Ian Laperriere Interview 08/12/06

When growing up in Quebec, how were you first exposed to the game of hockey?            

For me, it was more of a family thing, for my mom and dad, and my cousins were all big hockey fans. My grandparents held season tickets for 25 years at the old Montreal Forum, so hockey was pretty much a family tradition.

At what point did the sport become a serious passion for you?

I always had passion for hockey; my dad would transmit that passion to me, and it was more like right away. I always loved the game, and even though I wasn't always the best player on my team, I was always passionate about it.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?

For me, it was definitely my parents. When growing up, they sacrificed for me, by making sure that I always had the best equipment, and that I was on time at practice. You never forget the little things like that, and they're a big part of why I'm playing in the National Hockey League, that's for sure.

To many, you're are considered to be one of the most kind and hard-working players in the league today. How did you develop your level of work ethic and positive attitude?

I think that the work ethic and determination that I have now was developed just from me not being the best player on the team when I was younger. When I was growing up, I was the guy who made the team only because I was big. I'm not big today, but I grew up faster than everybody else. (Laughs) I was slower, and had to work harder, and I think it was easier for me to do it, because I loved the game so much. I think that's where it comes from. Along with this, I was also not as talented as the other guys playing with me, so I had to give a little bit more, and I think that's where my work ethic came from.

Ever have a favorite NHL tough guy?

Cam Neely has always been a guy that I looked up to, because of the way he played and the way he loves the game. However, my favorite player has always been Guy Carbonneau. I was lucky enough to play with Guy my first year in St. Louis.

What about Carbonneau as a hockey player did you admire most?

I admired him because he could always play both sides of the ice, and because of the work ethic he had too. During his career he never took a shift off on the ice, and although he wasn't the best player, he always worked hard both offensively and defensively, and I think that's what I respect most about him. Also, his leadership for the . His quotes on what he would say in the newspaper; he always said the right thing, and he was a great example for my generation.

How did it feel to be on the same team with your favorite player?

It was great. It was my rookie year when the Blues signed him as a free agent, and I was very excited just to see him play on the same team as me. When you're 20 years old, you just try to look at every little detail he's doing in the locker room and on the ice. I learned just by looking at him, and talking to him in the locker room, so I learned a lot in my first year.

Considering that you were drafted in the 7th round in 1992 by the St. Louis Blues - did you believe you were going to make it to the NHL?

Yeah, I thought my chances were alright, though not great; but I knew I at least had a shot by being drafted. The year after juniors, I knew I had a better shot, and after my first training camp, I knew I could skate with these guys. After that I went back to Juniors with a good attitude, and I came back the next year even stronger mentally, for I knew I had a chance to compete with those guys.

Did you use your late selection in the draft as motivation?

Yeah, it was a disappointment at first, especially since the draft was held in Montreal, and I was supposed to be drafted in the 4th round. I wasn't drafted until 3 rounds later. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it was a lot at the time. For me, it was a big disappointment since it was in Montreal, but like you said, it was a motivation to prove that they made a mistake by ignoring me for 7 rounds. I went to camp, and I went to prove them wrong.

On January 31st, 1995, you were called up to the NHL for the second time, and ended up playing 37 games of the Blues' 48 games that season. As a 21 year old kid, what was it like to be playing in the National Hockey League?

It was great, it was a dream come true, and it still is. I feel lucky to play in the NHL, and I still feel the same way as I felt in my very first game with the Blues. I know I'm a lucky one, and I try to enjoy it as much as i can. At 21 years old, I just went out there, and tried to prove that I was an NHLer. Even today, 12 years later, I'm still trying to prove that I'm an NHL player.

Do you have any favorite memories from your first season with the Blues?

My first goal was very memorable. For me it was a great memory, and just playing with guys like Shanahan, Bret Hull and all those guys was pretty cool. I grew up watching those guys, and then you end up sitting on the bench between Shanahan and Hull. You're dreaming pretty much, and it was a great memory.

