Former NHL enforcer Laraque in hospital with COVID-19 diagnosis

Former National Hockey League enforcer Georges Laraque has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The retired player tweeted the diagnosis later on Thursday.

“I guess I’m not invincible, just got diagnosed with COVID,” he wrote. “Since I’m asthmatic, not the best news, will fight it off!”

Laraque played a total 13 years in the NHL, mostly with the Edmonton Oilers. He posted a career tally of 53 goals and 100 assists and was mostly known as a fighter, racking up 1,126 penalty minutes. 

Before he hung up the skates, he spent his final two NHL seasons with his hometown Canadiens, scoring just one goal and four assists over 61 games.

He also played for the Phoenix Coyotes back in 2006 and the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Laraque was recently taking part in a campaign called ‘Give Protection’ in Laval, Que., in an effort to provide more Personal Protective Equipment to front-line staff. He posted a video of himself on April 1 outside a nearby hospital, where he might have contacted the virus. 

We all hope he can beat this virus!