Ian Laperriere Press Box
2008 - 2009
Laperriere's Goal, Assist, Fight Help Avalanche Drop Oilers (RMN)
October 24, 2008 - "Ian Laperriere seemed a lot happier about exiting the Pepsi Center ice Thursday night with another win than he was over collecting what is known as a Gordie Howe hat trick - a goal, an assist and a fight..."
Rocky Road Trip (Edmonton Journal)
October 24, 2008 - "Ian Laperriere has had more fights than goals in his 13 NHL years but when he sees the Edmonton Oilers his calloused mitts turn into Downy soft hands..."
Avs Beat Oilers To Earn Fourth Consecutive Victory (Associated Press)
October 24, 2008 - "Ian Laperriere was merry and miffed as he got dressed after the game. The Colorado forward was fired up over his first goal of the season that lifted the Avalanche to a 4-1 win over Edmonton on Thursday night, but fuming because of Oilers coach Craig MacTavish's tactics at the end..."
Scrappy 'Lappy' An Av To Admire (Calgary Herald)
October 29, 2008 - "...That short interchange, no more than 30 seconds, a few sentences, encapsulates Ian Laperriere. Honest. Funny. Engaging. Indomitable. A scar is just now healing down the bridge of his nose, a nose reconfigured to resemble the blade of a jai alai stick. A nose Jake LaMotta would've been proud of. No wonder Denver loves Lappy..."
Avalanche Report: Laperriere Bird Watching (Rocky Mountain News)
November 19, 2008 - "Montreal native Ian Laperriere is excited - well, sort of - about his hometown Alouettes advancing to Sunday's Grey Cup game against the Calgary Stampeders to determine the Canadian Football League champion. The game will be played at Montreal's Olympic Stadium..."
Nystrom Set to Face Agitator Yet Again (Calgary Sun)
November 20, 2008 - "Eric Nystrom wasn't surprised to be trading punches with Ian Laperriere. Again. The two have a bit of a history, and when Nystrom's Calgary Flames take the Pepsi Center ice in Denver against Laperriere's Colorado Avalanche tonight in a rematch of Tuesday's 4-1 Flames victory, it's entirely possible the two could find themselves dropping the gloves for a third time in two seasons..."
Young Flames Fighting The Good Fight (Calgary Sun)
November 21, 2008 - "Sporting fresh jersey burns on his face from a fight in Calgary a couple of nights earlier, Colorado Avalanche veteran Ian Laperriere admits there seems to be a lack of honour among many NHL tough guys these days..."
Laperriere's Brave Heart Needed Now (Denver Post)
December 4, 2008 - "Ian Laperriere has been putting up some crooked scoring numbers of late, kind of like his nose. 'You wouldn't believe the number of plastic surgeons who have slipped me their business cards in different cities,' the Avalanche forward said. 'I tell them, Maybe when my career is done, we can talk...' "
Laperriere's Penalty Proves Costly in Loss (Denver Post)
December 5, 2008 - "Avalanche winger Ian Laperriere wasn't sheepish about going after Nashville's aggravating Jordin Tootoo on Thursday, drawing cross-checking and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties at 11:52 of the first period in the Predators' 3-2 victory over Colorado. 'I felt like I had to, and he would have done the same thing,' Laperriere said..."
Avery Tarnishes All (Rocky Mountain News)
December 4, 2008 - "Avalanche forward Ian Laperriere is hardly surprised Sean Avery is in trouble again, this time for making crude, calculated remarks after a morning skate about Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Pfaneuf and his girlfriend, Elisha Cuthbert..."
Featured Father (ColoradoDads.com)
"What does fatherhood mean to you?
'It means being responsible and being there for your kids when they need you...' "
Laperrière Souhaite Demeurer au Colorado (Cyberpresse.ca)
(Laperriere Wishes to Remain in Colorado)
February 13, 2009 - "Ian Laperrière deviendra joueur autonome sans compensation le 1er juillet. Son plus grand désir? Demeurer au Colorado..." (Includes link to translation)
Laperriere Still Looking For Contract Extension (Denver Post)
February 23, 2009 - "Negotiations have been ongoing between Ian Laperriere and Avalanche management toward a contract extension. But no agreement has been reached, and Laperriere is aware he could be dealt to another team by the NHL's March 4 trade deadline if one can't be made..."
Fans Happy With Lappy (Denver Post)
February 25, 2009 - "Darcy Tucker could very well be back with the Avalanche next season, and the Avs will pay him $2.3 million if that's the case. Ian Laperriere is making less than half of that, and he very well might not be back next season. And this is just one of the reasons Avalanche Country is extremely upset right now..."
Laperriere Awaits Fate As Trade Deadline Nears (Denver Post)
February 25, 2009 - "Ellie Rolfs, a 3-year-old girl battling cancer, has become Ian Laperriere's biggest fan. And judging by the big hug he gave her Tuesday afternoon in the Avalanche locker room, the feeling is mutual..."
Laperriere Relishes Warrior Role (Edmonton Journal)
March 15, 2009 - "Colorado Avalanche winger Ian Laperriere loves to hit, fight and occasionally score a goal. He also loves to talk and could easily slide into a broadcaster's chair when he's finished leading with his chin and by example. He has a face for radio, judging by all the scars and a nose that has often been broken..."
