Pat LaFontaine 'grateful' to be next inductee into Islanders' Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine is introduced for the ceremonial puck drop before a game against the Florida Panthers at UBS Arena on Jan. 27, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Forty-one years after first coming to Long Island, where he’s maintained a residence ever since regardless of whether he was playing for the Islanders, and 22 years after being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Pat LaFontaine found it even “more meaningful” to find out he will be the next inductee into the team’s Hall of Fame.
“This is special in a way that you’re not expecting anything,” LaFontaine told Newsday. “I’m just grateful for what the game has given me and so much of what the game stands for and its values. I use that every day. So it’s more meaningful now to be recognized as you’re older. I just turned 60.”
Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky surprised LaFontaine with the news that he will become the 17th inductee into the team’s Hall of Fame on Dec. 13 during a charity golf outing on Thursday at Huntington Country Club for LaFontaine’s Companions in Courage Foundation.
Many of LaFontaine’s former Islanders teammates, including Bryan Trottier, Bob Nystrom, Ken Morrow and Ed Westfall, were in attendance.
“I think the ownership group has done a phenomenal job at reconnecting with the alumni and bringing back that Islander pride,” LaFontaine said.
LaFontaine, drafted third overall in 1983, joined the Islanders after playing for Team USA in the 1984 Winter Olympics and compiled 287 goals (seventh in team history) and 279 assists for 566 points (eighth in team history) in 530 games in eight seasons before forcing a trade to the Sabres.
Overall, LaFontaine had 468 goals and 545 assists in 865 games — also playing for the Rangers — before concussions ended his career.
“I played against him in juniors. He scored a lot of goals,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy said. “He had good playoff runs when he was here and in Buffalo, so well-deserved. First of all, he was a quality person and he was a phenomenal hockey player.”
LaFontaine, a former Sabres executive who stills works with the NHL, has kept a keen watch on the changes to the Islanders since general manager/executive vice president Mathieu Darche replaced Lou Lamoriello in the offseason.
“I really like the team,” LaFontaine said before adding about defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the No. 1 overall pick: “Talk about a classy kid. I actually got a nice text from Matthew Schaefer. Who does that?
“So I know the Islanders got a gem there. They’re going through this, I guess retool, in a sense. There seems to be a lot of excitement and I’m excited to watch them play.”
Notes & quotes: Defenseman Marshall Warren of Laurel Hollow, singled out for praise from Roy after Friday night’s 4-2 loss to the Devils at UBS Arena, was one of nine players reassigned to the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport on Saturday as the roster was trimmed to 42 players. Warren, 24, who had four goals and 13 assists in 53 games for Bridgeport last season, played in two of the Islanders’ first four preseason games. Goalie Tristan Lennox, forwards Liam Foudy, Julien Gauthier, Eetu Liukas and Gleb Veremyev and defensemen Cole McWard, Travis Mitchell and Jesse Pulkkinen also were reassigned.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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