Beckett Hockey Releases Editor Stephen Laroche

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After a post on Facebook this morning and a subsequent messenger conversation with Mr. Laroche, it is confirmed that he has been released from his role as Editor of Beckett Hockey, Beckett Basketball and Beckett Sports Card Monthly, effective this month.

Mr. Laroche, who formerly held the position of Brand Manager with ITG from 2004 to 2014, plans to take some time to re-evaluate his role and activity within the hobby but does hope to someday get back into it in some manner, as he told me, and I quote:

"I imagine that I will keep one foot in the door for a while. Part of me thinks that there is hope to do some good in the hobby again. I truly enjoyed my tenure as the Editor of Beckett Hockey and other titles and was disappointed that it came to an abrupt and unexpected end. The realities for print media often cause changes and those titles are obviously going in another direction, but new opportunities await me now. I was able to fulfill a dream that began when I was 14 years old and got to create stories which celebrate the hobby and gave a closer look into athletes that we collect. It was an unforgettable experience and it gave me great pride to give readers an experience akin to that which the magazine delivered in the hobby's boom years."​

I definitely think there is a role for Mr. Laroche in the hobby again and look forward to welcoming him back into our little world, that he won't completely be leaving, he is still a collector too, like us.

Personally, I wish Mr. Laroche, who has been collecting without a break since 1981, the best as he moves forward from this change in his worklife and will add that the passion we share for this hobby and it's history was made clear by this little exchange we had:

Mr. Laroche: I wish the hobby was a bit simpler, but it's never going back to its roots.​

Me: Agreed, they ain't printing cards to sell bubble gum anymore​

Mr. Laroche: Nope. I miss that gum something awful​

Me: Me too! Loved that stuff. Wouldn't it be great if someone brought it back with its original recipe and in stick form...coated in flour?!​

Mr. Laroche: I know! It was actually powdered sugar, from what I understand - but did not taste like it! Tasted like flour to me as well...yeah, i miss that stuff...​

Me: I still eat it on the rare occasion I crack an 80's pack. The flavour is still there even though it just disintegrates in your mouth. lol​

Mr. Laroche: That second of nostalgia before it disintegrates. Know that feeling well. Oldest I ever ate was 34 years old lol​

Me: hahaha so gross yet soooo good​

Mr. Laroche: Exactly!​

Mr. Laroche's hobby contributions also include:

  • Co-authoring the 2011 book with Jon Waldman called Got 'Em Got 'Em Need 'Em about the top 100 trading cards of all-time.
  • Wrote a book called Changing The Game - A Comprehensive History of NHL Expansion in 2014.
  • Wrote backs for over 10,000 cards produced by In The Game.
  • Ran a hobby news website on Sun Media's SLAM! Sports page called SLAM! Collectibles from 2001-2004.
  • Wrote for the Canadian Sports Collector occasionally up to 2000.

Hopefully this list continues to grow as the years go by.

Thank you for your service to, and passion for, the hobby, Stephen.
 
Stephen was a very valuable part of the In The Game team for ten years.

He was responsible for many of our unique concepts that are still being used today in the hobby.

I hope Stephen finds a position in the hockey hobby world in the very near future.

Brian Price
 
dont know him never heard of him, after reading this thread I wish I did.......sounds like an awesome guy and an asset to the hobby
 
Have had the pleasure of talking to him a couple times in the past (at the Toronto show) and have enjoyed what he brings to the hobby. Sucks to hear of this news but I am confident he will have an equal (if not greater) impact with whatever he chooses to do next.
 
Stephen is a very good friend of mine and to say that I'm angry at Beckett's decision to release him is putting it very mildly. Their print media was dying a slow death and I personally felt that Stephen injected a breath of fresh air into it. Now it can disappear entirely and I won't miss it. I suspect the decision was made by someone whose head is in and out of their rear end with regularity.

Stephen, you're a good man and I hope you do find something within the hobby, because you have so much to offer it. My best wishes to you for the immediate future, though, as I can't imagine the toll that the sting of this is taking on you.
 
I never saw an issue of Beckett under his leadership as prior management drove me away. Sounds like I may have missed something. That said, when it comes to Beckett, I feel it can't be buried soon enough.
 
Admittedly I'm a bit biased as Stephen is one of my best friends both in and out of the hobby. He was responsible for not only 99% plus 2 of that magazines success but he gave the price guide a much needed injection of life as well. In a hobby where a lot of us "old guard" had lost interest, Stephen stepped up to the challenge of making Beckett Hockey relevant against since the Muir/Hall days (some would argue even earlier).
 
I only buy a beckett twice a year for expo reasons only if I cant get a free one.
I stopped with beckett when Al left . I honestly never knew Stephen worked for beckett but I knew he worked for itg and had an extensive conversation with him at expo over Motown madness.
Beckett you messed up by letting this guy go , his passion for the hobby is second to none


maybe he can revitalize the insiders edge...
 
This is disappointing news. I started buying Beckett again on a regular basis about two years ago, mostly for the content Stephen was providing. I've known Stephen since his CSC days, and he was always good for a conversation about hockey, and whatever avenue he was working on in the hobby.

I can't imagine who they will replace him with, as he was a very natural fit for the role given his previous experience. I wouldn't be surprised if the editorial content is reduced to faceless product reviews, and letters to a faceless editor, 3/4 of which will be questions about unpriced cards and their value.

Best of luck to Stephen, and I look forward to seeing him in the hobby somewhere soon.

Cory
 
Few people as conversant with the hobby as Stephen, and he was always up for a good, long chin-waggin' about the hobby. More importantly, he remains one of the more consistently positive and optimistic people in the know - and that is exceedingly rare.

Beckett's loss. Stephen, I wish you the best in whatever you next pursue.
 
It's a shame to have someone departing Beckett for me to hear it was actually positive the last few years. I hear nothing but people dumping on it over and over again. I had no idea it had any merits whatsoever since, well, whenever it was Al left.
 
I talked to him a few times back when he worked for ITG, and once when he worked for Beckett. Good guy. I mention multiple chats when he worked for ITG - was always @ the Expo.... I can imagine how many 100s (1000s ?) of people he would talk to in one weekend - and I was quite impressed by the fact that he recognized me in subsequent trips to the ITG booth.
 
Not sure if you guys are aware or not, but this was across the board, they laid off ALL the editors of each mag................
 
TheGriceBoys said:
Not sure if you guys are aware or not, but this was across the board, they laid off ALL the editors of each mag................
Click to expand...

*snort*

For real? Wow. Strong move there, Voice of the Hobby.




That reminds me: Jeremy, we got an official "sarcasm" font?
 
I will miss meeting up with Stephen at the annual shows, including the National. An excellent writer, a keen hobbiest and a great friend. So very sorry to hear of the changing of the tides within Beckett but as he said, written print is on its way out. I trust he will find something within the hobby that he is just as passionate about and we get to see him around real soon. All the best my friend. Drop me an email if you are reading this

Cyril
 
Beckett needs to go away period and I say that while living in Dallas. All about grading and you just hope that the guy looking at your card didn't have a fight with his girlfriend the night before.
 

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