Patrick LaForge
| Patrick LaForge | |
|---|---|
 Patrick LaForge at an Edmonton Oilers Community Appreciation event, 2006 | |
| Born |
1953 (age 61–62)[1] Lac La Biche, AB, CAN |
| Occupation | Former President and CEO of the Edmonton Oilers |
Patrick LaForge (born c. 1953) is the former President and CEO of the Edmonton Oilers. He was born in Lac La Biche and raised in Edmonton. LaForge is a distant cousin of Pierre Boivin, former President of the Montreal Canadiens.[2]
In July 2000, he was hired as President and CEO of the Edmonton Oilers organization. Since the day he was hired, he has worked actively to build pride of ownership for the organization while exploring to strengthen and stabilize the club commercially. On July 2, 2008, the Oilers were purchased by Edmonton billionaire Daryl Katz. Today, working from one of the smallest markets in the League, the Oilers are one of the most financially successful Clubs in the NHL and rated as a Top 10 sports club in the world by Money Magazine.
One of LaForge’s most broadly known achievements has to be his role in producing the inaugural regular season NHL game played outdoors, called the Heritage Classic. The game highlighted the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens playing in front of 57,167 Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton in winter of 2003. The Heritage Classic paved the way to an annual outdoor hockey game in the NHL, attracting fans worldwide.[3]
Presently, LaForge is coordinating the development of Katz Group's Edmonton arena & district project, a development that may be paid in part with public dollars.
LaForge had another major achievement has to be the return of the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League in 2007. The once legendary major junior team won two Memorial Cups before leaving town in 1976 and under the Oilers stewardship.
Currently, LaForge is also an Alternate Governor for the Oilers in the NHL and Governor of the Oil Kings in the Western Hockey League.
On April 24, 2015 Patrick stepped down as President & Chief Operating Officer of Oilers Entertainment Group.[4]
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
Patrick LaForge is the immediate past president of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.[5]
Top 50 most influential people in Alberta
LaForge was named one of Alberta's 50 most influential people by Alberta Venture Magazine.[6]