Ian Laperriere Press Box
2009 - 2010
Laperriere Conference Call (Flyer Files)
July 1, 2009 - "Q: We've heard a lot about how you bring character, grit, hate for losing to this team...where does that come from and what is that? Ian Laperriere: From being on both sides of the fence, I guess. I've been on losing teams and winning teams, and I like winning teams much better..."
Flyers Add Boucher, Laperriere, Lose Knuble (Philadelphia Inquirer)
July 2, 2009 - "Brian Boucher is back, Mike Knuble is gone, and feisty right winger Ian Laperriere will be wearing orange and black. For the Flyers, it was a busy first day in the free-agent market..."
Knuble Gone; 'Character Guy' Laperriere in With Flyers (Daily News)
July 2, 2009 - "Trading for Chris Pronger made obvious sense. Bringing back Brian Boucher did, too. But replacing Mike Knuble with Ian Laperriere – a veteran defensive right winger and center for a 27-goal power-play guy?..."
Popular Ex-Av Fit For Philly (Denver Post)
July 2, 2009 - "Ian Laperriere, one of the most popular players in Avalanche history, signed with the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. The free-agent forward accepted a three-year contract worth $3.5 million..."
Laperriere Will Have His New Teammates' Backs (CSNPhilly.com)
July 14, 2009 - "Ian Laperriere has spent a fair amount of his 15-year NHL playing career in the penalty box. The versatile winger has racked up 1,794 penalty minutes. Despite being just 6-foot-1, 197 pounds, most of Laperriere's minutes are fighting majors & 177 regular season fights..."
Laperriere Says He's With The Flyers To Win (Philadelphia Inquirer)
July 15, 2009 - "Ian Laperriere is at the point in his career where winning is the only goal. Fifteen years in the NHL has provided more than enough money but no rings and when he became a free agent on July 1 he hoped a Stanley Cup contender would call. And sure enough, one did - the Flyers..."
New Flyer Laperriere Has Nose For Toughness (Philadelphia Daily News)
July 15, 2009 - "Paul Holmgren insists that with free-agent signee Ian Laperriere – who inked his name to a 3-year deal with the Flyers on July 1 – what you see is what you get. If his nose is indicative of his playing style, Laperriere could be the perfect fit to the Flyers' puzzle..."
Laperriere Brings Physical Style (Bucks County Courier Times)
July 15, 2009 - "You get a lot of P's with Ian Laperriere. Penalty-killer. Pest. Physical force. Perfect teammate..."
À 35 ans, Laperrière a vite trouvé preneur (Cyberpresse.ca)
(At Age 35, Laperriere Quickly Found A Taker)
August 7, 2009 - "Les équipes de la LNH hésitent à offrir des contrats à long terme aux joueurs de 35 ans et plus en cette ère du plafond salarial. Surtout à des joueurs défensifs qui ne se sont pas épargnés physiquement au fil des années..." (Includes link to translation)
Life of the Party (Official Website of the Philadelphia Flyers)
September 2, 2009 - "When the Flyers signed free-agent forward Ian Laperriere on July 1 to a three-year deal, a player who has spent the majority of his 16-year NHL career in the Western Conference, it was a move made with more than just goals and assists in mind..."
Laperriere, Betts Bring Strong Work Ethic to Penalty Kill (Philly Daily News)
October 3, 2009 - "The Flyers' penalty kill got much stronger in the offseason with the additions of Ian Laperriere and Blair Betts..."
Post Game 10-3-09: Flyers 5, Devils 2 (In The Room with Anthony SanFilippo)
October 3, 2009 - "This win was even more impressive than last night's. I'll give you some analysis in a minute, but I want to let you know – don't miss the transcription of the Ian Laperriere interview below – it's pretty hysterical..."
Flyers Drop Devils to Earn Back-to-Back Wins (CSNPhilly.com)
October 3, 2009 - "You know the fickle finger of Flyer fate is working when Ian Laperriere makes Marty Brodeur look bad in a game..."
Flyers Notes: Betts, Laperriere Help Spare Stars (Philadelphia Inquirer)
October 4, 2009 - "Keeping stars Mike Richards and Jeff Carter refreshed was one of the Flyers' underlying motives when they signed free-agent veterans Blair Betts and Ian Laperriere..."