Laperriere One of the Good Guys (Edmonton Sun)
March 15, 2009 - "Anyone who's ever had the pleasure of meeting Ian Laperriere can understand why there was so much interest in him prior to the NHL trade deadline. The Colorado Avalanche winger is one of the league's good guys, valued as much for his contributions off the ice as he is for his play on it..."
Laperriere A Whole Different Guy Off The Ice (NHL.com)
March 22, 2009 - "...About a dozen current and former patients from The Children's Hospital in Denver, along with family members, strolled through the room to pose for pictures with players who happily chatted with the youngsters and signed autographs. Not surprisingly, forward Ian Laperriere's locker was the most popular destination for the kids. A hard-nosed agitator on the ice, 'Lappy' is a soft touch away from the rink, especially when it comes to children..."
Good-guy Laperriere Might Be Part of Housecleaning (INDenver Times)
April 2, 2009 - "Thank you and farewell? The Colorado chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association has nominated Avalanche forward Ian Laperriere as a candidate for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which represents 'perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.' It would be a shame to see another group of scribes singing Laperriere's praises next season, but it looks like that could be the case as the 35-year-old prepares for free agency..."
Laperriere Named Masterton Nominee (ColoradoAvalanche.com)
April 3, 2009 - "Forward Ian Laperriere has been named Colorado's nominee for the 2009 Bill Masterton Trophy, it was announced Friday by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey..."
"Lappy" is Masterton Nominee (Denver Post)
April 3, 2009 - "Avalanche veteran forward Ian Laperriere has been named the Colorado nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the NHL announced this morning..."
Lappy's Dedication Pays Off (Denver Post)
April 4, 2009 - "...Laperriere, 35, is typically the first player at the rink for practice and games, and the last one to leave. He is scheduled to play in his 1,000th career game next Saturday against Vancouver at the Pepsi Center. 'What, I'm here three, four hours a day?' Laperriere said. 'People are at the office 9-to-5, so I don't think it's that much to ask to be at the rink this much. When you love your work it's not that hard...' "
Laperriere Worthy of Trophy, Staying in Town (Denver Post)
April 5, 2009 - "...This year, the local chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers selected forward Ian Laperriere as the Colorado nominee for the Masterton Trophy. I can't speak for the other Colorado members, but it's safe to say the consensus is that Laperriere displays one of the most under-appreciated qualities in sports. He is a pro's pro..."
Lawton, Stars Would Rather Reject These Awards (Versus.com)
April 7, 2009 - "...Ian Laperriere, Colorado: There just is nobody more pure hockey than Lappy. There is nobody with more courage on a sheet of ice than the 35-year-old winger. None. .."
Ian Laperrière, 1 000 matchs avec coeur (RDS.ca)
(Ian Laperriere, 1000 Games With Heart)
April 10, 2009 - "Il y a quatre ans, après huit saisons avec les Kings de Los Angeles, Ian Laperrière s'est retrouvé libre comme l'air..." (Includes link to translation)
Lappy's 1,000th Game Invokes Look at Future (Denver Post)
April 11, 2009 - "Ian Laperriere plays his 1,000th NHL game today and wants to play a bunch more before the skates are hung up for good. But the 35-year-old Avalanche forward already knows what he wants to do when that day comes..."
Laperrière, le coeur au Colorado (radio-canada.ca)
(Laperriere, the Heart in Colorado)
May 26, 2009 - "L'Avalanche n'a toujours pas de directeur général, et l'entraîneur-chef Tony Granato ne tient qu'à un fil. Malgré l'incertitude qui règne au Colorado, Ian Laperrière désire poursuivre sa carrière dans cet état de l'Ouest américain..." (Includes link to translation)
Invaluable Teammate (Mile High Sports)
June 2009 - "He is the guy you want on your side - both on and off the ice. On the ice, he is a fierce competitor, ready to defend his teammates at the drop of a glove. He's the prototypical 'lunch pail guy' who gives it his all every night. Off the ice, it seems that there is nothing he won't do, either. He gives back to fans, community and multiple worthy causes..."
Laperriere Nixes Offer, Likely to Leave Avs (Denver Post)
June 12, 2009 - "Ian Laperriere's days with the Avalanche appear to be over. The popular Avs forward is expected to test the NHL's free agent market July 1, unless the team makes a much better offer than it made to him Thursday. With the Avs having salary cap problems for next season as it is, that does not appear to be likely..."
Dater: Offer to Lappy a Slap Shot in the Face (Denver Post)
June 15, 2009 - "Like a lot of things this summer involving the Avalanche, it doesn't make much sense. Ian Laperriere, heart-and-soul forward, fan favorite and locker-room leader, will no longer be on the team after July 1..."
Lappy Speaks (Mile High Sports)
June 2009 - "Ever since the end of the regular season, Avalanche backers have been wondering about the fate of a fan favorite, Ian Laperriere. They are not alone, Laperriere himself has also been wondering. At the trade deadline in March, there was speculation that he was on the block. He was a guy that teams trying to make a playoff run felt could make a difference. Four teams expressed an interest in trading for Lappy, all four of which made it to the playoffs, but a deal was never struck. When the trades didn't materialize, Laperriere breathed a sigh or relief, thinking the Avs would re-sign him for the 2009-10 season..."
Lappy's In My Top 5 (CBS4 Sports, Denver)
July 1, 2009 - "Losing Lappy left me a bit depressed. He's just one of the most pleasant, cordial athletes I've ever been around. He was always available, always accountable. He did it all with a wonderful sense of humor, too..."