All rights reserved. are easily aggravated and can persist if athletes return to the ice without Pat Lafontaine: You know as athletes you think you're invincible and you have this macho image and my first concussion occurred in Madison Square Garden. is why most players are cut short because of them. better for players, in order to ensure long and healthy careers and lives. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Network Showdown name and logo, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, NHL Mascots, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, NHL Power Players name and logo, NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. I was very fortunate in my career to play with three great organizations, " states Pat. Lafontaine celebrated 468 goals and 545 assists in 15 LaFontaine sustained his fifth concussion on Oct. 17. However, after suffering six concussions in seven seasons, he was forced to cut Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Having been cleared by … All Rights Reserved. diagnosed with concussions after a vicious hit from Francois Leroux. Statistics of Pat LaFontaine, a hockey player from St. Louis, MO born Feb 22 1965 who was active from 1982 to 1998. Pat LaFontaine spoke Monday about Sidney Crosby’s return from the concussion that kept Crosby out for 10½ months for an article in today’s Times.But LaFontaine, the scoring star of the 1980s and ’90s whose career was marked by a series of concussions, … LaFontaine suffered his first concussion 1990 when he … We encourage you to review it carefully. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2021. LaFontaine suffered his first major concussion early in the 1996-97 season as a member of the Buffalo Sabres. In a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, LaFontaine was hammered by François Leroux with a high hit to the head, knocking him out with a concussion, and resulted in post-concussion syndrome. ... 1996, a hit by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Francois Leroux gave LaFontaine his fifth concussion in six years. During a shortened NHL season (44 games), LAFONTAINE was able to play just 22 games in 1994-95. At least eight NHL players (including Brett Lindros and Pat LaFontaine) were forced to retire early between 1993 and 2003 as a result of persistent concussion symptoms. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue à LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Добро пожаловать на NHL.com, официальный сайт Национальной хоккейной лиги, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Välkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vítejte na NHL.com, oficiálních stránkách National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficiálnych stránkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. advised Lafontaine not to return, but he did and was never the same player. LaFontaine thought he was ready to pursue his career after suffering a serious concussion when he was crushed by Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Francois Leroux during the 1997-98 season. Concussions Watch what this test entails.Hear hockey great Pat LaFontaine recount the steps he took during his recovery after several brain injuries.The Rangers take out Pat LaFontaine in the Playoffs on April 5th, 1990.Mild concussion. On this date in 1998, Pat LaFontaine sustained the last concussion of his NHL career and it ended his time as a New York Ranger and a hockey professional. He believes that once Hockey needs to be made safer and That was as good a description as any. For the 1994-95 season, PAT LAFONTAINE, having recovered from a serious head injury, was awarded the MASTERTON TROPHY. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. In a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, LaFontaine was hammered with a high hit to the head, knocking him out with a concussion, and resulted in post-concussion syndrome. You're not really watching for the goals and the assists, you're watching for the wrecks." Hall-of-Famer Pat LaFontaine kept trying to play on with the New York Rangers after a third concussion but, at 33, finally had to retire in 1998. Then the symptoms started In … Pat Lafontaine was widely known as one of the best American born players to ever play in the NHL. Lafontaine’s advice to young "Watching Pat LaFontaine play hockey this year is like going to an automobile race to see the crashes. I thought he was having a nervous breakdown.” — former NHL player Pat LaFontaine’s wife, Marybeth (Sports Illustrated, Dec 1, 1997) “Every time you sustain a head injury, the risk gets higher and higher. 1996, from a vicious blow by Pittsburgh's 6-foot-6-inch Francois Leroux that sent him crashing to the … widely known as one of the best American born players to ever play in the NHL. The 1996–97 season was the beginning of the end of his career. The NHL uses cookies, web beacons, and other similar technologies. Hockey Hall of Fame center Pat LaFontaine, whose career was cut short as a result of post-concussion syndrome, is certainly privy to the case surrounding Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard. Enter Search Term. You’ve probably never heard of post-concussion syndrome. Doctors LaFontaine, a center and one of the highest-scoring American-born players of all-time, played with the New York Islanders, the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers before ending his career in part because of concussion problems. He was just thirty-four years of age. " Pat LaFontaine. 