Laperriere a Force On and Off The Ice (Courier-Post)
October 5, 2009 - "Ian Laperriere's nose tells you all you need to know about how he plays the game of hockey. It's narrow bridge slopes sharply then turns left and flattens at his nostrils. By comparison, Rod Brind'Amour's looks like Mona Lisa's..."
Laperriere Makes Good Impression (Bucks County Courier Times)
October 5, 2009 - "The scouting report on new Flyer forward Ian Laperriere said he's a gritty defensive guy with a knack for penalty killing and the occasional fracas. Who knew he was an articulate hockey strategist with a dry sense of humor?"
Laperriere Makes Mark With Flyers (Philadelphia Inquirer)
October 5, 2009 - "When Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren signed free-agent Ian Laperriere in the off-season, he admitted Laperriere was a player he had 'coveted for a long time.' Two games into the season, it's easy to understand why Holmgren was so enamored..."
Flyers Find Time For a Bonding Camp (Philadelphia Inquirer)
October 13, 2009 - "...Laperriere added that he hopes the sailboat he and some of his teammates are racing doesn't capsize because, 'I swim like a rock. Hopefully, they've got a life vest...' "
Does Team That Sails Together Win Together? (Philadelphia Daily News)
October 13, 2009 - "...For some of the newcomers, like Ian Laperriere and Chris Pronger, this week will be a time to really get to know their teammates. 'I'm a boring guy, that's what they're going to find out about me,' Laperriere said with a grin..."
Veteran Laperriere Enjoys Rookie Fishing Outing (CSNPhilly.com)
October 14, 2009 - "This isn't a big fish story. It's a little fish story. See, Ian Laperriere doesn't do a lot of fishing. He doesn't know what bait or tackle or 10-pound line means. He's not a fisherman. They don't fish in Montreal. They skate and ski and do stuff like that..."
Laperriere Carries Dad's Spirit Years After Cancer Battle (NHL.com)
October 29, 2009 - "Philadelphia Flyers right wing Ian Laperriere saw his teammates gather with their fathers for a group photo following a recent game and felt his heart ache. The Flyers conducted their annual Father-Son road trip to Washington this week, and although more than six years have passed since his father lost his valiant battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 55, Laperriere still feels his loss..."
Fourth Line Powers Flyers' Win (Philadelphia Inquirer)
November 6, 2009 - "The Flyers' new LCB Line looked like its famous predecessor tonight... The fourth line of Dan Carcillo, Blair Betts, and Ian Laperriere, a group that usually makes its mark with its checking, was a combined plus-9 at the HSBC Arena..."
Dropping the Gloves to Clean Up the Pond (NHL.com)
November 23, 2009 - "Ian Laperriere is no stranger to dropping the gloves. He even did it when he was a pre-teen. Back then, though, it was for slightly different reasons..."
Return to Denver "Weird" to Laperriere (Denver Post)
November 24, 2009 - "Philadelphia is Ian Laperriere's fifth NHL team, so he has been through 'first-game-back' nights before. In fact, I was at the November 2005 game in Los Angeles when the Kings played a video tribute to Laperriere on the scoreboard screens..."
Laperriere: Flyers' Warrior Solid on Ice (Courier-Post)
November 28, 2009 - "No Flyers forward puts his body in front of vulcanized rubber more often than Ian Laperriere. Twenty times this season, the Flyers' 35-year-old right wing has laid out to block shots, proving he is either too brave or too dumb to consider the consequences..."
Pulling Teeth: Laperriere Plays Through Injury (CSNPhilly.com)
November 28, 2009 - "Ian Laperriere has come home before looking bloodied and banged up. But never looking as bad as he did Saturday afternoon, when he let his wife and two sons see him on his iPhone from Atlanta, where the Flyers are playing the Thrashers..."
Laperriere Proves Toughness After Facing Slapper (The Mercury)
November 28, 2009 - "Here's everything you ever need to know about the character of Ian Laperriere. He threw his face in front of a Jason Pominville slap shot Friday. The puck, travelling about 90 MPH, split Laperriere's lip in two..."
Laperriere Skates, 7 Teeth Lighter (Philadelphia Inquirer)
November 29, 2009 - "Ian Laperriere's stitched lip was so swollen yesterday he could barely talk, and when he did, it was difficult to understand him. But that didn't stop the Flyers right winger from participating in the optional morning skate - or playing in last night's game in Atlanta..."
