Laperriere Gets Royal Welcome
(from the Denver Post)
By Adrian Dater
Denver Post Staff Writer
November 20, 2005 - LOS ANGELES - Avalanche right wing Ian Laperriere was given a warm reception Saturday night in his first game back in Los Angeles.
The former King played nine seasons with Los Angeles and was always a fan favorite.
"It's definitely a little weird, but it's something lots of players have to go through," Laperriere said. "I spent a lot of my career here, and made a lot of friends here. But I'm very happy where I am now."
Laperriere was given a video tribute midway through the first period, during a stop in play.
Kings Top Avs on Late Power Play Goal
(from the Rocky Mountain News)
By Aaron J. Lopez
Rocky Mountain News
November 20, 2005 - LOS ANGELES
Excerpt:
The game marked the first time Avalanche forward Ian Laperriere played at Staples Center since signing as a free agent with Colorado following the 2003-04 season.
Laperriere spent nine seasons with the Kings and admitted that it was going to be strange returning in a Colorado uniform.
The Staples Center crowd welcomed him back with a mild round of applause when he was introduced and the Kings paid tribute with video montage midway through the first period.
"Classy. That was very classy," Laperriere said. "It shows that I'm sure they appreciate what I did here. They put that on the screen and they didn't have to do that. It means a lot to me."
Los Angeles 4, Colorado 3
(from The Associated Press)
November 20, 2005 - LOS ANGELES, CA
Excerpt:
Colorado forward Ian Laperriere, who scored 61 goals in eight-plus seasons with Los Angeles and was a crowd favorite because of his pugilistic exploits, played his first game at Staples Center since leaving the Kings for free agency in July. He was welcomed back with a video tribute on the scoreboard during the first period.
"It was special. It was a classy move by the Kings," Laperriere said. "They didn't have to do that, but they did. They've been booing Rob Blake for the last five years, so I didn't know what to expect."
Norstrom Closing In On Old Friend's Mark
(from the Los Angeles Times)
By Chris Foster
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
November 21, 2005
Excerpt:
The Kings honored Colorado's Laperriere with a video clip on the scoreboard during a game against the Avalanche on Saturday. Laperriere spent nine seasons with the Kings before signing as a free agent with the Avalanche in the summer of 2004.
"That was very classy what they did in the first period," Laperriere said. "It means a lot to me. I was there nine years, and they showed a lot of class with what they did."