CRAIG LAUGHLIN '80- 2017 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee

One of just four former Golden Knights to have his collegiate number (#22) retired to the rafters of Cheel Arena, Craig Laughlin was an outstanding forward for Clarkson Hockey in the late 1970s.

A native of Toronto, Ontario, Laughlin still ranks among the top 13 scorers in the program’s 96-year history with 168 points on 65 goals and 103 assists through 127 career games from 1976-80.

A 5-11, 198-pound right wing, Laughlin, who missed just two games in his Clarkson career, helped the Knights amass 85 victories and a .662 winning percentage over his four years wearing the Green and Gold.



In his freshman campaign of 1976-77, Laughlin skated in 33 of 34 contests, scoring 12 goals and 13 assists while the Knights posted a 26-8 overall record and a first-place 19-4 ECAC mark for head coach Jerry York. 

A rugged, versatile forward who possessed a fine goal-scoring touch, Laughlin really came into his own as a sophomore. He put up 48 points on 17 goals and 31 assists as Clarkson’s third-leading scorer, helping the Green and Gold to a 19-11 record in 1977-78.

Laughlin showed no signs of slowing down in his junior campaign, tallying 47 points on 18 goals and 29 assists as Clarkson skated to another 19-win campaign in 1978-79.

As a senior in 1979-80, he served as a tri-captain on Head Coach Bill O’Flaherty’s first Clarkson team and helped to lead the Knights to a 21-12-1 overall record. He was the team’s second leading scorer with 48 points on 18 goals, including four shorthanded tallies, and 30 assists. 

Laughlin, who earned a bachelor’s degree in management, continued to excel on the ice after graduating from Clarkson and enjoyed an impressive eight-year career in the National Hockey League, skating with the Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs. The 1977 10th-round NHL Draft choice of Montreal played in 549 career NHL games from 1981-89, recording 341 points on 136 goals and 205 assists. Laughlin enjoyed his best years with Washington, playing parts of six seasons (1982-88) in the nation’s capital.

A fan favorite during his playing days, Laughlin has been a hugely popular analyst on Capitals television broadcasts since 1990.

In honor of his excellence in college and NHL stardom, Laughlin was among three former Golden Knight greats to have their Clarkson numbers retired in 1989, joining fellow standouts Dave Taylor (#24) and Colin Patterson (#25).