Lappy Shoots From The Lip (Courier-Post)
December 2, 2009 - "...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..."
Laperriere's Grit Impresses Teammates (Philadelphia Inquirer)
December 4, 2009 - "...Hockey players get their faces rearranged, literally, and argue with the doctor - as Laperriere did - to hurry with the stitching because they want to get back on the ice..."
Trade Rumors: Flyers Sense Changes Coming (CSNPhilly.com)
December 13, 2009 - "Wherever you go, when the subject of Flyers hockey comes up, the questions remain the same: What's wrong with this team? 'When you find the answer, let me know,' Ian Laperriere said at TD Garden, after a Sunday Flyers practice..."
Flyers Have Warm Memories of Playing Outdoors (Philadelphia Daily News)
December 31, 2009 - "It wasn't even a mile away from his house, but Ian Laperriere was forbidden to go there alone. Laperriere, just 8 years old at the time, was fearless. Every day after school, he begged to head to the local park - where the city of Montreal kept one of its 168 outdoor rinks - to skate with teenagers more than double his size and age..."
Laperriere, Flyers Have Been a Perfect Fit (NHL.com)
December 31, 2009 - "When teams sign free agents or make trades, hockey skills are an important consideration, but not the only one. NHL general managers also have to consider what kind of impact that player's personality will have on the team. Sometimes, you want a player who brings a no-nonsense approach. Other times, you may want someone who is good at lifting the mood. If you want both, it usually takes two players. Sometimes, you need to add offense. Other times, defense. That also often requires two different players. But the Flyers got all of the above last summer when they signed Ian Laperriere..."
Fleischman: All About Lappy (Official Website of the Philadelphia Flyers)
January 4, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere, Blair Betts and Dan Carcillo won't be found on any NHL all-star squads, but teams don't win Stanley Cups without such players..."
Laperriere Stars in Flyers' 6-3 Win (Burlington County Times)
January 12, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere makes a living blocking pucks, not putting them in the net. But the Flyers' journeyman utility player does have offensive skills, both with the disk and with his fists..."
Laperriere Does It All For Streaking Flyers (Times Herald)
January 13, 2010 - "Gordie Howe only had it happen once in his storied hockey career, yet his name is forever linked to the accomplishment. When a player scores a goal, picks up an assist and drops the gloves to get into a fight is forever known in hockey lexicon as a 'Gordie Howe hat trick.' Ian Laperriere had the first hat trick of that unique kind for the Flyers in nearly two years..."
Teeth Thief? Someone Swiped Lappy's Teeth (CSNPhilly.com)
January 21, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere doesn't believe in the tooth fairy. But he's certain there is a teeth thief out there somewhere. Seems seven of his teeth that form two bridges were stolen en route to Philadelphia..."
Weathering the Storm: Flyers Edge 'Canes, 4-2 (CSNPhilly.com)
January 23, 2010 - "The second period had degenerated into total boredom. Flyers coach Peter Laviolette had already called his only timeout without positive results. Which meant it was 'Lappy Time'..."
Laperriere Sparks The Flyers (Philadelphia Inquirer)
January 23, 2010 - "The Flyers needed a wake-up call. Ian Laperriere gave it to them. With his fists. For the second time in the last three games, Laperriere energized the Flyers with a fight as he helped them outlast the lowly Carolina Hurricanes, 4-2, at the Wachovia Center yesterday..."
Face It: Fighting Helps the Flyers (Philadelphia Inquirer)
January 31, 2010 - "Based on e-mails, some fans took offense to this sentence that appeared in my game story in last Sunday's Inquirer: 'For the second time in the last three games, Ian Laperriere energized the Flyers with a fight as he helped them outlast the lowly Carolina Hurricanes...' My message to the e-mailers, with all due respect, is to take the advice offered by the late, great Fred Shero many moons ago: 'If it's pretty skating they want to see, let them go to the Ice Capades...' "
Lanzi Takes Care of Flyers' Dental Needs (Philadelphia Daily News)
February 9, 2010 - "...So, yes, the Flyers' oral surgeon had seen worse in the realm of face trauma than when forward Ian Laperriere headed back to the dressing room what is euphemistically called 'repairs' during the first period of a game against Buffalo last November 27..."
