Ian Laperriere Quote Book
2008 - 2009
Quotes From Lappy
"I like his positive energy. I think that's his biggest quality and he's got more experience now. Sometimes, you get a new coach that you don't know and it's a tough transition. It's one less thing in the summer you have to worry about as a player. Everybody on the team likes him, and you want to play for a guy like that."
On the selection of Tony Granato as head coach - May 23, 2008 - Denver Post
"Everybody was starting to worry what Joe was going to do. It's great news for more than one reason. What he brings to the ice, everyone knows, Joe is Joe. But what he brings to the locker room, the respect, everybody's so calm when he's around. That's what he brings that people don't see."
"For sure, I was worrying, and a bunch of us were worrying about what was going to happen because we know we're a much better team when he's in the lineup. Now that he made the right decision, everybody's pumped. We know how much better we are when Joe's in."
On Joe Sakic's decision to return for a 20th season - August 25, 2008 - Associated Press
"I don't care if he's 39. He's such a special player. He's such a special human being. I'm pumped. I'm excited to see him coming on the ice. I can't emphasize enough what he brings to the team."
"...what people don't see is the way he is in the (locker) room. For the younger guys - and for the older guys, too - players look up to him for what he does on a daily basis. He's just a workhorse. He works so hard on and off the ice. He's a superstar, but he's a pro and a great example for everybody."
On Joe Sakic's decision to return for a 20th season - August 27, 2008 - Rocky Mountain News
"For sure I want to hit it. I'm confident that I'll hit it one day or the other. I'm not a goal scorer, I'm not a point getter; it's one thing that I can be proud of. I'm proud of all the games I played and 1,000 games would be a nice number to hit."
On the possibility of reaching 1000 games played - October 16, 2008 - Colorado Avalanche Official Website
"I don't like the tone of that question... One real hat-trick, and they can't take it away from me."
After recording the 4th Gordie Howe hat-trick of his career - October 24, 2008 - Edmonton Journal
"He's (Stortini) 240 pounds and he comes after a guy like me who's 195. I have a hard time with that. And he keeps punching when guys are down. He'll learn, he'll find his match."
Expressing his displeasure towards Edmonton's Zack Stortini - October 24, 2008 - Edmonton Journal
"Why don't you guys in the media just stop talking about him? I'm sick of all the stories."
About Sean Avery's antics - October 26, 2008 - Edmonton Journal
"(The difference between) winning and losing? One more goal than the other team. That's what I think... If you want to sit down, I'll explain it to you a little bit longer."
Pre-game interview - November 6, 2008 - Avalanche TV
"He's playing well for us and if there is one guy who deserves that, it's him. The way he works in practice and the way he takes care of himself, it's all credit to him. With that work ethic, he was going to put fortune on his side. That's what he's done. He's playing great lately, but he's not the type of guy that's just going to be satisfied with that, he'll keep working hard to keep trying to improve. To be honest, we're all going to have bad games throughout the year, but the way he works and the preparation he puts into a game, he's going to have more good games than bad games."
Regarding Peter Budaj - November 16, 2008 - Sun Media
"If you're an NHL player and you're missing passion, you've got to look at yourself in the mirror and do something else with your life, because our sport is all about passion."
November 19, 2008 - Denver Post
"We all know that's him. We all know he's the guy. The organization knows that, and gave him the contract that shows he is the guy. He's the right guy. You sit for dinner for a couple of hours with him, and you know he's a mature guy who doesn't let stuff bug him. Believe me when I say that. I'm not trying to pump him up, but you don't come across many young guys like him, for sure. He's got Joe to look up to, and he's one of the best. Paul takes in everything he does."
Speaking of Paul Stastny - November 19, 2008 - Calgary Sun
"If Paulie started chirping every night in the room, guys would look at him like, 'Hey, maybe you better cut down on the caffeine.' You can't fake the way you lead. Younger players can't take over leadership of the room too fast. But they can take over little by little."
Speaking of Paul Stastny - November 20, 2008 - Denver Post
"He's young. He might drink a lot of milk and come back really quick."
On Stastny's recovery from surgery for his broken arm - January 1, 2009 - Rocky Mountain News
"We need to be ugly, just like my face."
On the Avalanche's style of play - January 9, 2009 - Rocky Mountain News
"I'll be playing, but not in the NHL – with my kids."
When asked if he'd still be playing hockey at age 43 like Claude Lemieux - January 27, 2009 - Mercury News
"We did a lot of good things tonight, but we didn't find a way to get points and it's getting old. We have to realize we don't have that many games left. We need to get on a roll and get back in the playoff race, because we're falling behind right now. Teams are winning behind us and teams are winning in front of us. It's going to be tougher and tougher for us if we don't realize that right now."
February 1, 2009 - Rocky Mountain News
"Now we're even."
Laperriere had a huge hit on Flames' defenseman Dion Phaneuf, one he said was payback for a similar hit on him once before - February 2, 2009 - Denver Post
"Hockey players are regular guys, and we take pride in that."
