A Champion in Courage: Pat LaFontaine
by: Joe McDonald | Sunday, February 22, 2004
A little while back, Pat LaFontaine was going
through his mail and stumbled across a letter in
his desk. The man who nominated him for the US
Hockey Hall of Fame sent this letter to him over
the summer.
"Herb Brooks sent me a letter a month before he
passed away," he said. "(Brooks) was the
gentleman who nominated me for the US Hockey
Hall of Fame."
Brooks nominated four people for the Hall and in
that brief note sent to LaFontaine he told the
former center:
"Pat, you deserve this. You deserve to be in the
US Hockey Hall of Fame. Looking forward to
seeing you. All the best, Herb Brooks."
It was stories like this one that the former
Islander center shared to about 100 people at
the New York Islander Booster Club Meeting on
February 9.
During his career, the St. Louis native scored
468 goals and 545 assists for 1013 points. He
scored more than 50 goals twice and over 40,
seven times. He played for two Olympic teams and
had stints in Buffalo and on Broadway to go with
his seven and a half years on Long Island. The
center had many memorable games but none other
than the "Easter Classic" vs. Washington in 1987
that went into four overtimes.
"I get tired thinking about it," he said. "It
was one of those surreal nights. We were down
three games to one and here we are in a seventh
game and the goalies were unbelievable."
After Bryan Trottier tied the game with seven
minutes to go and the game went on to last seven
and half-hours. LaFontaine said that the players
used oxygen between the periods to keep them
fresh and there were people eventually sleeping
in the stands. At the beginning of the fourth
overtime LaFontaine recalls a conversation he
had on the ice with referee Andy Van Hellemond.
"Van Hellemond started the seventh period
(fourth overtime) and he turns to me and says,
'Can you get this thing over with, I want top
get home. You know what (Washington Goalie Bob
Mason) is weak on his glove side just shoot over
his glove," LaFontaine recalled with a laugh.
The Center went on to score the winning goal in
that game and even though the Islanders lost the
next round to "Crazy Keenan" and the Flyers,
that game might have been one of the most
memorable in Islander history.
Getting into the Hall of Fame would be memorable
for any athlete. For LaFontaine, it has been no
exception. He found out driving over Throgs Neck
Bridge. "I almost drove off the road," he said.
And said it was a "great summer" after finding
out about his election in June and having the
induction in November.
Besides being a great NHL player, LaFontaine was
an Olympian in 1984 and 1998. He enjoyed both
appearances, but feels that being an amateur
Olympian was more special. The erstwhile center
said that it was a more of a "pure thing" --
appearing as an amateur to play for your country
and he wished that the Olympic would go back to
the amateurs only format, not just in hockey but
all sports.
"That's what made (the 1980 Olympic hockey team)
so special and you will never see it again," he
said. "They were unknowns and the time and the
history, you couldn't have written a better
script."
Speaking of the 1980 team, LaFontaine mentioned
the new movie "Miracle" saying that he was very
pleased that they used "hockey players who can
act" rather than "actors who can skate." He also
said that Michael Douglas was the original actor
who was slated to play coach Herb Brooks, but
was replaced by Kurt Russell since his skating
ability was questionable.
"I thought Russell was terrific," LaFontaine
said. "Having met Herb and spoke to him and
seeing (Russell) with the mouth and everything.
He was terrific."
Ultimately a series of concussions caused the
end to LaFontaine's career. He feels very
fortunate to get out without any permanent
injuries and hopes that the players today do the
same.
"The most important thing is that these guys
play too long," he said. "There are a lot of
stories where guys have permanent damage and
it's not worth it."
He also hopes that current local stars, like
Eric Lindros and Scott Stevens don't come back
if it means that they will risk a lasting injury
that might effect the rest of their lives.
These days LaFontaine has settled on Long Island
with his wife and three children. He is busy
running his charity, Companions in Courage. This
charity has teamed with Microsoft to improve
hospital stays for children by building
"playrooms" where the children can play and not
fear having tests done to them or needles put in
them.
"We are in the process of making three state of
the art rooms," he said. "We wanted to create a
place where they can escape. A place to go to
create art and music and videoconference their
parents and friend. A place that is an oasis.
The nice thing about it is that it's a dream
that is actually coming true."
They are building these rooms right now at three
tri-state area hospitals.
LaFontaine ended the session by signing
autographs and taking pictures with those whom
attended.
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