Early Fight Sparks Flyers Against Habs (CSNPhilly.com)
February 13, 2010 - "Four seconds. That's all it took for the Canadiens to respond to Friday's melee after the final buzzer of a Flyers' 3-2 victory in South Philly. Four seconds for young 25-year-old Ryan O'Byrne to drop the gloves with a 36-year-old Canadien favorite, Ian Laperriere. The Flyers' grinning center dropped O'Byrne like a bag of rock salt with an overhand right to the face..."
Guts and Glory (Bucks County Courier Times)
March 31, 2010 - "To be willing to dive in front of one of Ilya Kovalchuk's Russian ballistic missiles, you have to be three things: 1. Competitive. 2. Courageous. 3. Crazy. But that's what the Flyers' Ian Laperriere was Sunday night in the Flyers' 5-1 win over the Devils..."
Flyers Deny Reports of Trouble in Locker Room (Philadelphia Daily News)
April 6, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere knows tension. Being one of the most affable players on the Flyers' roster, Laperriere is pretty good at diffusing it..."
Flyers Notes: Laperriere Flashes Some Style (CSNPhilly.com)
April 14, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere is not known for clever or creative assists. Not with a puck, anyway. Yet he dished one out in the second period of Wednesday's 2-1 Flyer victory over the Devils in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals that won't soon be forgotten..."
Laperriere's Risky Pass Pays Off (Bucks County Courier Times)
April 15, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere gets paid $1.3 million to throw himself in front of pucks, not pass them on blind backhand plays. But there the Flyers veteran was, making like Denis Savard on one of his patented spin-o-rama plays from the '80s, and setting up Mike Richards for what turned out to be the winning goal in the Flyers' 2-1 Game 1 victory over New Jersey on Wednesday night at the Prudential Center..."
No Teeth? No Problem for Flyers' Gritty Laperriere (Philadelphia Inquirer)
April 16, 2010 - "As the blood poured from his mouth, Ian Laperriere wasn't thinking about the seven teeth he'd just lost, the 100 or so stitches it would require to close the wound, or the prospect of having dinner through a straw for a while..."
Laperriere and Betts Give Their All for Flyers (NHL.com)
April 17, 2010 - "It takes a lot more than having a few teeth knocked out and taking 70-plus stitches over the lip to keep wing Ian Laperriere off the ice. Perhaps that's what makes him one of the most appreciated players in and around the Philadelphia Flyers locker room these days..."
The Art of Shot-Blocking (NHL.com)
April 17, 2010 - "Philadelphia Flyers forwards Ian Laperriere and Blair Betts have spent their entire NHL careers stepping in front of 100-mph blasts. They enjoy it and are considered two of the League's finer defensive forwards because of their willingness to sacrifice their bodies..."
Panaccio: Laperriere Again Shows Toughness (CSNPhilly.com)
April 22, 2010 - "His nose looked a tad more crooked than usual, but Ian Laperriere insisted it wasn't broken. The welt and 60 to 70 stitches it took to close the wound above his right eye, looked even worse..."
Laperriere Makes Sacrifice for Flyers (Philadelphia Daily News)
April 23, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere is playoff hockey. His face is proof..."
Laperriere Willing To Trade Pain For Victory (NHL.com)
April 23, 2010 - "There's just one thing that motivates Philadelphia Flyers forward Ian Laperriere more than wins, and that's sacrifice. It's contagious, too..."
Phil Sheridan: Reputation Is All Sewn Up (Philadelphia Inquirer)
April 23, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere had one question for Jim McCrossin when the Flyers' trainer reached him at center ice: 'Can you see my eye?' "
Laperriere Faces Puck, Gets Stitches (Courier-Post)
April 23, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere never hesitated. With 16 minutes, 4 seconds remaining in a game the Flyers were leading 3-0, the 36-year-old right winger threw his face in front of a Paul Martin slapshot, taking the puck above his right eye..."
Flyers' Laperriere Faces The Rather Unsightly Facts (Delco Times)
April 23, 2010 - "His face a puffy mess surrounding 60-some stitches tracking across his right brow, Ian Laperriere made a painful vow. No more face-butting rubber bullets..."
Broken Bone Won't Keep Flyers' Laperriere Out (Delaware County Daily Times)
April 24, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere confirmed Saturday that he has a fractured orbital bone above his right eye. He also confirmed he will not have surgery to repair the injury..."
