York Rangers acquired Popein's contract. He was promptly brought to the Big Apple along with Gump Worsley, Lou Fontinato, and Andy Bathgate to spark a revival of the club's fortunes.
Popein, a man of few words and a grim facial expression, quickly established himself as a hustling, two-way centreman, flanked by Bathgate and Dean Prentice. The line became the Rangers' best although Prentice and Bathgate got the lion's share of points while Popein remained, as he often called himself, the scoreless pivot.
He stayed as a Ranger regular until 1961 when he was sent back to the Vancouver Canucks of the WHL. There he contentedly played for his adopted hometown for seven seasons. But in 1967, the NHL doubled in size, opening up a need for experienced vets like Larry Popein. The Oakland Seals made him a cash offer that was hard to refuse. He joined the NHL for one final run of 47 games before heading back to the minors where he rounded out his on-ice career with Vancouver and Omaha.
Since packing it in, Popein has coached in Omaha, Seattle, Providence, and New York. In 1974-75, he also served as director of player personnel for the Vancouver Canucks, this time, of the NHL.