Between the years of 1994-1995, you played your first 70 NHL games under coach Mike Keenan, someone who was well known for dressing tough teams, and playing aggressive hockey. For you, what was it like to play for and be coached by someone like Mike Keenan?

When you're a 21 year old kid, you hear all kinds of rumors about him and about how tough of a coach he is, but he is tough. He likes to play with the players mentally, but he's honest. If you work hard, he'll play you, and everyone whose played for him over the years knows that you've got to earn your ice time by working hard. He is pretty honest with everybody, and he's tough, but he's a winner. He's one of the winningest coaches in the history of the NHL, and nobody can take that away from him.

Over the span of those two seasons with the Blues, you were teammates with Tony Twist, someone who is considered to be one of the most intimidating toughguys in NHL history. For you, what were your impressions of Tony Twist as an Enforcer, as a fighter, and as a person?

He's a great person, as most of the tough guys are great guys, and Tony just so happens to be one of them too. In his days in St. Louis, he was one of the toughest guys out there. He did destroy a couple guys (Laughs) when I was playing with him, but I respected him. He knew what his game was. Sometimes other tough guys think they're better hockey players than they really are, but Twist knew exactly why he was in the NHL, and he was doing it every night. He knew he had to do it, and he did it, and I respect Twist a lot because he had a career by doing exactly what they wanted him to do. He didn't try to change his game, he did exactly what they asked him.

In your first couple of seasons in the National Hockey League, your role as a hockey player was more of a "Pest", and not an Enforcer. When you think back, how did you develop the skill you currently have as a fighter?

I think it's more of when you're running around being a pest, you have to start backing it up sooner or later. I didn't have to the first couple of years because I had Twister, and I even had Matt Johnson and Steve McKenna in my first couple years in LA. Especially in today's game, you don't see as many tough guys around like in the past, so you have to start defending yourself. I think that's why I had more fighting majors in my years after St. Louis, because I didn't have as much meat beside me (Laughs).

At any point did you do any boxing or get any advice from any of the tough guys you've had as teammates?

Yeah, I've gotten advice from Twister, and he's given me some pointers before fights and stuff like that. You always train, even in the summer during the off-season, I do Ti-kwan-do to be a little bit stronger. You just have to take advice and go out there and do the best you can.

On February 22nd 1996, you fought Donald Brashear. With Donald being widely considered one of the top heavyweights in the NHL today - what was it like to fight him?

It wasn't much of a fight. It was more of like him jumped me from behind and knocked me out. That was pretty much it. It was a line brawl, and everything was going okay, and then Donald came from behind and hit me and knocked me out.

On March 14th, 1996 you were involved in a trade between New York and Los Angeles that included the likes of Marty McSorley and Shane Churla, both of whom were established NHL tough guys. At the time, what did it mean to you to be traded for players like Churla and McSorley?

At the time it didn't really mean much who I got traded for, it just put my career back on track, for I was going nowhere with the Rangers. During my time there they barely played me, and I wasn't really happy because when you don't play much, you're not happy. New York traded me to a young team, in the LA Kings, and they were in rebuilding mode at that point. There was even a guy already there that I had played with in St. Louis, and I think it was a great shift to my career. After that my career really got going in LA, and I felt like I was apart of something. I think it was a good move for me, I didn't ask to get traded; they just traded me, so I was pretty happy about that (Laughs).

In terms of playing physical and dropping the gloves, how much of a void did you feel you had to fill when you essentially replaced Churla and McSorley on the LA Kings?

At the time we still had Matt Johnson and a couple of other guys, so I just had to fill in when those guys left. You're on a young team, and you want to prove to your coach that you can do pretty much everything, and that's pretty much what I did. When I had a chance to fight a Middleweight, I took advantage of it to prove myself to everybody else that I could do something productive for my team, so I took advantage of every chance I could.

Between the 1998 season through the 1999 season, you went from having 17 total fighting majors, to having 25, which led the league that year. During that 1999-2000 season, what was it like for you to have even more responsibility as a player?

