Jack LaFontaine

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Jack LaFontaine
File:Lafontaine 9 18-4.jpg
LaFontaine with the Seattle Kraken in September 2023
Born (1998-01-06) January 6, 1998 (age 26)
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

Jack LaFontaine (born January 6, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender 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.

Playing career

Junior

After 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

LaFontaine 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

File:Jack LaFontaine.jpg
LaFontaine with the Chicago Wolves in 2022

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

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
NHL totals 2 0 1 0 75 9 0 7.20 .780

Awards and honors

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

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External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Big Ten Goaltender of the Year
2020–21
Succeeded by
Jakub Dobeš
Preceded by Mike Richter Award
2020–21
Succeeded by
Devon Levi
Preceded by Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player
2021
Succeeded by
Erik Portillo