Background
Larson grew up in a working class neighborhood in south Minneapolis, playing hockey at outdoor rinks and practicing his shooting in his garage.
Larson grew up in a working class neighborhood in south Minneapolis, playing hockey at outdoor rinks and practicing his shooting in his garage.
In the off-season, he water skied and did gymnastics, developing his arm strength and powerful slap shot. He played for Minneapolis Roosevelt High School and was their leading scorer in the 1973-1974 season when they went to the state tournament. Larson spent three seasons under coach Herb Brooks at the University of Minnesota"s Minnesota Gophers before being drafted by the Detroit Red Wings with the 22nd pick of the 1976 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
He was named one of the 50 greatest players in University of Minnesota hockey history as part of the "Legends on Ice" tribute in 2001.
Larson joined Detroit near the end of the 1976-1977 season after Minnesota suspended him for assaulting an official during a WCHA game. He appeared in 14 National Hockey League games that season and was also named to Team United States of America for the 1977 World Ice Hockey Championships but missed the tournament due to shoulder injury.
His first full National Hockey League season (1977-1978) was highly successful as he was runner-up for the Calder Trophy as the National Hockey League"s top rookie, scoring the most points (60) by a rookie defenseman. A tough, offensive defenseman, he was particularly well known for his hard slap shot.
Larson became the first American defenseman to score 200 goals and he appeared in the 1978, 1980 and 1981 National Hockey League All-Star Game as the Red Wings representative.
He finally made his international debut for the United States national team at the 1981 World Ice Hockey Championships tournament and also represented the United States. at the 1981 Canada Cup. Larson spent ten National Hockey League seasons in Detroit until the Red Wings traded him to the Boston Bruins for Mike O"Connell in 1986. He played another two seasons for the Bruins before ending his National Hockey League career in 1989-1990 with the Buffalo Sabres His professional career continued overseas in Italy where he was a player-coach for four seasons before returning to his home state for a final nine games for the International Hockey League Minnesota Moose in 1994-1995.
He also played six games for Roller Hockey International"s Minnesota team in 1994.
Reed Larson has mostly been working for the insurance business since his retirement. He has also been active in Oldtimers" charity hockey and has played in Heroes of Hockey games at several National Hockey League All-Star weekends.
He was elected to the United States in 1996.
He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Member of United States. Hockey Hall of Fame.