Jack LaFontaine (born January 6, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Kansas City Mavericks in the ECHL while under contract to the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was drafted 75th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
| Jack LaFontaine | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 LaFontaine with the Seattle Kraken in September 2023 | |||
| Born |
January 6, 1998 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
| AHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams |
Coachella Valley Firebirds Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL) Carolina Hurricanes | ||
| NHL draft |
75th overall, 2016 Carolina Hurricanes | ||
| Playing career | 2022–present | ||
Playing career
editJunior
editAfter spending two seasons at Michigan, primarily serving as a backup goaltender, LaFontaine signed with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) on June 18, 2018.[1] During the 2018–19 season, he posted a 30–13–1 record with a 2.19 goals-against average (GAA) and .923 save percentage. Following an outstanding season, he was named BCHL's Top Goaltender.[2]
College
editLaFontaine began his collegiate career for the University of Michigan during the 2016–17 season. During his freshman season, he appeared in 11 games, where he posted a 1–7–1 record, with a 3.34 GAA and .911 save percentage. During his sophomore season, he appeared in 11 games, where he posted a 4–4 record, with a 3.51 GAA and .889 save percentage.[3]
On August 20, 2019, LaFontaine enrolled at the University of Minnesota.[4][5] During his junior season, he posted a 9–9–6 record, with a 2.55 GAA and .919 save percentage, in a COVID-19 shortened season. He made his debut for the Gophers on October 11, 2019, in a game against Colorado College.[6]
During his senior season, LaFontaine was the national leader in wins (21–6–0) and save percentage (.936) while ranking second in goals against average (1.74), among goalies that have started at least half their team's games. He was tied for second nationally in shutouts with five. He entered the NCAA tournament having allowed two goals or fewer in 26 of his last 21 starts dating back to the end of the 2019–20 season. LaFontaine set two program records for single-season save percentage (.934) and single-season goals against average (1.79). Following an outstanding season, he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten Goaltender of the Year, and awarded the Mike Richter Award.[7]
On April 2, 2021, LaFontaine announced he would return to Minnesota for a fifth year during the 2021–22 season.[8] On January 9, 2022, LaFontaine signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.[9]
Professional
edit
On January 9, 2022, LaFontaine signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.[10] After appearing in two games with the Hurricanes, LaFontaine would split the rest of the season between the AHL and ECHL.
As an impending restricted free agent following the conclusion of his entry-level contract, LaFontaine was released as a free agent after he was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Hurricanes. On July 25, 2022, LaFontaine was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Syracuse Crunch, the primary affiliate to the Tampa Bay Lightning.[11] During the 2022–23 season, LaFontaine was suspended six games after leaving the players’ bench during an altercation and attempting to fight Rochester Americans goaltender Malcolm Subban at the conclusion of the third period.[12]
As a free agent at the conclusion of his contract with the Crunch, LaFontaine continued his career in the AHL by agreeing to a one-year contract with the Coachella Valley Firebirds on August 23, 2023.[13]
Career statistics
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2014–15 | Georgetown Raiders | OJHL | 30 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 1,635 | 58 | 2 | 2.13 | .923 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Janesville Jets | NAHL | 41 | 24 | 8 | 7 | 2,356 | 85 | 4 | 2.16 | .991 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | University of Michigan | B1G | 11 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 594 | 33 | 0 | 3.34 | .911 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | University of Michigan | B1G | 11 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 530 | 31 | 0 | 3.51 | .889 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Penticton Vees | BCHL | 45 | 30 | 13 | 1 | 2,686 | 98 | 3 | 2.19 | .923 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | University of Minnesota | B1G | 25 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 1,390 | 59 | 0 | 2.55 | .919 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | University of Minnesota | B1G | 29 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 1,706 | 51 | 5 | 1.79 | .934 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | University of Minnesota | B1G | 20 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 1,162 | 52 | 1 | 2.69 | .900 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 75 | 9 | 0 | 7.20 | .780 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 13 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 706 | 34 | 1 | 2.89 | .885 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Norfolk Admirals | ECHL | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 7 | 0 | 3.49 | .922 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 178 | 7 | 0 | 2.36 | .924 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Orlando Solar Bears | ECHL | 30 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 1683 | 98 | 1 | 3.49 | .898 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Kansas City Mavericks | ECHL | 23 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 1367 | 63 | 1 | 2.77 | .911 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 702 | 26 | 0 | 2.22 | .938 | ||
| 2023–24 | Coachella Valley Firebirds | AHL | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 131 | 5 | 0 | 2.30 | .919 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 75 | 9 | 0 | 7.20 | .780 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
Awards and honors
edit| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| Big Ten Goaltender of the Year | 2021 | [14] |
| All-Big Ten First Team | 2021 | |
| Big Ten All-Tournament Team | 2021 | [15] |
| Big Ten Tournament MVP | 2021 | |
| Mike Richter Award | 2021 | [16] |
| AHCA West First Team All-American | 2021 | [17] |
References
edit- ^ "Vees sign Carolina Hurricanes prospect Jack LaFontaine". pentictonvees.ca. June 18, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "Trophy Time – BCHL Award Winners". bchl.ca. February 26, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ Zuke, Ryan (January 30, 2019). "Goalie Jack LaFontaine leaves Michigan hockey program for Canadian junior team". MLive.com. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "Jack LaFontaine joins Gophers men's hockey team". Star Tribune. August 20, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "'U' Adds Jack LaFontaine to Roster". gophersports.com. August 20, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "'U' Drops Season Opener at Colorado College". gophersports.com. October 12, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "LaFontaine's B1G Goaltender of the Year Award Highlights 'U' Honors". gophersports.com. March 16, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ Myers, Jess (April 2, 2021). "Gophers men's hockey goalie Jack LaFontaine announces return for 2021-22 season". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "Canes Sign LaFontaine To Entry-Level Contract". NHL.com. January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ "Canes Sign LaFontaine To Entry-Level Contract". NHL.com. January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ "Crunch sign goaltender Jack LaFontaine to AHL contract". Syracuse Crunch. July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
- ^ "Crunch's LaFontaine, Smith suspended". American Hockey League. January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ "Firebirds sign goalie Jack LaFontaine". Coachella Valley Firebirds. August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". BigTen.org. March 16, 2021. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "Gophers Take Down Badgers, Win B1G Tournament Championship". gophersports.com. March 16, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "LaFontaine Wins Mike Richter Award, 'U' Trio Named All-Americans". gophersports.com. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "Boston College, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin lead way with three All-American college hockey players apiece for '20-21 season". USCHO.com. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Big Ten Goaltender of the Year 2020–21 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Mike Richter Award 2020–21 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player 2021 |
Succeeded by |