Photo courtesy of Le Studio du Hockey/Hockey Hall of Fame
Patrick Michael (Pat) LaFontaine
Professional Hockey
New York Islanders Player (1983 - 1991)
Buffalo Sabres Player (1991 – 1997)
New York Rangers Player (1997 – 1998)
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
Buffalo Sabres Player (1991 – 1997)
New York Rangers Player (1997 – 1998)
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
Patrick Michael (Pat) LaFontaine
New York Islanders Player (1983 - 1991)
Buffalo Sabres Player (1991 – 1997)
New York Rangers Player (1997 – 1998)
Pat LaFontaine was born in St. Louis, Missouri, moving with his family to Waterford, Michigan at a young age. After a very successful junior hockey career, setting scoring records and winning multiple awards, LaFontaine was selected third overall by the New York Islanders in the 1983 NHL Draft. In his NHL career, LaFontaine played 15 seasons with 3 different teams, participating in 865 games, scoring 468 goals with 545 assists. He was selected to five NHL All-Star games and won the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy in 1995 emblematic of the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey. In 2016, the Buffalo Sabres retired LaFontaine’s number 16, naming him the third best player in the Sabres 40-year team history. Pat LaFontaine was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.