Puck to the Face Won't Stop Laperriere (Bucks County Courier Times)
April 25, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere should add a 'C' to his first name and make it 'I can.' Because he can, and will, play when the Flyers resume action later this week, despite a broken orbital bone above his right eye..."
Flyers' Laperriere Out Indefinitely (NHL.com)
April 27, 2010 - "It appears as though the Philadelphia Flyers have lost another key cog in their quest for the Stanley Cup. Forward Ian Laperriere, who hasn't skated since taking a slap shot to the face in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals last Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, is likely lost for the remainder of the playoffs..."
Laperriere Likely Lost for the Season (Official Website of the Philadelphia Flyers)
April 27, 2010 - "In his short time with the organization, it's already become painfully apparent that almost nothing will keep Flyers forward Ian Laperriere off of the ice. On Tuesday, the man voted by The Hockey News as the toughest player in the NHL, finally met his match..."
Laperriere Makes Peace With Injuries (CSNPhilly.com)
April 27, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere sounded resigned to his fate. That's never an easy thing for a hockey player, who aptly fits the description of an ultimate 'playoff warrior.' "
Flyers' Laperriere Likely Done For Season With Brain Contusion (Daily News)
April 28, 2010 - "Paul Holmgren had said it would take hell freezing over for Ian Laperriere to miss the Flyers' next round in the Stanley Cup playoffs. In a matter of seconds last Thursday night, Laperriere's life flashed before his eyes at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Now, the remainder of his first season as a Flyer may have frozen over..."
Laperriere a Tough Loss for Flyers' Penalty Kill (CSNPhilly.com)
April 28, 2010 - "...Truth is, Laperriere is one of the handful of guys in the National Hockey League whose courage and skill set on the PK unit is difficult to find. That makes Laperriere - 'Lappy,' as he's been nicknamed - harder to replace than Carter. Why? Because while Carter may not be scoring goals every game in a series, Laperriere is absolutely certain to be on the ice seven or eight times every game killing penalties..."
Laperriere Gone, Flyers Must Fill Penalty-Killing Void (Philadelphia Inquirer)
April 29, 2010 - "You can excuse Flyers center Blair Betts if he feels as if he just lost one of his appendages. Ian Laperriere, you see, was his right-hand man - both on the penalty kill and on their checking line..."
Laperriere Blocks a Shot and Wins Hearts (Philadelphia Inquirer)
May 2, 2010 - "The on-rushing gunner has cranked up a warp-speed slap shot and the puck, a frozen rubber bullet, is zeroed in and dead on, with nothing but ice between it and the goal. So Ian Laperriere, a right winger whose specialty is killing off penalties, follows his instincts without a second thought: He drops and offers up his body as a sacrifice..."
Flyers Getting Used to Life Without 'Lappy' (Philadelphia Daily News)
May 3, 2010 - "Darroll Powe said Ian Laperriere is irreplaceable. There is no one else like Laperriere, no one on the Flyers' roster capable of mimicking Laperrere's dogged puck pursuit and sacrifice in blocking shots on the penalty kill..."
Ian Laperrière a eu la frousse de sa vie (Cyberpresse.ca)
(Ian Laperrière Had the Fright of His Life)
May 5, 2010 - "Contusion au cerveau. Le diagnostic fait peur. Et le centre des Flyers de Philadelphie, Ian Laperrière, a en effet eu peur. Très peur..." (Includes link to translation)
Restless Laperriere Can Only Watch With Flyers Down 0-3 (Daily News)
May 6, 2010 - "...Sitting on the 'Daily News Live' set inside the AT & T Pavilion at the Wachovia Center, with a live, loud audience cheering 'It's All About Lappy!' over and over again, Laperriere said he couldn't help but want to play..."
More Than Laperriere's Loss Hurting Flyers (NHL.com)
May 6, 2010 - "It was moving tribute to their fallen hero. It occurred with 13:44 remaining in the second period and the Philadelphia Flyers about to go on their first power play of the game against the Boston Bruins in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal. That's when the familiar piano overture of the NHL's 'History Will Be Made' campaign flashed across the center-ice scoreboard at Wachovia Center..."