That's the year that Matt Johnson and all of those guys left, so I had to really pick up the fighting. At the time I was also a little bit older, and I felt like I had to do more for my teammates every chance I had. When you start fighting, every other tough guy on the other team circles your name before a game, and if they need to get a fight going, they'll come after you. That's out of proportion how I got all those fighting majors, and I haven't came near that since then. Some guys wanted to prove themselves that year, some guys needed to do something for their team, and that's why I had all those fighting majors that season.

Considering that you had players like Twist and Matt Johnson as teammates, how did you feel once you were in charge of enforcing?

I'm not that big, that's the thing. I'm only around 200 pounds (Laughs). Also there's some nights that you don't feel that good, and I'm one of those guys who'll never deny that when there is a tough guy on the other team, you do get scared and you worry! You have to watch your back while you're on the ice, because when you don't have 2 tough guys beside you, the guys who've been waiting for those tough guys to leave can come after you! That's why it gets nerve racking for me sometimes and that's why I think that season was pretty stressful.

Do you think you changed the way you played compared to your first 5 season in the NHL?

Yeah, as you get older you get smarter, and you no longer fight for no reason. Of course I'll get my share of fighting majors every year, it's just for different reasons like if one of your best player is getting roughed up or that your team needs some motivation. You have to pick your fights, and at the beginning of my career, that's one thing that I didn't do, I would fight and fight and that's not always good. I have more responsibility in Colorado now, I'm playing a little more, and sometimes the coach doesn't want you to fight because he feels you can do something else on the ice.

During part of the 2003-04 season, you were involved in the NHL produced "Honor & Courage - Tough Guys of the NHL", a documentary about hockey enforcer. For you, what was it like to be involved in such a project?

It was a great experience, but I felt out of place, for all of those guys were heavyweights (Laughs) like Cairns, McCarty, McKenzie, and all of those big guys! Personally I don't feel like I'm in the same category, but somebody did obviously. I watched the DVD a couple of times, and I really liked the way they did it, and the purpose behind fighting is exactly the purpose of the DVD. It explains to people that it's not only fighting, but that there's a reason behind it, and sometimes people forget about that. Sometimes people want you to fight just to fight, and that's not the purpose behind fighting in hockey. I know it's tough to understand sometimes, but I know the DVD does a great job of explaining it.

In your opinion, what did it mean to have that kind of recognition for all the hard work you put in during your career?

Every time they ask me to do something, they talk to you about being courageous, and as a player, that's always an honor. When they approached me about being apart of it, along with the way they came out with it, it was really nice and I was really flattered by the way it came out on DVD.

After leaving Los Angeles, where you had been one of its most popular players with the fans, how did you feel you were embraced by the Avalanche's organization and fan base?

Well I became a free agent right before the lockout, and I decided to go to Colorado for different reasons, and I went there, and you know what, I loved it right away! I immediately fell in love with the city, with the fans, and with everything. It's great to play for Colorado, for they like players like me, and they respect great guys who work hard, and that's all they ask for. That's what I try to bring every night, and I had a great first season there, although I had a great time in LA too. It was a great town, and they had great fans, and I had a wonderful time there, but I left for different reasons. It's too bad I left like that, but it was a new chapter in my career.

When going from living near sunny Hollywood, California to the Rocky Mountains of Denver, Colorado - what was it like for you?

I think it was great timing for me and my family. I have 2 kids, and living by the beach in LA was great, and we had a great time there, but I think Colorado is more family orientated. In Colorado, you can do a lot of family stuff outside like going skiing, and stuff like that. I think it was great for this time in my life, and it was a great time for my family.

For you, how much of an adjustment was the weather in Denver?

The cold weather is not that bad (Laughs), for it's really not that cold in Colorado. People think it's like Quebec, but it's not even close. In Colorado, you have 70 and 80 degree days in February, but the next day you get a snow storm. It was very easy to adjust, and it's a great climate.

