Ian Laperriere Press Box
1994-95 through 1998-99
The Book On ... Ian Laperriere (The Sporting News)
March 13, 1995 - "He dreamed of laying for his hometown Canadiens and was devastated when they told him his skating wasn't good enough--to even play in the NHL. That skating deficiency was the reason Laperriere wasn't selected until the 158th pick of the 1992 draft. But all of the teams that passed on Laperriere failed to measure the size of his heart..."
Matteau, Matteau, Matteau (NY Daily News)
December 29, 1995 - "The man who scored two of the most important goals in franchise history is a Ranger no more. Stephane Matteau, who went from unlikely hero to bitter disappointment within a couple of months, yesterday was dealt to the St. Louis Blues for young, feisty center Ian Laperriere, long the object of the Rangers' desire..."
Colin Sends Rangers To Penalty Box (NY Daily News)
January 3, 1996 - "...In his Rangers debut Saturday at Edmonton, center Ian Laperriere was ejected for a hit from behind on Oilers wiseguy Kirk Maltby. And Sunday night, when the travel-weary Rangers could have used a jolt of Laperriere's heat, the 21-year-old was thumbed for instigating a fight with the Flames' Trent Yawney..."
Feisty Laperriere Adds Spice To Ranger Stew (NY Daily News)
January 7, 1996 - " 'I made it!' Ian Laperriere proclaimed in mock triumph. 'I made it!' This was last Wednesday night in yet another victorious Rangers' locker room. And the modest achievement the newest Ranger was celebrating was having finally made it to the end of a game without being ejected in his third try since being acquired from St. Louis last Thursday..."
Flyers Get The Message (NY Daily News)
January 14, 1996 - "...Your eye is drawn to the smile, then to a nose that swoops and swerves like a slalom run. At the top, between the black brows, was a puffy purply jellybean that for the next day or two, at least will help Laperriere recall the first faceoff of his life against Eric Lindros..."
Kings Continue to Clean House (Los Angeles Times)
March 15, 1996 - "...Arriving here today from the Rangers is one proven scorer in center Ray Ferraro; one prospect, 24-year-old defenseman Mattias Norstrom; a fourth-line player, feisty 22-year-old center Ian Laperriere; and minor-league forward Nathan LaFayette, who is 23. Additionally, the Kings will receive a fourth-round draft pick in 1997..."
Game On, And On, And On (Daily News)
January 4, 1997 - "Ian Laperriere sounds as if he's revealing a deep, dark secret. Sometimes, he can't wait to get home to get his fix. On road trips, he can't stand to be without, so he stuffs some into his luggage to keep him company in his hotel room..."
Laperriere Sits and Gets an Eyeful (Los Angeles Times)
January 2, 1998 - "Center Ian Laperriere, one of the Kings' top penalty killers, did not play for the first time this season when he sat out Thursday's 4-0 loss at Phoenix because of a minor eye injury from Wednesday's 2-2 tie at Dallas..."
The People's Choice (LA Kings Game Night Magazine)
January 31, 1998 - "...Wearing an orange pinney over his white practice jersey to distinguish him as a penalty killer, No. 22 skates at the top of the right face-off circle, swiveling his stick back and forth along the ice, trying to distract pointman Steve McKenna while also attempting to cut off both passing lanes..."
Cybersport: Video Games Imitating Life (Daily News)
March 23, 1998 - "Kings center Ian Laperriere, holding the video game controller tightly in his hands, motions toward the TV screen in his Marina del Rey apartment. On his NHL Breakaway '98 Playstation contest, Kings center Ian Laperriere is moving into the faceoff circle. 'I'm finally in the game,' he says, pushing the buttons so fast that his stick blade starts to pound the faux ice..."
Torn ACL Sidelines Kings' Laperriere (Daily News)
October 14, 1998 - "The Kings learned Tuesday that fourth-line center Ian Laperriere has a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will be sidelined on a week-to-week basis..."
Laperriere Is Worried (Daily News)
October 17, 1998 - "A week ago at this time, Ian Laperriere was about to start a new hockey season. Now he's wondering when or if he'll play again in 1998-99..."
Laperriere Knows What His Role Is (Los Angeles Times)
January 3, 1999 - "He's not on the ice to score, or to set up the rest of his line to score. Ian Laperriere knows he's there to hit people. Not that he wouldn't like a goal or two..."
Laperriere in Position to Contribute (Los Angeles Times)
January 17, 1999 - "Sometimes Ian Laperriere has to stop and wonder where he is supposed to be. And what. Is he a center? A winger?"
Laperriere Given Shot With Top Line (Los Angeles Times)
April 11, 1999 - "He was like so many other French-Canadian kids from Montreal. Ian Laperriere could shoot. He could skate. He could create--if without real artistry, certainly with effect..."