Flyers' Laperriere Laments Missing Out on Boston Series (Delco Times)
May 7, 2010 - "The so-called 'Toughest Man in the NHL,' a name accorded to Ian Laperriere after he took a slapshot in the face in the fifth and final game against the Devils, was back and looking not so bad at the Skate Zone Thursday..."
Laperriere Moved by Fans' Reaction to Video (Philadelphia Inquirer)
May 7, 2010 - "Flyers right winger Ian Laperriere called the fans' reaction to his appearance Wednesday 'unreal' and said he was moved by the long standing ovation he received when he was shown on the scoreboard during a second-period stoppage..."
Laperriere Skating, But No Closer to a Return (CSNPhilly.com)
May 15, 2010 - "Flyers forward Ian Laperriere skated with goalie coach Jeff Reese on Saturday at Skate Zone ... but don't get too caught up thinking he's ready to return to the ice..."
Ian Laperrière peut rêver à un retour (RDS.ca)
(Ian Laperrière Can Dream of a Return)
May 15, 2010 - "Lorsque Ian Laperrière est tombé au combat après avoir reçu une rondelle au front, c'est chance de revenir au jeu semblait nul parce qu'il souffrait d'une contusion au cerveau. Voilà toutefois que les derniers examens se sont avérés positifs, ce qui lui permet de recommencer à patiner..." (Includes link to translation)
Laperriere Back on Ice, But Return Remains Doubtful (NHL.com)
May 16, 2010 - "Flyers forward Ian Laperriere might be sidelined for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but that doesn't mean he won't have a profound impact on his teammates. Laperriere, who has been out since being diagnosed with a brain contusion after taking a shot above his right eye in the late stages of Game 5 of the first-round series against the New Jersey Devils, skated with the team for the second-straight day Sunday..."
Laperriere Could Return Sooner Than Expected (NHL.com)
May 17, 2010 - "Flyers forward Ian Laperriere was all smiles Monday morning at the Flyers' practice facility in Voorhees, N.J. The veteran forward, named the NHL's toughest player by The Hockey News, underwent an MRI in the morning and was given the green light by doctors to resume skating with contact..."
Laperriere Holds Out Hope For Return (Courier-Post)
May 17, 2010 - "Flyers right wing Ian Laperriere was born in Montreal, grew up an avid Canadiens fan and has hundreds of family and friends who bleed rouge, blanc et bleu. He has also played 16 seasons in the NHL and has never played in a conference final..."
Laperriere Cleared to Resume Skating for Flyers (Daily News)
May 18, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere is cautiously optimistic. Thursday will mark 4 weeks since Laperriere took a Paul Martin slap shot to the face. He fractured his orbital bone, needed 60 to 70 stitches and medical glue to close the wound above his right eyebrow, and had a brain contusion so big that it showed up as a spot on a CT scan..."
Sheridan: Flyers' Laperriere Looking for 'Little Miracle' (Philadelphia Inquirer)
May 18, 2010 - "Since taking a slapshot over his right eye, Ian Laperriere has become the face - the battered, bruised, scarred face - of this improbable Flyers playoff run. With his stitched-up forehead, damaged right eye and bruised brain, Laperriere has become a kind of folk hero and inspirational figure..."
Source: Laperriere's Possible Return Pushed Back (CSNPhilly.com)
May 18, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere was hoping to be back on the ice when the Flyers travel to Montreal for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday. Game 4 was the target date for Laperriere, according to one source. After some talks within the organization on Tuesday, however, the timetable for both Laperriere and Jeff Carter (fractured right foot) has been moved back..."
Flyers' Laperriere Anticipating Return (SLAM! Sports)
May 18, 2010 - "For as long as his teammates continue their winning ride in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Ian Laperriere can wait for his turn to contribute. But the fact that the popular forward and inspirational leader of the team is getting closer to his return could be another big boost for the Flyers, possibly as soon as this weekend..."
Laperriere is Ready to Roll for Flyers (Delaware County Daily Times)
May 21, 2010 - "In case you haven't been to Wachovia Center to notice, the Flyers have been selling T-shirts, among countless other bits of playoff merchandise in an every-stoppage-of-play in-house commercial, among them one that reads 'It's all about Lappy.' That phrase could be used to describe the buzz that emanated from Flyers' practice Friday..."