During last year's season with the Colorado Avalanche, you had a breakout year, and set career highs in goals, and in point production. In your opinion, how was last year's season with Colorado different than the great years you had with the LA Kings?

It was a different everything for me. The system was different, what they asked me to do was different, and the rule change was also very different. I'm not the first one that fell in with the rule changes, but it did help me, it helped everybody, and I think all of those rule changes were great for the game. I took advantage of the new rules, and that's why I had my best season.

In particular, what do you attribute to the major increase you had in offensive production?

I think the system and new rules all added up, and I think that's why my numbers were better this year. With Joel Quenneville, it's a little big more on the offensive side of it, and with Andy Murray, it was more like defense first. In Colorado, they want you to play defense, but you get a little bit more freedom on the offensive side of the game.

Along with contributing offensively last season, you also allowed the Avalanche have one of the best penalty kills in the NHL, with the help of players like Dan Hinote, Antti Laaksonen and Karlis Skrastins. In your opinion, why do you feel the PK was so good last season?

I don't know, it starts with the goalie, and goes up, especially when we had guys like Rob Blake. In my mind, your best penalty killers are goalies, and so are your defensemen. I think our defense is great, and I think that was the reason why our penalty kill was so good last season.

Over this off-season for Colorado, the Avalanche suffered a huge blow, in the loss of Dan Hinote to free agency. For the time that you and Danny were teammates, what was the chemistry like between you two on and off the ice?

Danny was one of the ultimate teammates I've played with because he's all about the team. I think St. Louis got a great guy, and everybody loved him, and he's also going to be missed on the ice and off the ice. Guys like that don't show up a lot on the scoring sheet, but he's just a great guy to have around. He's one of the best on the penalty kill, and he's going to be missed big time.

When considering how important of a role player Dan Hinote was to the team, do you feel you'll have to step up even more in terms of playing the body, battling along the boards, and working hard while shorthanded?

Yeah, that's one of things Danny brought to our team - he was real physical, so we're going to have to pick it up this season. It's not easy to do what he did for the team, and it will take more than one guy to fill that void, and everybody is going to have to chip in.

While we're on the subject of off-season transactions, what were your thoughts on Alex Tanguay being traded to Calgary?

It's surprising for sure getting rid of a skill player like that. It was a big trade for us to get rid of a guy like Alex Tanguay who got 80 points for us last year. Again, I think it's the new cap era type trade because he was going to make too much money for our team, and that's the way it goes with the cap. Personally I think we have really good defensemen, and even though Leopold is injured right now, when he comes back he is going to help us out for sure.

In your opinion, how much of a blow will the loss of Tanguay be to Colorado's offense?

Everybody is going to have to step up their offensive game for sure, because like I said, he brought so much offense to our team. When you lose a guy like that, you need everybody to bring their game up, and be a little big more creative offensively, because one thing he brought to our team was the offensive smartness. He was so smart with the puck, and everybody is going to have to chip in now that he's gone.

One of better stories of last season for Colorado - besides your offensive explosion, was the emergence of Rookie scorer, Marek Svatos. For you, what were your thoughts on the year Marek had last season?

Marek is a hell of a player, and they didn't know who he was before this season, he had a great year up until the point of his injury. As a hockey player Marek's very spectacular, and that's the new NHL. The National Hockey League wanted to have great goals, and that's what Marek brought all year. He's only 23 years old right now, but he has the work ethic that goes with it. I think he's going to have a long career in this league and hopefully he will score a lot more goals for us.

One of the better storylines during last season was the feud that you and Sean Avery had while on the ice. During the 6 games you played against the Kings, you tried many times to get Avery to drop the gloves, but he skated away each time. Considering the kind of player and person Sean is, were you surprised that he'd turn you down so many times?

Yeah, I was surprised, but to call him an enforcer, that rubs me the wrong way (Laughs). Sean Avery is a hockey player, I'll give him that. He will fight, and he'll back it up, but I don't think he's an enforcer. He is just a little guy who can fight if he has to, and I really don't know. Never make fun of him, for everyone knows, it's not a big secret, even when I played with him. Sean Avery is Sean Avery, and I'm just glad he's not my problem anymore, and that I'm not playing with him anymore.

