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Pat LaFontaine (born February 22, 1965, in St.
Louis, Missouri) was an ice hockey Centre (ice
hockey)|center in the National Hockey League, who
played from the 1983-84 season to the 1997-98
season for the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres
and New York Rangers (the only man ever to skate
with all three clubs based in New York State).

LaFontaine joined the Islanders after a few
monster campaigns in the Quebec Major Junior
Hockey League, and after representing the US in
the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics. Although he appeared
in the Stanley Cup Finals in only his rookie
season, he was unable to play a major role since
the team was already deep in veterans.
Furthermore, his arrival was concurrent with the
beginning of the end of the Islanders' dynasty.

In the 1987 playoffs, LaFontaine scored a famous
goal in the 4th overtime period of the seventh and
decisive game between the Islanders and Washington
Capitals. "It was the most memorable moment in my
hockey life," he later recalled.

Traded to Buffalo in 1991 for fellow superstar
Pierre Turgeon, LaFontaine exploded offensively in
the 1992-93 season with a personal-best and
team-record 148 points (53 goals + 95 assists).
During the 1993 playoffs, LaFontaine engineered
another great moment: in spite of playing with a
damaged knee, as well as having fallen onto the
ice, he still managed to set up Brad May's
overtime, series-clinching goal against the Boston
Bruins.

LaFontaine was forced to retire at the age of 33
after suffering from a concussion, caused by an
accidental collision with a Rangers teammate. He
was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on
November 3, 2003 and the United States Hockey Hall
of Fame in that same year.

LaFontaine is considered to be one of the most
classy and graceful players of all-time. However,
he will be best remembered for his big heart, and
for his longtime involvement off the ice in
charitable projects for sick children.

==See also==
* List of NHL players
* List of NHL seasons
* List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame
* List of members of the United States Hockey Hall
of Fame

==External links==
*http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHock
ey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?type=Player&mem=P200302&l
ist=ByName#photo/ The Hockey Hall of Fame profile
of Pat LaFontaine
*http://www.companions-in-courage.org/ The
Companions In Courage Foundation

start box
succession box | before = Mike Ramsey | title =
Buffalo Sabres#Team captains|Buffalo Sabres
captains | years = 1992-97 | after = Mike Peca
end box
Note: Ramsey resigned captaincy during the 1992-93
NHL season, in favour of LaFontaine