Blaine Lacher, who rose to prominence as a rookie with the Boston Bruins in 1994-95 and left the NHL the following season, has died.
The former goalkeeper was 53. No cause of death was specified.
“The Boston Bruins are deeply saddened by the death of former goaltender Blaine Lacher.” We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family, friends, and teammates,” the Bruins said in a statement.
Lacher, who was signed as an undrafted free agent, went 19-11 with two ties in 35 games for the Bruins during the truncated 1994-95 season. That record featured a 9-2-1 start to his NHL career, with a save percentage of.921. He started every game for the Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs that season, which ended in a five-game loss to the New Jersey Devils in a best-of-7 series.
Lacher started the 1995-96 season with the Bruins, going 1-4-2 before being sent to Providence of the American Hockey League, where he played nine games.
He subsequently played 19 games in the International Hockey League over two seasons, followed by 18 games in the Saskatchewan West Hockey League in 2002-2003.
Lacher finished 22-16 with four ties in 47 NHL games (44 starts) for the Bruins, posting a 2.80 goals-against average and.887 save percentage.
He helped Lake Superior State win the Division I men’s ice hockey national title in 1994. That season, he set an NCAA record with a shutout streak of 375:01, which currently holds.