Now that Dan Hinote is with a different team, do you think Avery will finally take you on this upcoming season?

I really don't know. I mean I chased him around all of last year, and he didn't want to fight. He's unpredictable, you don't know what Sean's going to do, and I don't even think that he knows. When you play against him, you have to watch your back, because that's one thing he'll do. Sean turned me down all year last year, but this year he might try to catch me by surprise and drop his gloves. That's one thing you have to do is be smart and make sure you know when he's out there.

Seeing that Sean's only other option will be dropping the gloves with you - do you think there's a better chance of him fighting Brad May?

No, I don't think so. (Laugh) If he doesn't want to touch me, trust me, he won't touch Brad May. To me, Brad May is one of the toughest guys I've ever played with, and I don't think Sean is going to come close to touching Brad.

While we're on the subject of Brad May - what did you think of the reaction Brad May got initially from his new teammates on Colorado?

He's a great teammate, a great guy, and he was the one I sat beside on the bench all year. To me, Brad's one of the funniest guys I've played with, and he's all about the team. Unfortunately he was apart of what happened in Vancouver in the incident with Bertuzzi, but Brad really didn't have anything to do with it, and everybody forgot about it pretty quick and welcomed him as a teammate.

In your opinion, what was the atmosphere like in the locker room, and at any point was there ever any tension that you noticed?

Never, never, never, never. Actually nobody mentioned anything, and we never really talked about what happened in 2003-04. Brad was not really apart of what happened, that's the thing. Thank god he didn't throw the punch. He didn't though, so everybody forgot about the incident.

Now that you look back on your final season with the LA Kings in 2003-04, do you think you protected Sean Avery more times than you should have?

Eh, I don't think so. Sean is a pretty tough little guy, and he didn't need much protection. Nevertheless, I had to do a little bit more fighting than I should because I was playing with him, but to protect him I don't think so. He fought his battle during that season, and that's one thing he can do.

During last season, fighting was down around 30% compared to the 2003-04 season. In your opinion, how did you feel about the new rules that heavily decreased fighting and physical play in the NHL last season?

The reason I think its down that much is because the goons who can't play aren't out there anymore, and that's the new thing in the NHL; if you can't play, you won't be able to play. Good fighting and fighting for a reason with a purpose behind it (Laughs), it's always going to be there, and it needs to be there to make sure everyone is honest, and that's why you need fighting in hockey just to make sure everybody keeps on a straight line.

In your opinion, do you think we will see more fighting and physical play this upcoming season compared to last season?

I think it's going to be pretty much the same, as like I said, if you can't play, you won't play, and that's what I like about the new NHL. You no longer have a meathead on the other team who is just there to cause trouble. Of course you'll have guys who're really tough, know how to play, and won't hurt their team while they're out there.

Its no secret, you do a lot of talking while out on ice. Who would you say has been the player that you've gotten under the skin of the most during career?

I don't know, there's a couple (Laughs), I really don't know though. Sometimes I think I get under a guy's skin, and I don't, and sometimes it's the opposite. I don't have a specific name that comes to mind, but there has been a few.

Do you any favorite or more effective methods to get star players off their game?

Not really, I just talk about everything I can, everything except personal stuff. If I were on the ice, I would laugh about somebody's game, or I'd laugh about the play the guy just made. The one thing I will never do is go personal like Sean would do. Avery will do that while on the ice, but that's one line I don't want to cross. I won't cross that line, and I always just talk about hockey to a guy, and I'll try to under their skin.

In the future, what do you see yourself doing, and would you ever consider coaching?

I'd like to give a shot at coaching for sure, it's one thing I'd like to do to stay involved in hockey. That's one thing I see myself doing is working with the young guys, and I think being a coach would be great, but we'll have to see where the future is going to take me.

I would like to thank Ian Laperriere for taking the time to do this interview.