Mark Laforest

Lore & Background

Laforest went undrafted out of minor hockey and joined the Niagara Falls Flyers of the OHL as a walk-on during the 1981–82 season. He played 24 games with a 10–13–1 record and a 4.62 goals against average. The following season, the Flyers relocated and became the North Bay Centennials, where Laforest appeared in 54 games with a 34–17–1 record and a 3.73 GAA.

Undrafted by NHL teams, Laforest signed a multi-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings in May 1983 and was assigned to their AHL affiliate. He split time between the Adirondack Red Wings and other minor-league teams before earning a recall to Detroit in the 1985–86 season. He made his NHL debut on December 3, 1985, in a 4–1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, saving 35 of 36 shots. He registered his first NHL shutout on January 28, 1986, stopping 26 shots in a 4–0 win over the Washington Capitals. After a 4–21–0 record with Detroit that season, he returned to Adirondack and backstopped them to the Calder Cup championship.

Laforest won his first Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award in 1987 while with Adirondack, posting a 26–8–2 record, a 2.83 GAA, and a .911 save percentage. He was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for a second-round draft pick in 1987. With the Flyers, he became the opening-night goaltender due to Ron Hextall's suspension and earned his first win with the team on October 10, 1987. He later played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he gained notoriety after fighting Devils goaltender Sean Burke during a line brawl on October 23, 1989. After stints with the New York Rangers organization and a complex expansion-draft sequence with the Ottawa Senators, Laforest finished his NHL career with five games for Ottawa in 1993–94.

Reader's Guide

Mark Laforest's career illustrates the path of an undrafted goaltender who carved out a decade-long professional career through persistence and strong minor-league performance. His two Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Awards as the AHL's top goaltender (1987 and 1991) place him among the league's elite netminders of that era, and his Calder Cup victory in 1986 with the Adirondack Red Wings highlights his ability to perform under playoff pressure. Though his NHL record was modest—103 games across four teams—his journey included notable moments such as a strong NHL debut, a shutout in his rookie season, and a memorable fight with Sean Burke that endeared him to Maple Leafs fans. The unusual expansion-draft maneuvering between the Rangers and Senators in 1992, which ultimately left Laforest without a contract and forced him to sign in the Colonial Hockey League, underscores the often-unpredictable nature of professional hockey transactions. After retirement, Laforest remained connected to the sport through NHL alumni events.

Did You Know?

• Laforest went undrafted by both OHL and NHL teams before signing with the Detroit Red Wings in May 1983.
• In his NHL debut on December 3, 1985, Laforest saved 35 of 36 shots in a 4–1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
• Laforest fought New Jersey Devils goaltender Sean Burke twice during a line brawl on October 23, 1989.