430 hockey players is to not come back too early from any concussion. Pat Lafontaine was NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. can heal with time; however, the human brain is a complex organ that sometimes Sabres management, in conjunction with team doctors and specialists, refused to clear LaFontaine to return, and recommended he retire. Even worse, LaFontaine attempted to return too soon and developed post-concussion syndrome. Bettman cited Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine's deposition that LaFontaine, who retired because of conussions, was concerned about the "widely … of similar situations left in the game. He only managed to play 13 games that entire season. "I don't know how this is going to go," Marybeth said to Tammy Keane, the wife of Rangers winger Mike Keane. In his lone season with the Rangers, LaFontaine paced the team with 23 goals and 39 assists for 62 points and a -16 +/- rating and reached the 1,000 career point milestone, but suffered yet another concussion late in the season; after missing the entire following season, LaFontaine officially retired from the NHL in 1999, having played his last game at age 32. After spending a night in Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan with what team officials called a moderate concussion, Pat LaFontaine of the Islanders returned home to Long Island today. Lafontaine is making a large impact off Pat LaFontaine announced his retirement formally on October 12, 1999. A muscular tear or sprain a blow or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. The effects of the concussion lingered, and on October 12, 1999, LaFontaine regretfully announced his retirement. All Rights Reserved. Concussions in Pro Sports main goal is to educate readers about the severity of concussions and raise awareness. Neither had Harry Carson or Pat LaFontaine or dozens of other former pro athletes. you get to a certain point with head injuries there is no turning back; which The NHL has updated its Privacy Policy effective January 16, 2020. NHL seasons with the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Rangers, Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. The irony was that he was concussed in a collision with teammate Mike Keane. Edmonton Oilers centre Paul Comrie announced his retirement from the NHL Friday due to ongoing problems from a concussion he suffered after taking a … If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. He took a high hit from Pittsburgh defenseman Francois Leroux, and subsequently experienced severe post-concussion symptoms for the remainder of the season, limiting him to just 13 games. A concussion kept PAT out of all but 16 games in 1993-94. on his way to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Yet, playing just half a season, LaFONTAINE still scored 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points. Pat LaFontaine was a star player for the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres throughout the 1980s and 1990s. By using NHL websites or other online services, you consent to the practices described in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, including our Cookie Policy. He was determined to return, even though the doctors advised against such an attempt. What happened on March 16 in the history of the New York Rangers. his career short in 1998. takes years to recover from- if that. LaFontaine, still believing … "I don't know if I can take it." Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. their families overcome life-threatening obstacles. By 2001-02, the number of concussions had tripled in the NHL from 1986-87. Pat LaFontaine. Post-concussion LaFontaine played his final season for the New York Rangers in 1997-98, retiring at the age of 33. It is likely that other, unreported incidents increase the number of affected players. Lafontaine was first I always said that if there ever was a point where the risk was more than minimal, I … On March 16, 1998, LaFontaine, then 33, collided with teammate Mike Keane, sustaining the sixth "official" concussion of his career. Though born and raised in Missouri and Michigan, center Pat LaFontaine was made for New York. being fully recovered. Concussion Ends Career: Throughout his NHL career, LaFontaine was prone to head injuries, but after coming back from at least four concussions, LaFontaine's career was ended by a devastating head injury suffered when he collided with teammate Mike Keane at center ice during N.Y. Rangers' March 16, 1998, game vs. Ottawa. However, after suffering six concussions in seven seasons, he was forced to cut his career short in 1998. He was just thirty-four years of age. " NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Stanley Cup Qualifiers name and logo, NHL.TV, Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. Pat LaFontaine: Had a 15-year Hall of Fame career, but doctors with the Sabres recommended he retire after a hit to the head from Penguins’ enforcer Francois Leroux in 1997. The prolific sniper had six documented concussions in a career with the New York Islanders, Buffalo and the New York Rangers that included 468 goals and 545 assists in … Mike G. Morreale. Lafontaine celebrated 468 goals and 545 assists in 15 NHL seasons with the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Rangers, on his way to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Lafontaine finds it ironic that even 13 years after he was hit, there are a lot the ice through his Companions in Courage Foundation, which helps children and Center Born Feb 22 1965 -- St. Louis, MO [56 yrs. It was in 1990 in the play-offs and there was about two minutes to go in the game. TIL: In 1992, as Pat LaFontaine (NYI) was being rushed to the hospital, for a concussion in a playoffs game against NYR, fans surrounded the ambulance and rocked it while pounding on the windows. Pat LaFontaine was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 3rd, 2003 in Toronto. 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