Injured Flyers Carter, Laperriere Practice (Daily News)
May 21, 2010 - "Neither Jeff Carter nor Ian Laperriere graced the Bell Centre ice last night for Game 3 of the Flyers' Eastern Conference finals series against Montreal. But both players could be ready if called upon..."
Flyers' Laperriere 'Probable' For Game 4 (CSNPhilly.com)
May 21, 2010 - "All signs point toward the return of Ian Laperriere to the Flyers' lineup for Game 4 on Saturday afternoon. 'I'm getting closer,' he told CSNPhilly.com..."
Looks Like Flyers' Laperriere Will Play in Game 4 (Daily News)
May 22, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere was born in Montreal. With his older cousins, he grew up skating on one of the 168 outdoor hockey rinks sprinkled around the city. Four weeks and 1 day ago, Laperriere said it would take a 'small miracle' for him to return to the ice this postseason..."
In Game 4, Flyers Can Make Bold Statement (Philadelphia Inquirer)
May 22, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere, the Flyers' scrappy right winger, is expected to return to the lineup Saturday afternoon against Montreal, a club source said Friday..."
Wordless Wounded (Courier-Post)
May 22, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere walked past a crowd of reporters Friday with his hand shielding his eyes. 'If I see you guys I'm going to want to talk to you,' he said, 'so I'm just going to keep walking...' "
Flyers Fueled by Return of Carter, Laperriere (CSNPhilly.com)
May 22, 2010 - "With their top goal-scorer and gritty emotional leader back in the lineup, the Flyers rediscovered their heart in Game 4. Neither Jeff Carter nor Ian Laperriere had his name appear on the score sheet Saturday afternoon at Bell Centre, but the return of both players helped create an emotional lift that boosted the Flyers over the Canadiens, 3-0..."
Lappy's Return Frustrates Canadiens (NHL.com)
May 23, 2010 - "Upon returning following a brain contusion, Ian Laperriere proved to be a major headache for the Montreal Canadiens. It was only 31 days ago that Laperriere, the emotional grinder for the Philadelphia Flyers, suffered a brain contusion after going down to block a shot in the third period of Game 5 against the New Jersey Devils..."
Flyers' Laperriere One for the Ages (Versus.com)
May 23, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere missed a few weeks with just your ordinary, everyday brain contusion. Just a little brain bruise, that's all. It couldn't even keep Lappy out a month. Laperriere is the type of self-depricating guy who would be the first to joke about his injury, suffered April 22 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals..."
The Face of the Flyers (Toronto Sun)
May 24, 2010 - "When Zack Hill, the Flyers' public relations man, tipped off Ian Laperriere to get ready for an emotional video tribute a few games ago, the injured winger thought he was kidding..."
Laperriere Returns to Lineup with Typical Tenacity (NHL.com)
May 24, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere broke into the NHL during the 1993-94 season. Laperriere has seen a lot during that tenure, but never has played in the Stanley Cup Final. Well, after Monday night's 4-2 win by his Flyers against Montreal in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the wait is over for the gritty veteran..."
That Macho Thing (National Post)
May 24, 2010 - "Ian Laperrière is a tough guy. His nose leans sideways near the top, before slouching back towards the bottom. He is closing in on 2,000 career penalty minutes, at which point he presumably gets a gold watch, or at least a silver whistle..."
Donnellon: Long Wait Finally Over for Flyers' Laperriere (Daily News)
May 25, 2010 - "One by one, they leaned into him, shook his hand vigorously. Some Montreal Canadiens offered hugs, some hearty hits on that hardened, helmeted noggin, until finally Ian Laperriere took the huge contraption off at mid-ice so you could see that gap-toothed smile of his, the one that says - in so many ways - hockey player..."
Flyers' Ian Laperriere Pays the Price of Success (NHL.com)
May 27, 2010 - "The slap shot off the stick of New Jersey defenseman Paul Martin that struck Philadelphia's Ian Laperriere just above the right eyebrow -- opening him up for almost 70 stitches and nearly ending his season -- is nothing more than the price of staying in the NHL, says the veteran winger on the eve of the first Stanley Cup appearance in his 16-year career..."