February 5, 2009 - Rocky Mountain News
"...You put one totally different guy who has his own agenda and is being mean to other guys in the locker room, it's going to affect everybody.... I really dislike the guy. I've been around a long time, and that's the one guy I can say I really dislike in my career. There are a bunch of guys you hate playing against, but this guy I hated playing with."
On his former LA Kings teammate Sean Avery - February 5, 2009 - Rocky Mountain News
"I missed eight days, then braced it up and came back. If you can't play through injuries, you won't play long in this league. They'll figure you out pretty quick."
Laperriere played a season-and-a-half on a torn left knee ligament during his days with the Kings - February 11, 2009 - Denver Post
"I'd love to be Hedgie for a day. So smooth, so smart and great hands. He's just an all-around great player. Even the stuff that most people don't see - but we do because we're on the ice - like how he's so smart defensively. I want to be Hedgie."
When asked "If given the opportunity, which skill of a teammate would you want?" - February 25, 2009 - Official Website of the Colorado Avalanche
"I'm preparing myself to stay and I'm preparing myself to get traded. I'm preparing myself for both. I want to stay here, that's no secret... The good news is we only have a couple more days to wait. Hopefully, I'll be here after the trading deadline, but I have no control over that."
His thoughts as the March 4 trade deadline nears - February 28, 2009 - Denver Post
"It's flattering, I won't lie to you. I take that as a compliment. I'm 35, and they still want a guy like me around. I'll take that as a compliment. But my heart is here, and I want to stay here."
Reflecting on the contending teams who were interested in his services prior to the NHL trading deadline - March 7, 2009 - Denver Post
"If I hurt someone with my fist - which never happens the way I hit - it's one thing. But I didn't want him to hit his head on the ice. I've seen too many incidents like that and I just didn't want it to happen. I put my arm there to make sure he didn't bang his head. It was a reflex thing because he lost his helmet in the fight."
In a fight against Blackhawks centre Colin Fraser, Laperriere wrapped his arm around his opponent's head as they fell to the ice - March 15, 2009 - Edmonton Sun
"I'm embarrassed by the way I played. I hope a bunch of guys are embarrassed too. That was ugly. It's tough to do, but I'm speechless. I'm running out of words right now."
On Colorado's 8-1 loss to Edmonton - March 20, 2009 - Denver Post
"One word: Ugly. It's embarrassing. I'm sick to my stomach."
On Colorado's 8-1 loss to Edmonton - March 20, 2009 - nhl.com
"If I can help a kid go through a day or a week or a month without thinking as much about an illness, I'll do it. But all my teammates will do it, too. That's what great about hockey players, I guess."
March 22, 2009 - nhl.com
"You can't be a (jerk) on the ice and a (jerk) off the ice. I don't want to be like that. I want to be the best human being I can be. On the ice, it's a game, a job. Off the ice, I can be whoever I want to be, and who I want to be is the best person I can be.
I'm just a regular guy off the ice, a family guy. But when I put my skates on, I know I have a job to do and I do the best that I can, to be an energy guy. If I stop hitting guys, I'll be out of a job."
Admitting to having separate identities, on and off the ice - March 22, 2009 - nhl.com
"I like to be a leader on and off the ice, especially with a young team like we have this year. You want to push them on the ice, but I think it's more important to push them the right way off the ice. I know what it takes to be a successful NHL player, how to behave off the ice, to stay out of trouble."
March 22, 2009 - nhl.com
"I guess maybe a lot of NHL players don't like me, which is part of my job. But when you're liked by the fans and your teammates, that's all that really matters to me."
March 22, 2009 - nhl.com
"We've given up 15 goals in the last two games here. I hope it's tough for everybody. If guys don't feel ashamed, don't feel embarrassed about this, I don't what they are doing. And in our own building."
On Colorado's 7-2 loss to Anaheim - March 25, 2009 - ducks.nhl.com
"It's very flattering. I don't do charity work to win awards. I am who I am, and it's nice to be rewarded for just being myself. It should really be a compliment to my parents for the way they raised me."
After being named the Colorado nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy - April 3, 2009 - Official Website of the Colorado Avalanche
"Growing up back home, my dream was just to play one game in the NHL. Now, it's the 1,000th game – it's special, no doubt. I'm grateful to a lot of people who helped make it happen for me."
April 11, 2009 - Denver Post
"I was happy my mom was here tonight, and my kids. The Avalanche are such a class act, they sent my kids with me on the blue line. These are memories we'll never forget and my kids will have memories forever."
After his 1000th NHL Game - April 11, 2009 - Official Website of the Colorado Avalanche
"It is meaningful. If I look back at my career, it's my effort that I'm proudest of...I worked hard so I could play into my 30s, and I'm still playing hard at 35."
After his 1000th NHL Game - April 11, 2009 - Associated Press Sports