Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada
About Larry Popein
- Lawrence Thomas "The Pope" Popein (born August 11, 1930) is a retired professional ice hockey player and coach. Popein began his career with the Moose Jaw Canucks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
- He then signed with the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League.
- During his playing time with this organization, he developed a special affinity for British Columbia's largest city.[1] In 1954, Popein's contract was acquired by the New York Rangers and he began his National Hockey League career.
- Although a relatively small skater at 5 ft 9 in, 170 lbs, Popein developed as a reputation as a stoic, fearless, hard-working player who was a solid body checker and a skilled passer.
- He was the quiet centre on a powerful line that included Andy Bathgate and Dean Prentice.
- Early in the 1960-61 season, after six years as a Rangers starter, Popein was returned to the Canucks.
- He would briefly return to the NHL during the 1967-68 season, as expansion allowed many veterans to crack the lineups of fledgling teams, with Popein spending one year with the Oakland Seals.[2] Upon retiring from the ice, Popein entered coaching.
- He served as the bench boss of the Omaha Knights of the Central Hockey League, then as an assistant coach with the Rangers; he briefly was the interim head coach of this club during the 1973-74 season.
- The next year, Popein became director of player development of the new NHL incarnation of the Vancouver Canucks.
- After a clean sweep of the Vancouver front office, Popein took a job with the Calgary Flames in 1986, serving as a scout until his 1992 retirement.[3] Popien was ranked No.
- 91 on the all-time list of New York Rangers in the book 100 Ranger Greats (John Wiley & Sons, 2009).
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