Mixing It Up With Ian Laperriere
(from the Calgary Herald)
February 18, 2007 - Colorado's hard-nosed winger and assistant captain has nearly 1,500 penalty minutes in 834 career games with the Blues, Rangers, Kings and Avalanche.
Nickname:
"Lappy."
Any special reason you wear 14?
"Well, 22 wasn't available (because Steve Konowalchuk was wearing it when Laperriere joined the Avs in 2005), but 14 was my junior number."
Favourite junior memory?
"I went to the Memorial Cup my first year (with the Drummondville Voltigeurs in 1990-91). We lost, but it was a great experience at (age) 16."
What do you remember about your first NHL goal?
"I got called up the day before. I was 20 years old and we were playing against Anaheim. I just put it over the goalie. It wasn't the prettiest goal, which is pretty much the story of my career. I was just the happiest guy; I was jumping everywhere."
Who's your funniest teammate?
"We have a lot of funny guys, but Andrew Brunette has to be up there, for sure. He has a dry sense of humour. Brad May's funny, too."
Who's the worst roommate you've ever had?
"I'd like to say Mathieu Schneider, because he likes to go to bed earlier than me. We didn't last too long together. But I never really had bad roommates. I got along with everybody. For the last couple of years I've had my own room, which helps."
Who would have the lead role in Ian Laperriere Story?
"Hold on . . . Brad Pitt? No. I like Vince Vaughn. We both have black hair and brown eyes. He's taller than me, but I'm sure he'd be a good Ian Laperriere."
First job?
"Hockey player, man. I haven't worked a day in my life. I made maybe three runs delivering newspapers because my aunt used to own that newspaper, but that's it. I'm not ashamed to say it -- hockey player is the only thing I know to do well."
First vehicle?
"A Renault 5. I was lucky enough, my billet in junior had a car dealership and he got me that car."
What's your favourite road city?
"Chicago. Where we're set up, we've got everything we want -- great restaurants, great shopping, great everything. I really like the city. Beautiful."
You're NHL commissioner for a day, what's your first move?
"Change the schedule. We need to see all the Canadian teams at least once a year. People want to see Crosby (and the other stars). To sell the game, you've got to show them your best product and right now, a lot of the best players are in the east. And if there was a second thing, I'd make the nets the size of soccer nets. That would help me a lot. I have three goals now, but if we had the bigger nets, I might have four."