Flyers' Laperriere Nominated for Masterton Trophy
(from CSNPhilly.com)
By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com
April 6, 2011 - The thought has likely occurred to Flyer fans over and over again, as this team limps toward the finish line of the regular season, looking like a shell of its former self.
"If only Ian Laperriere were around."
He embodied the spirit of last season's Flyers in so many ways. He was perhaps the most vocal player in a dressing room, which also included Chris Pronger.
An eye injury has greatly jeopardized Laperriere's career on the ice, but it hasn't deterred his passion to remain active within the sport off the ice.
Without playing a single game this season, Laperriere will be the Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
The award recognizes, "a player who has shown extraordinary perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey."
Though not in uniform with the Flyers, Laperriere, 37, can be found every day working out at the facility, trying to overcome the post-concussion effects of neurological damage to his right eye. He also remains active at various Flyer charity functions, as well as working with prospects in the Flyers' minor league operations.
Additionally, he scouts Flyer opponents and does in-game work, as well.
"I got caught by surprise a little bit...I didn't play in one game, but it's life," Laperriere said of the nomination, named for the late Bill Masterton.
"I know what it means. It means that I tried to be a good human being on and off the ice, and when you guys are voting for me it's telling me that I'm doing a pretty good job off the ice."
"Lappy," as his teammates call him, said the Flyers have given him new "tools" to be successful off the ice in the event he never resumes his career. Because Laperriere still incurs flashing sensations under artificial lighting conditions when he is on the ice, he can't be medically cleared to play.
"I can't imagine any other team, or maybe a couple teams, but not that many teams that would take care of their players like they are doing with me," Laperriere said.
"They have been giving me all the tools to keep me busy and they know how much I love the game. I just can't play right now and they just give me all the tools to stay in the game and stay close to the game.
"It's been hard. It's been hard watching, it's been hard not to be a part of something like I've been used to since I'm five years old, but that's something I have to deal with."
Laperriere admits he's given some thought to coaching because he's spending so much time working with minor leaguers and even amateurs.
"I have always been an approachable guy and it is one of my qualities," he said. "I think that the younger guys appreciate that. I'm not saying I am a young guy, but I think I am really young at heart.
"I can relate to those young guys. We will see where life is going to take me, but right now I try to touch everything. I try to touch the media types, radio and TV and stuff like that. I'll try to touch everything before I have to make a decision."
The Masterton Trophy winner is announced at the NHL Awards banquet in Las Vegas in June.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net