Pat LaFontaine
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Pat LaFontaine (born February 22, 1965, in St. Louis, Missouri) was an ice hockey center in the National Hockey League, who played for the New York Islanders (1983–1991), Buffalo Sabres (1991–1997), and New York Rangers (1997–1998). Though playing for three different teams, he played his entire career only with the three New York franchises. LaFontaine recently worked for the Islanders as the senior advisor to the owner, Charles Wang before resigning on July 18, 2006.
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[edit] Junior Hockey
LaFontaine scored 104 goals & 130 assists for 234 points with the Verdun Juniors of the QMJHL in the 1982-83 season, winning the Jean Béliveau Trophy as the top scorer, out-dueling future NHL icon Mario Lemieux. Two of the more prominent records he broke were Guy Lafleur's 40-game point-scoring streak and Mike Bossy's 70 goals by a rookie.
He was awarded the Michel Brière Commemorative Trophy as the MVP of the regular season, the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs, the Michel Bergeron Trophy as the Offensive Rookie of the Year, the Mike Bossy Trophy as the best professional prospect, and the Frank J. Selke Commemorative Trophy as the Most sportsmanlike player. Also in 1982-1983 Pat Lafontaine was chosen CHL Player of the Year.
[edit] NHL Career
Pat LaFontaine was selected by the New York Islanders in the 1st round as the 3rd pick overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft held on 8 June 1983. He started his NHL career after representing the US in the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics.
He appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals in only his rookie season, although the Edmonton Oilers won the series and ended the Islanders' reign of 4 straight Stanley Cup Championships. LaFontaine distinguished himself with a strong performance, scoring two third-period goals during the Islanders' 5-2 loss to the Oilers in the fifth and deciding game of the series.
However, his arrival was concurrent with the beginning of the end of the Islanders' dynasty, which was steeped deep in aging veterans. LaFontaine would have a promising career ahead as one of the team's best players, but he was unable to reverse the Islanders' gradual slide.
In the 1987 playoffs, LaFontaine scored a famous goal in the 4th overtime period of the seventh and decisive game between the Islanders and Washington Capitals, known as the "Easter Epic". The game was started on Saturday, April 18 and concluded just before 2 am on the 19th, Easter Sunday. "It was the most memorable moment in my hockey life," he later recalled. "Even today, wherever I go, people come up to me and start telling me where they were during the Easter Epic".
The Islanders continued to struggle, and in 1989 missed the playoffs for the first time since 1974. In the first game of his next series, in 1990, LaFontaine suffered the first of many concussions, after a clean, open-ice hit by James Patrick of the New York Rangers. He fell on his head, and was unconscious while being taken off the ice on a stretcher. Famously, his ambulance was delayed en route to the hospital by Ranger fans who tried to turn the ambulance over. He was lost for the remainder of the series.
The 1990-91 season was another strong season for LaFontaine, but the Islanders bottomed out, finishing a dismal 25-45-10. LaFontaine, frustrated with his situation on Long Island, turned down a four year, $6 million contract offer and refused to report to the Islanders for the start of the 1991-92 NHL season. Three weeks into the season, on 25 October 1991, Lafontaine was traded, along with teammate Randy Wood, to the Buffalo Sabres for 4 players, including former first overall pick Pierre Turgeon.
LaFontaine exploded offensively in the 1992-93 season with a personal-best and team-record 148 points (53 goals & 95 assists). His linemate, Alexander Mogilny, set a team season record with 76 goals, many assisted by LaFontaine, who set a team season record of 95 assists and 148 points (both his and Mogilny's records still stand). LaFontaine finished as runner-up to Mario Lemieux in the scoring race and earned a spot on the postseason NHL All-Star Second Team. He was also a finalist for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and the Lady Byng Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player.
During the 1993 playoffs, LaFontaine engineered another great moment: in spite of playing with a damaged knee, as well as having fallen onto the ice, he still managed to set up Brad May's overtime, series-clinching goal against the Boston Bruins.
In the 1994-1995 season he was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy as the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.
