Lappy Shoots From The Lip
Ian Laperriere Talks About "The Hit"
(from the Courier-Post)
By Chuck Gormley
Staff Writer
December 2, 2009 - Q: What do you remember about when you were struck in the face on that play (November 27, 2009 vs. Buffalo)?
IL: "I remember a big shock. It shocked me right away when I got hit. The second thing I remember is that I was down looking at my teeth on the ice and there was blood everywhere. It was painful but it was a relief. It could have been way worse. It could have been a hit to one of my eyes or my throat. It was a relief but I was also mad at myself more that anything too put myself in that position. I always take pride of blocking shots but I also take pride in being smart about it. That was the dumbest thing that I have done in my career. I have blocked around 1000 shots in my career but to put myself in that position was a first and I paid for it."
Q: Did you 'black-out' at all?
IL: "No. I was alert the whole time. I remember the play, I remember everything. I remember why I did what I did, too, why I went down (to block the shot). I never thought he was going to shoot the puck. I just wanted to discourage him from taking a shot on net. I didn't know he was going to one-time it because the puck was kind of bouncing going toward the winger to the defenseman."
Q: Is this the worst and most painful injury you have ever had?
IL: "This was the most painful for sure. I have had a bunch of injuries. I've played long enough that I have had my share of some pretty bad injuries. But this one is the most painful one by far."
Q: Did you really think that you were going to come back and play that same game?
IL: "Yes, right away. When I came off the ice my head was fine. My head was my biggest concern. You play with the pain and you play through the pain. When I knew my head was fine I told the doctors, 'OK, let's pick it up. I'm going back in. I don't think they thought I was serious from the get-go. But once I kept repeating that they kind of knew that they should hurry up because they knew I was serious and wanted to get back into the game. We are hockey players. That's what we do. Guys get hit in the face with pucks and they don't come back and I wanted to show my teammates that I was OK. What can I say?"
Q: Doctors estimate it was between 50-100 stitches and we know it is seven teeth that were lost.
IL: "Yes, for sure it was around that because we were on the table for around an hour. I asked how many stitches we had left. I thought it was like four or five stitches left and he (Dr. Guy Lanzi) said we had about 30 stitches left. I thought, '30? OK we will be here a little while longer.' He had to stitch all of the inside and outside and all of the layers, the bottom lips and gum, too. He did a helluva job. I know you really can't tell now, but the way I feel, he did a great job."
Q: Will you wear a face shield from now on?
IL: "No. It's just the way I play. I fight and I don't want to take advantage of it. I will be wearing a shield for as long as I need to because I broke a bone in my upper lip, too and I need that bone to heal. If I can't take a punch I won't fight and I don't want to take advantage of fighting with a shield. When I am ready to go and completely healed I will take everything off. I know it sounds kind of stupid but that's the way it is. I play a certain way. I play on the edge. The way I play, fighting comes with it."
Q: A whole chapter was devoted to you in Brian Kennedy's book, "Living the Hockey Dream." You said you would not get your nose fixed until your career is over because it wouldn't do any good while you are still playing and fighting. Does the same thing hold true about your mouth now?
IL: "I will get a temporary bridge in two or three weeks when everything is less swollen, healed and the stitches are removed. When I finally retire I will get some permanent teeth screwed in there. Then for the rest of my life I will be a young man and I will have some nice teeth to go on with my life."
Reach Chuck Gormley at cgormley@courierpostonline.com