Alex Laferriere
Laferriere with Harvard in 2023
Born (2001-10-28) October 28, 2001
Chatham, New Jersey, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
NHL team Los Angeles Kings
NHL Draft 83rd overall, 2020
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2023–present

Alex Laferriere (born October 28, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey right winger for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Laferriere was often passed over for spots on top youth ice hockey teams due to his size; he stood at only 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) by his freshman year of high school, but had a growth spurt when he was around age 16.[1] He played youth ice hockey for the New Jersey Colonials and North Jersey Avalanche.[2] He attended Chatham High School in his hometown, later spent time with the University of Nebraska High School and then spent a year at Kent School in Connecticut, averaging close to two points per game in the 2018–19 season.[2][3] Laferriere was the second-leading player in the New England area in points per game at Kent and finished the season with 19 goals and 34 assists in 27 games.[2][4]

Laferriere initially committed to play in college for the Army Black Knights but later switched to the Harvard Crimson.[1][2] He also joined the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the end of the 2018–19 season, appearing in 12 games.[1] In 2019–20, he played 42 games for the Buccaneers and led them in scoring with 45 points, also tying for the team lead in goals (19) and assists (26).[5] He was named the team's most valuable player and was invited to the BioSteel All-American Game.[6] Following the season, Laferriere was selected in the third round with the 83rd overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings.[7] He then played 49 games in the 2020–21 season with Des Moines, totaling 50 points on 26 goals and 24 assists.[8]

Laferriere began playing in college with Harvard starting in 2021–22, posting in his first season 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 35 games, being named the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year, to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie team and third-team All-ECAC Hockey.[6] He then played 34 games in 2022–23 and helped Harvard reach the NCAA tournament with 21 goals and 21 assists.[9] He was selected second-team All-ECAC Hockey for his performance.[10] Laferriere afterwards turned professional and played four games with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL), scoring one goal.[8][11]

Laferriere lining up against Brandon Tanev of the Seattle Kraken in 2023.

Following his first AHL season, Laferriere signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings on April 9, 2023.[12] He was assigned to the AHL to begin the 2023–24 season but was recalled on October 9,[13] later making his NHL debut in the Kings' season-opening game on October 11, against the Colorado Avalanche, while having four shots on goal in the 5–2 loss.[11][14] Laferriere scored his first NHL goal in a 4–2 loss against the Boston Bruins on October 21.[15]

International career

Laferriere played six games for the United States at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge.[16]

Personal life

Laferriere was born on October 28, 2001, in Chatham, New Jersey.[17] His father, Rob, played ice hockey in college for the Princeton Tigers and Boston College Eagles.[1] He initially disliked the idea of skating; at a young age, he was offered skating lessons by his mother but refused until his sister promised him Skittles.[1] Laferriere said that the incident helped spark his interest in ice hockey.[1]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2018–19 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 120000 —————
2019–20 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 4219264542 —————
2020–21 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 4926245059 —————
2021–22 Harvard University ECAC 3514173112 —————
2022–23 Harvard University ECAC 3421214220 —————
2022–23 Ontario Reign AHL 41010 —————
AHL totals 41010 —————

International

Year Team Event Result GPGAPtsPIM
2019 United States WJAC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 60002
Junior totals 60002

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Birch, Tommy (November 5, 2020). "'He's got an NHL ceiling': Des Moines Buccaneers star Alex Laferriere an NHL Draft pick". The Des Moines Register.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Cox, Jeff (March 5, 2019). "Kent School champion Alex Laferriere has USHL, Army in his future". New England Hockey Journal.
  3. ↑ Miller, Randy (April 9, 2020). "How N.J.'s Alex Laferriere, Gus Bylin fared in NHL Central Scouting final rankings". NJ.com.
  4. ↑ Dillman, Lisa (November 13, 2020). "Kings pick Alex Laferriere quarantined in USHL while Harvard season canceled". The Athletic.
  5. ↑ Birch, Tommy (October 5, 2020). "Des Moines Buccaneers star Alex Laferriere preparing for NHL Draft, next goal to chase". The Des Moines Register.
  6. 1 2 "Alex Laferriere". Harvard Crimson.
  7. ↑ Birch, Tommy (October 7, 2020). "Kings select Buccaneers star Alex Laferriere in third round of NHL Draft". The Des Moines Register.
  8. 1 2 "Alex Laferriere Hockey Stats". HockeyDB.com.
  9. ↑ Stephens, Eric (October 5, 2023). "Meet Alex Laferriere, a Jersey guy, a Bruins fan — and a big part of the Kings' future". The Athletic.
  10. ↑ "ECAC Hockey Announces 2022-23 Men's All-League Teams". ECAC Hockey. March 16, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Gartland, Dan (October 12, 2023). "NHL Rookie's Family Goes Wild After He Wins Fight in His Debut". Sports Illustrated.
  12. ↑ "LA Kings Sign Forward Alex Laferriere To Three-Year Entry-Level Contract". National Hockey League. April 9, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Kings Recall Forward Alex Laferriere from Ontario Reign". National Hockey League. October 9, 2023.
  14. ↑ Reigle, Matt (October 12, 2023). "NHL Rookie Alex Laferriere Wins His First Fight And His Family Went Absolutely Nuts". OutKick. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Marchand scores twice, Pastrnak has goal, 2 assists as Bruins beat Kings 4-2 to stay unbeaten". ESPN. October 21, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Laferriere, Alex". National Hockey League.
  17. ↑ "Alex Laferriere Stats". Hockey-Reference.com.
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