[edit] Career Statistics
Regular Season
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM
1983-84 New York Islanders NHL 15 13 6 19 6
1984-85 New York Islanders NHL 67 19 35 54 32
1985-86 New York Islanders NHL 65 30 23 53 43
1986-87 New York Islanders NHL 80 38 32 70 70
1987-88 New York Islanders NHL 75 47 45 92 52
1988-89 New York Islanders NHL 79 45 43 88 26
1989-90 New York Islanders NHL 74 54 51 105 38
1990-91 New York Islanders NHL 75 41 44 85 42
1991-92 Buffalo Sabres NHL 57 46 47 93 98
1992-93 Buffalo Sabres NHL 84 53 95 148 63
1993-94 Buffalo Sabres NHL 16 5 13 18 2
1995 Buffalo Sabres NHL 22 12 15 27 4
1995-96 Buffalo Sabres NHL 76 40 51 91 36
1996-97 Buffalo Sabres NHL 13 2 6 8 4
1997-98 New York Rangers NHL 67 23 39 62 36
NHL Totals 865 468 545 1013 552
[edit] Humanitarian efforts
LaFontaine is considered to be one of the most classy and graceful players of all-time. However, he will be best remembered for his big heart, and for his longtime involvement off the ice in charitable projects for sick children. While in Buffalo, LaFontaine donated his free time to charity and became a legend. He is considered to be the greatest captain in Sabres history. His dedication to the community was unmatched.
[edit] Retirement
The 1996-97 season was the beginning of the end of his career. In a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, LaFontaine was hammered by Francois Leroux with a high hit to the head, knocking him out with a concussion. This hit caused a condition called post-concussion syndrome. He was determined to return, even though the doctors advised against such an attempt. Sabres management, in conjunction with team doctors and specialists, refused to clear Lafontaine to return, and recommended he retire. Lafontaine, still believing he could play, demanded a trade, which the Sabres obliged. He was traded to the New York Rangers for a 2nd round draft choice in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and future considerations on 29 September 1997.
In a game against the Ottawa Senators on 16 March 1998, LaFontaine accidentally collided with a Rangers teammate and suffered another concussion. LaFontaine missed the remainder of the season. And on 12 October 1999, thirty-three year old Pat LaFontaine officially announced his retirement.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on 3 November 2003. "I am truly thrilled to receive this tremendous honor," said Lafontaine upon receiving the news. "Growing up in St. Louis, I always played for the love of the game and never dreamed this could ever lead to my being a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame." He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in that same year.
On 3 March 2006, the Buffalo Sabres retired LaFontaine's number 16. [1] He was also inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame that same year.
Since 2001, the Pat LaFontaine Trophy has been awarded to the winner of the Rangers-Islanders season series.
[edit] Back to the NHL
On June 7, 2006, the Islanders announced that Pat LaFontaine would return to the Islanders as Senior Advisor to the Owner.
He resigned July 18, 2006, the same day that Neil Smith was fired by the Islanders.
[edit] Trivia
LaFontaine is one of two players in NHL history to skate for all three teams based in the state of New York. The other was former teammate Jason Dawe, although LaFontaine played his entire career in the state of New York while Dawe also played for the Montreal Canadiens. LaFontaine once joked about it, saying "I got to play for three great organizations in my career and never once had to buy new license plates."
[edit] See also
- List of NHL players
- List of NHL seasons
- List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame
- List of members of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
- List of NHL players with 1000 points
- Easter Epic
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Mike Ramsey |
Buffalo Sabres captains 1992-97 Alexander Mogilny 1993-94 |
Succeeded by: Michael Peca |
| Preceded by: Cam Neely |
Bill Masterton Trophy Winner 1995 |
Succeeded by: Gary Roberts |
| Preceded by: Dave Simpson |
CHL Player of the Year 1983 |
Succeeded by: Mario Lemieux |
Note: Ramsey resigned captaincy during the 1992-93 NHL season, in favour of LaFontaine. Mogilny served as captain during most of the 1993-94 NHL season, while LaFontaine was injured & out of line-up
Categories: Wikipedia articles needing style editing | 1965 births | Living people | American ice hockey players | Bill Masterton Trophy winners | Lester Patrick Trophy recipients | Buffalo Sabres players | Hockey Hall of Fame | National Hockey League first round draft picks | New York Islanders draft picks | New York Islanders players | New York Rangers players | National Hockey League players with retired numbers | United States Hockey Hall of Fame | Verdun Juniors alumni | National Hockey League 50-goal seasons | National Hockey League 100-point seasons
