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Avalanche Are Counting On Right Winger

(from the Pueblo Chieftain)

By Tracy Renck
The Pueblo Chieftain

October 8, 2006 - DENVER - Making the playoffs is going to be a true battle for the Colorado Avalanche.

The squad is trying to regain its form after losing cap-casualities, defenseman Rob Blake, right winger Dan Hinote and left winger Alex Tanguay in the offseason.

With the loss of that type of star power, the Avs are counting on veteran right winger Ian Laperriere to help lead the team.

"Ian is definitely a key player for us," Colorado coach Joel Quenneville said.

Colorado lost its first two regular season games 3-2 in overtime to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday and the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

Laperriere, however, did make his presence known in those defeats.

Against the Stars, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Laperriere showed his grit by mixing it up twice with Dallas right winger Matthew Barnaby.

In the loss to the Wild, Laperriere had an assist on Brad Richardson's second goal.

Colorado returns to action at 6 p.m. today when it entertains the Vancouver Canucks at the Pepsi Center.

"We will learn from our mistakes and get better," Laperriere said. "It's a long season."

Laperriere signed with the Avs as a free agent on July 2, 2004, after playing the previous nine seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. He didn't play for Colorado in the 2004-05 campaign because the season was canceled due to the NHL lockout.

When the strike ended and Laperriere finally did get to step back on the ice last season, he was plenty impressive. He registered career-high marks in goals (21), assists (24) and points (45).

"I don't have any set goals for this year and I wasn't expecting to go out and score as many points as I did last year," Laperriere said. "I am just going to go out there game-by-game and if it happens (that I score points) then it happens. I know I will just give my best each time I go out there, that's all I can do."

He helped the Avs upset the Dallas Stars in five games in the Western Conference quarterfinals last season. Colorado was eliminated in four games by the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference semifinals. Laperriere was second on the Avalanche with 26 hits during the postseason.

"I love being a part of this organization (the Colorado Avalanche)," Laperriere said. "They want to win and they will do whatever it takes to win. If you need anything off the ice or on the ice, they will do it for you. Their No. 1 goal is winning and that's why I came here."

Laperriere made his NHL debut on March 3, 1994 with the St. Louis Blues. He played part of the next two seasons with St. Louis before he was traded to the Rangers on Dec. 28. 1995. He only competed in 10 games with the Rangers before he was dealt to Los Angeles on March 14, 1996.

During his career, the 32-year-old Laperriere has scored 250 points - 99 goals and 151 assists. He also has collected nearly 1400 minutes in the penalty box.

"I love the game," said Laperriere, who resides in Blainville, Quebec, in the offseason. "I love to play. I am like a kid everyday. The day I am going to take it (hockey) as work is the day I am going to have to retire."