Alex Laferriere
{{short description|American ice hockey player (born 2001)}}
{{For|the New York Rangers player|Alexis Lafrenière}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Alex Laferriere
| image = Harvard Crimson Alex Laferriere.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Laferriere with Harvard in 2023
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|10|28}}
| birth_place = Chatham, New Jersey, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 205
| position = Right wing
| shoots = Right
| league = NHL
| team = Los Angeles Kings
| former_teams =
| ntl_team =
| draft = 83rd overall
| draft_year = 2020
| draft_team = Los Angeles Kings
| career_start = 2023
| career_end =
}}
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 {{height|ft=5|in=2|out=cm}} by his freshman year of high school, but had a growth spurt when he was around age 16.{{Cite news|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/hockey/2020/11/04/alex-laferriere-des-moines-buccaneers-star-mainstay-los-angeles-kings-united-states-hockey-league/6084027002/|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|title='He's got an NHL ceiling': Des Moines Buccaneers star Alex Laferriere an NHL Draft pick|date=November 5, 2020|author=Birch, Tommy}} He played youth ice hockey for the New Jersey Colonials and North Jersey Avalanche.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hockeyjournal.com/kent-school-champion-alex-laferriere-has-ushl-army-in-his-future/|website=New England Hockey Journal|title=Kent School champion Alex Laferriere has USHL, Army in his future|date=March 5, 2019|author=Cox, Jeff}} He attended Chatham High School in his hometown,Barmakian, Ed. [https://www.tapinto.net/towns/chatham/sections/sports/articles/laferriere-goal-in-third-period-ties-it-for-chath "Laferriere Goal in Third Period Ties it for Chatham; Cougars Lose Overtime Heartbreaker in Mennen Cup Semifinals"], TAPinto Chatham, February 15, 2018. Accessed February 22, 2025. "There was hope that this could be the year Chatham might win the Mennen Cup for the first time since Chatham Township High won it in 1981 when Alex Laferriere scored with 4:03 left in the third period to tie the game and force overtime." 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/devils/2020/04/how-njs-alex-laferrierre-gus-bylin-fared-in-nhl-central-scouting-final-rankings.html|website=NJ.com|title=How N.J.'s Alex Laferriere, Gus Bylin fared in NHL Central Scouting final rankings|date=April 9, 2020|author=Miller, Randy}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/2197454/2020/11/13/kings-pick-alex-laferriere-quarantined-in-ushl-harvard-season-canceled/|url-access=subscription|title=Kings pick Alex Laferriere quarantined in USHL while Harvard season canceled|date=November 13, 2020|author=Dillman, Lisa|website=The Athletic}}
Laferriere initially committed to play in college for the Army Black Knights but later switched to the Harvard Crimson. 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. 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).{{Cite news|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/hockey/2020/10/05/alex-laferriere-des-moines-buccaneers-united-states-hockey-league-noah-ellis-2020-nhl-draft/5880671002/|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|title=Des Moines Buccaneers star Alex Laferriere preparing for NHL Draft, next goal to chase|date=October 5, 2020|author=Birch, Tommy}} He was named the team's most valuable player and was invited to the BioSteel All-American Game.{{Cite web|url=https://gocrimson.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/alex-laferriere/25647|publisher=Harvard Crimson|title=Alex Laferriere}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/hockey/2020/10/07/alex-laferriere-des-moines-buccaneers-los-angeles-kings-united-states-hockey-league-nhl-draft/5914015002/|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|title=Kings select Buccaneers star Alex Laferriere in third round of NHL Draft|date=October 7, 2020|author=Birch, Tommy}} He then played 49 games in the 2020–21 season with Des Moines, totaling 50 points on 26 goals and 24 assists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=219754|website=HockeyDB.com|title=Alex Laferriere Hockey Stats}}
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. He then played 34 games in 2022–23 and helped Harvard reach the NCAA tournament with 21 goals and 21 assists.{{Cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/4932633/2023/10/05/la-kings-alex-laferriere/|website=The Athletic|url-access=subscription|title=Meet Alex Laferriere, a Jersey guy, a Bruins fan — and a big part of the Kings' future|date=October 5, 2023|author=Stephens, Eric}} He was selected second-team All-ECAC Hockey for his performance.{{Cite web|url=https://ecachockey.com/news/2023/3/15/mens-ice-hockey-ecac-hockey-announces-2022-23-mens-all-league-teams.aspx|publisher=ECAC Hockey|title=ECAC Hockey Announces 2022-23 Men’s All-League Teams|date=March 16, 2023}} Laferriere then turned professional and played four games with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL), scoring one goal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2023/10/12/los-angeles-kings-alex-laferriere-fight-nhl-debut-family-celebration|website=Sports Illustrated|title=NHL Rookie's Family Goes Wild After He Wins Fight in His Debut|author=Gartland, Dan|date=October 12, 2023}}
File:Tanev 12 16-4 (53407547882).jpg 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/topic/press-releases/la-kings-sign-forward-alex-laferriere-to-three-year-entry-level-contra-343324184|publisher=National Hockey League|title=LA Kings Sign Forward Alex Laferriere To Three-Year Entry-Level Contract |date=April 9, 2023}} He was assigned to the AHL to begin the 2023–24 season but was recalled on October 9,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/kings-recall-alex-laferriere|publisher=National Hockey League|title=Kings Recall Forward Alex Laferriere from Ontario Reign|date=October 9, 2023}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Reigle |first1=Matt |title=NHL Rookie Alex Laferriere Wins His First Fight And His Family Went Absolutely Nuts |url=https://www.outkick.com/nhl-rookie-alex-laferriere-first-fight-family/ |website=OutKick |access-date=October 13, 2023 |date=October 12, 2023}} Laferriere scored his first NHL goal in a 4–2 loss against the Boston Bruins on October 21.{{cite web |title=Marchand scores twice, Pastrnak has goal, 2 assists as Bruins beat Kings 4-2 to stay unbeaten |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401559314 |website=ESPN |access-date=November 5, 2023 |date=October 21, 2023}}
International play
Personal life
Laferriere was born on October 28, 2001, in Chatham, New Jersey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/laferal01.html|website=Hockey-Reference.com|title=Alex Laferriere Stats}} His father, Rob, played ice hockey in college for the Princeton Tigers and Boston College Eagles. 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. Laferriere said that the incident helped spark his interest in ice hockey.
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="101" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="101" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||
| 2018–19
| USHL | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2019–20 | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | 42 | 19 | 26 | 45 | 42
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21
| Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | 49 | 26 | 24 | 50 | 59
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2021–22 | ECAC | 35 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 12
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23
| Harvard University | ECAC | 34 | 21 | 21 | 42 | 20
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2022–23 | AHL | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24
| NHL | 81 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 46
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|NHL totals ! 81 !! 12 !! 11 !! 23 !! 46 ! 5 !! 1 !! 1 !! 2 !! 0 |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="101" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||
| 2019
| WJAC | {{bronze3}} | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Junior totals ! 6 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 2 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laferriere, Alex}}
Category:American ice hockey right wingers
Category:Chatham High School (New Jersey) alumni
Category:Des Moines Buccaneers players
Category:Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey players
Category:Ice hockey players from New Jersey
Category:Los Angeles Kings draft picks
Category:Los Angeles Kings players
Category:Ontario Reign (AHL) players
Category:People from Chatham Township, New Jersey