Denis Herron

Lore & Background

Herron played junior hockey with the Trois-Rivières Ducs of the Quebec Junior Hockey League, earning a Second All-Star Team selection in 1972. He was drafted 40th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1972. His early career saw him split time between the Penguins and the Hershey Bears of the AHL. In 1974, he played for three teams: the Penguins, the Bears, and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles. The following season, he was traded to the Kansas City Scouts, where he played 22 games. While with Kansas City, Herron adopted a diet of high-protein milkshakes to gain size and strength, which led to a kidney stone in January 1976, believed to be caused by the milkshakes. He returned to Pittsburgh for three years, then was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 1979, where he shared goaltending duties for three seasons. In 1981, he won the Vezina Trophy with teammates Michel Larocque and Richard Sevigny. In 1982, he shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with Rick Wamsley. He returned to Pittsburgh in 1983 and played until his retirement in 1986.

Reader's Guide

Denis Herron's career is marked by his shared goaltending achievements in Montreal. He won the Vezina Trophy in 1981 alongside Michel Larocque and Richard Sevigny, and the William M. Jennings Trophy in 1982 with Rick Wamsley. These awards highlight his role in a goaltending tandem during a successful period for the Canadiens. Herron also represented Team Canada at the 1978 World Championships, earning a bronze medal. His career included multiple stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins, interspersed with time in Kansas City and Montreal. A notable personal incident involved a kidney stone in 1976, attributed to his high-protein milkshake diet while playing for Kansas City. Herron's legacy is that of a reliable goaltender who contributed to trophy-winning teams and overcame a unique health challenge during his playing days.

Did You Know?

• Herron won the Vezina Trophy in 1981 with Michel Larocque and Richard Sevigny.
• Herron won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 1978 World Championships.
• His niece Catherine Herron won the 2012 Clarkson Cup as a backup goaltender for the Montreal Stars.