Ian Laperrière
Gritty winger who lost teeth, won Masterton, and became a Flyers coach.
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Ian Laperrière is a Canadian-American former professional ice hockey winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He spent nine seasons with the Los Angeles Kings and also played for the St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, and Philadelphia Flyers before retiring in 2012. Known affectionately as 'Lappy,' he later served as head coach of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and as an advisor to the Flyers' front office.
Lore & Background
Laperrière played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1990 to 1993 before being drafted by the St. Louis Blues. He made his NHL debut with the Blues on March 3, 1994, and was traded multiple times, including a 1996 deal that sent him to the Los Angeles Kings as part of a blockbuster trade involving Jari Kurri.
He became a mainstay with the Kings from 1996 to 2004, then signed with the Colorado Avalanche in 2004. With Colorado, he posted career-best numbers in 2005–06, scoring 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points. He also became the Avalanche's all-time leader in fighting majors after his 52nd fight with the team on April 1, 2009.
Laperrière signed a three-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 1, 2009. During the 2009–10 season, he was hit in the mouth by a slapshot while killing a penalty, requiring between 50 and 100 stitches and losing seven teeth (two fake, five real).
He returned to play the next period and the following night. In the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, he suffered an orbital injury and mild concussion from another puck to the face, missing the second round but returning for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He was awarded The Hockey News' John Ferguson Award for 'Toughest Player in the NHL' for the 2009–10 season.
After experiencing post-concussion syndrome and nerve damage during training camp in September 2010, Laperrière missed the entire 2010–11 season on long-term injured reserve. Despite never playing again after the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, he remained with the Flyers as a mentor and was awarded the 2011 Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance. He officially retired on June 12, 2012.
Reader's Guide
Ian Laperrière's significance lies in his reputation as one of the NHL's toughest players, exemplified by his willingness to return to games after severe facial injuries. His 2011 Masterton Trophy recognized his perseverance after a career-ending concussion, and he transitioned into a key developmental role with the Philadelphia Flyers organization. As director of player development (2012) and later head coach of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (2021–2025), he shaped the Flyers' prospects.
His legacy also includes a brief acting career, portraying Bernie 'Boom Boom' Geoffrion in the 2005 film The Rocket and appearing in This Is 40 alongside Flyers teammates. Off the ice, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2011 and completed an Ironman triathlon in 2013, reflecting the same determination he showed on the ice. His number 14 was reissued to rookie Sean Couturier during his injury absence, and he later served as an advisor to the Flyers' general manager and president of hockey operations.
Career statistics and honours
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1989–90 | Montréal-Bourassa | QMAAA | 22 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 1990–91 | Drummondville Voltigeurs | QMJHL | 65 | 19 | 29 | 48 | 117 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 48 |
| 1990–91 | Drummondville Voltigeurs | MC | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| 1991–92 | Drummondville Voltigeurs | QMJHL | 70 | 28 | 49 | 77 | 160 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
| 1992–93 | Drummondville Voltigeurs | QMJHL | 60 | 44 | 96 | 140 | 188 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 20 |
| 1993–94 | Drummondville Voltigeurs | QMJHL | 62 | 41 | 72 | 113 | 150 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 35 |
| 1993–94 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1993–94 | Peoria Rivermen | IHL | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 1994–95 | Peoria Rivermen | IHL | 51 | 16 | 32 | 48 | 111 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1994–95 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 37 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 85 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 21 |
| 1995–96 | Worcester IceCats | AHL | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995–96 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 33 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 87 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995–96 | New York Rangers | NHL | 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995–96 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996–97 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 62 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 102 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997–98 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 77 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 131 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 1998–99 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 72 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 138 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–2000 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 79 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 185 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2000–01 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 79 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 141 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| 2001–02 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 81 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 125 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 2002–03 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 73 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 122 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 62 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 82 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 116 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 27 |
| 2006–07 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 81 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 133 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 70 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 140 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19 |
| 2008–09 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 74 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 163 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 82 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 162 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| NHL totals | 1,083 | 121 | 215 | 336 | 1,956 | 67 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 102 | ||
Tables copied from the source article, totals included as the source gives them: Wikipedia: Ian Laperrière (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wide tables scroll sideways.
Did You Know?
- Laperrière lost seven teeth (two fake, five real) after being hit in the mouth by a slapshot on November 27, 2009, but returned to play the next period.
- He completed the Ironman North American Championship in 12 hours, 11 minutes, 55 seconds on August 19, 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ian Laperrière?
Ian Laperrière, nicknamed 'Lappy,' is a Canadian-American former NHL winger who spent 16 seasons in the league, including stints with the Kings, Blues, Rangers, Avalanche, and Flyers. Born on January 19, 1974, he was a late-round pick (158th overall in 1992) who carved out a long career as a durable, hard-working role player.
What was Ian Laperrière's playing style and role?
Laperrière was a gritty, two-way winger known for his willingness to take hits, dive for loose pucks, and play a physical supporting role rather than score in volume. He reached the 1,000-game mark in April 2009 and crossed 100 career goals in October 2006, embodying the classic 'glue guy' archetype Flyers fans love.
How did Ian Laperrière's Flyers chapter end?
After retiring from playing in 2012, Laperrière transitioned into coaching, taking the helm of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and later serving as an advisor within the Flyers' front office. His post-playing career kept him embedded in the Philadelphia organization well beyond his last shift on the ice.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Ian Laperrière (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Statistics, medals and awards: the tables of the source article.
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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