Larry Babcock was born and raised in Chatham and excelled at any sport that he undertook. However, it was in hockey that he had the greatest impact as he went from the CMHA, to Junior "B" and then "A", to the University of Michigan, and finally to the University of Western Ontario. No matter where he played, he quickly became a team leader, which was evidenced by his appointment as captain of virtually all the teams he played with.

Babcock a local trailblazer. Many talented hockey players from Chatham have donned the maize and blue at the University of Michigan. Larry Babcock may have been the best, former teammates say. “Tremendous hockey player,” ex-Wolverine Ron Coristine said.

After finishing school, Larry returned to Chatham and established a very successful law practice and, with his wife, Dot, raised 4 children who also are very interested in and successful at sports.

• 1955-1959 
  • Signed with Montreal Canadiens to play Jr. "B" in New Hamburg ; elected team captain;  finished 3rd in team scoring.  From 1956 through 1959 was a  member of first Peterborough Petes Jr. "A" team in history.   With steady improvement, in its 3rd year of operation played in the Memorial Cup finals scoring 29 goals and 41 assists for 70 points.  He played in OHA all-star game with the team ending second in league; won OHA Championship over St. Mikes; Eastern Canadian Jr. "A" Championship over Hull Canadiens, and then lost to Winnipeg in the Memorial Cup Finals.  Larry was team MVP for the series
• University of Michigan 1959 through 1963
  • Passed up his last year of junior and entered Michigan on scholarship.  Freshmen could not play so between semesters, he returned to Peterborough, played 5 games scoring 5G and 5A.  As a sophomore, was 2nd in team scoring, and 7th in the league with 16G and 18A; as a junior, was 3rd in team scoring 16G and 29A.   While team finished 2nd with 24 wins setting a team record they lost to Michigan Tech in league playoffs.   Larry advanced to NCAA, finished 3rd.   As a  senior, chosen as team captain, scored 7G and 16A, and was drafted by Philadelphia Flyers.
• University of Western Ontario - 1963 through 1966
  • Entered UWO law school and played hockey but the team was not member of Senior Intercollegiate Hockey League until the following year.
  • 1964-65 - team finished 3rd in league, lost to Montreal in semi-finals.  Larry was team captain, 1st in team scoring, and team MVP for year.
  • 1965-66 team finished 2nd . Larry was team captain, 2nd in team scoring, team MVP for year, 1st team all-star, and became 1st winner of Robert W. Mccheseney Memorial Trophy for Loyalty and Sportsmanship.

Larry accomplished many firsts for Chathamites during his hockey career. He was first to:

• sign with an NHL team
• to play Junior "A" hockey
• to play in a Memorial Cup
• along with Al Hinnegan and Ron Coristine, first to play in an NCAA Final Four
• along with daughter, Courtney, first father and daughter combination to be inducted into Michigama which recognizes athletic and academic success of student athletes at the University of Michigan. 
• In addition, with Larry’s induction it becomes the first time that two individuals from the same family have been inducted into the Chatham Sports Hall of Fame as Larry’s father, Ross, entered the Hall in 2004 as a Builder.
• In 1963, Larry was elected into the University of Michigan Dekker Hockey Hall of Fame
• 2003 was inducted into the Chatham Collegiate Hall of Fame.