Bob Ford: Flyers Bonded Under Painful Circumstances (Philadelphia Inquirer)
May 28, 2010 - "...You can see it on the ice in dozens of ways, in little things - not giving up on a play, taking a hit in the corner, trusting in a teammate. But there is nothing more evident of a commitment to team than sprawling in front of an opponent's shot to keep it from reaching the goalie. 'This next round,' said Ian Laperriere, who bears the scars of that commitment, 'it's going to be the team that wants it more that's going to get it...' "
Laperriere: A 'Heart and Soul Guy' (Philadelphia Inquirer)
May 28, 2010 - "After signing a three-year free-agent deal with the Flyers last July, Ian Laperriere said other NHL clubs were interested in a 14-year veteran with considerable wear and tear on his body. Among them, he said, were Calgary, Phoenix, and Toronto. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound veteran said he opted for Philadelphia, in part, because he thought the team was closest to winning a Stanley Cup..."
Battered, Bruised...But Back! (NHLPA.com)
May 28, 2010 - "He's been battered, bruised and banged-up, but he's by no means a beaten man. Welcome to the black and blue world of Ian Laperriere..."
Laperriere: 'I've Been Waiting 15 Years For This' (Toronto Sun)
May 29, 2010 - "Philadelphia Flyers forward Ian Laperriere can't wait for the puck to drop for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center tonight. This moment has been a long time coming for the 36-year-old, who is playing in the first final of his career..."
Flyers' Ian Laperriere All Smiles as Cup Finals Begin (NHL Fanhouse)
May 29, 2010 - "Beneath the playoff beard, the face of the man they call Lappy parodies the old Gerry Cheevers goalie mask decorated in stitches. Above it, there's a fresh scar that sliced his eyebrow in half and spiders around his right eye, a pirate's patch scar, stemming from a slapshot that could have left Lappy a vegetable. It's still pink with healing, and so it's not as distracting as Lappy's nose, situated Tea Party right of his mouth. So right it can appear an illusion from a certain angle..."
Gritty Laperriere Is Face of the Flyers (Vancouver Sun)
May 29, 2010 - "There are plenty of reasons, in deconstructing this Stanley Cup final matchup, to discount a Philadelphia Flyers team that wouldn't have made the playoffs in the Western Conference. But the most compelling reason to resist the urge is written all over Ian Laperriere's face..."
Rhetoric Rises Ahead of Game 2 (Globe and Mail)
May 31, 2010 - "...The funny thing is, there are a few warm feelings between Burish and at least one Flyer. A few days ago, Flyer winger Ian Laperriere, who has spent his 16 NHL seasons playing the same scrappy game as Burish, told a reporter he respected the Blackhawk's aggressiveness and toughness..."
Laperriere Shows His Toughness (Denver Post)
June 4, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere, one of the most popular players in Avalanche history, signed with the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. The free-agent forward accepted a three-year contract worth $3.5 million..."
Laperriere Surprised by One Aspect of Stanley Cup Final (LATimes.com)
June 6, 2010 - "Among the many attractions of writing about hockey is that so many of the players are good guys and so few are jerks. Most players are accommodating and some truly are terrific people that you're glad you got to know. Ian Laperriere, the scrappy Flyers forward and former King, is one of the nicest and most honest and unaffected guys you'll meet in any sport..."
Playoff Beards in Full Bloom in Finals (Press of Atlantic City)
June 7, 2010 - "The Stanley Cup finals are a time when you can learn a lot about a player. How much grit and determination he has. Whether he thrives on the biggest stage or folds under pressure. And what he looks like when he stops shaving for more than a month..."
After Brain Injury Scare, It's a Wonderful Life for Laperriere (NHL Fanhouse)
June 8, 2010 - "Ian Laperriere had already suffered what doctors termed a 'brain injury,' blocking a puck with his head in the Flyers' clinching Game 5 victory over New Jersey. Now here he was after Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in Philadelphia, his hand battered, bruised and blown up after another shot-block attempt gone right and wrong. 'Hey, can you guys recommend a good video on how to block shots?' Laperriere said to a few reporters by his locker room stall. 'I'm 36 years old, and I guess I still have no idea what the heck I'm doing out there...' "
Pregame Look: Laperriere Keeping Flyers Focused (CSNPhilly.com)
June 9, 2010 - "In the final home game of what has been his 16th season in the National Hockey League, Flyers forward Ian Laperriere seems to have a crystal clear image of what his role is tonight in the Stanley Cup Final. This is Game No. 6 and the Flyers need to win against the Blackhawks to force a Game 7 on Friday back in Chicago..."