Larry Mavety - Playing Career

Playing Career

Mavety starting his minor league hockey career in 1963–64 season as a defenceman with the Toledo Blades of the International Hockey League (IHL), recording 20 points (7G-13A), along with 133 PIM in 70 games, and helped the Blades have the best record in the league. He added 2 points (1G-1A) in 13 playoff games as the Blades won the Turner Cup.

After starting the 1964–65 with the Syracuse Stars, an independent team, he returned to the IHL with the Port Huron Flags, earning 18 points (4G-14A) in 23 games, and he added an assist in 7 playoff games. Mavety returned in 1965–66, and recorded 62 points (19G-43A) in 69 games with the Flags, and added 12 points (3G-9A) in 9 playoff games as the Flags won the Turner Cup. In 1966–67, Mavety again improved his numbers with 73 points (25G-48A) in 71 games with Port Huron, as he won the Governor's Trophy as the best defenceman in the IHL. Despite his great season, the Flags did not qualify for the playoffs.

In 1967–68, Mavety joined the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and he recorded 25 points (2G-23A), along with 148 PIM in 72 games, as the Canucks failed to make the playoffs. He then moved on with the Denver Spurs, of the WHL, and in his first season with the team, Mavety had 33 points (5G-28A) in 74 games as the team did not make the playoffs. In 1969–70, Mavety recorded 57 points (10G-47A) in 72 games, and again the Spurs failed to make the playoffs. Mavety returned to Denver for the 1970–71 season, and finished 2nd in team scoring with 63 points (18G-45A) in 71 games as the Spurs qualified for the playoffs. He added 4 points in 5 playoff games. In 1971–72, Mavety joined the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, and recorded 53 points (15G-38A) in 62 games.

With the World Hockey Association (WHA) beginning play in 1972–73, Mavety began the season with the Los Angeles Sharks, however he played only 2 games with the club, scoring a goal. He moved on to the Philadelphia Blazers, where he went pointless in 4 games before finding a home with the Chicago Cougars, where he had 49 points (9G-40A) in 67 games. He returned to the Cougars for the 1973–74 season, registering 51 points (15G-36A) in 77 games and helped the club make the post-season. The Cougars then upset the defending champion New England Whalers in the division semi-finals, then beat heavily favoured Toronto Toros in the division finals before losing to the Houston Aeros in the Avco Cup Finals. Mavety had 12 points (4G-8A) in 18 playoff games.

In 1974–75, Mavety earned 32 points (10G-22A) in 57 games with the Cougars. He also spent a few games with the Long Island Cougars of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), playing in 4 games and scoring 2 goals before being traded to the Toronto Toros. He played in 17 games with the Toros, recording 9 points (0G-9A), helpin them to the playoffs. In 6 playoff games, Mavety registered 3 assists as the Toros lost in the first round.

Mavety split the 1975–76 season between the Erie Blades of the NAHL, getting 24 points (7G-17A) in 24 games, the Binghamton Dusters, also of the NAHL, recording 36 points (14G-22A) in 31 games, and the Denver Spurs of the WHA, getting 4 points (0G-4A) in 14 games. He then spent the majority of the 1976–77 season with the Dusters again, getting 67 points (16G-51A) in 59 games, and he also spent 10 games with the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA, getting 4 points (2G-2A). With Binghamton in the playoffs, Mavety had 10 points (1G-9A) in 10 games. Mavety then retired from professional hockey after the season.