Al Iafrate

Lore & Background

Iafrate had one of the hardest slapshots in hockey history. He set a record for velocity during the NHL Skills Competition of 1993, a record which stood for 16 years, at 105.2 mph. The record was broken in 2009 by Zdeno Chára. He represented the United States at the 1984 Winter Olympics and 1998 IIHF World Championship. He was selected fourth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1984 NHL entry draft. He played for the Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, and Carolina Hurricanes. He retired at age 32 due to injuries.

Reader's Guide

Iafrate was a defenseman known for his offensive skills and powerful slapshot. He was not a center or an enforcer. His playing era spanned the mid-1980s to late 1990s, not the late 1970s–early 1980s.

Did You Know?

• He scored a hat trick for the Washington Capitals in a Stanley Cup playoffs game on April 29, 1993, the first for a Capitals defenseman.
• Iafrate missed the entire 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons due to back and knee injuries.