Pat LaFontaine will be inducted into the New York Islanders Hall of Fame at UBS Arena, reflecting on his career highlights including the legendary Easter Epic. The St. Louis native, drafted by the Islanders in 1983, played nearly eight seasons with the team and became a key figure in their playoff runs. His induction honors his contributions on and off the ice as a player and humanitarian.
Pat LaFontaine's journey with the New York Islanders began in 1983 when the team selected him in the draft, launching a career that intertwined personal milestones with hockey excellence. Arriving as a 19-year-old alongside Patrick Flatley, LaFontaine joined a franchise fresh off four straight Stanley Cup championships, idolizing veterans like Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, and Bob Nystrom. "I felt very lucky that I was chosen by the Islanders," LaFontaine said in a recent interview. "It became so much a part of my life." He met his wife, Mary Beth, shortly after the 1984 Stanley Cup Finals and has resided in Suffolk County for 41 years, raising three children and now two grandchildren.
A standout moment came in Game 7 of the 1987 Patrick Division semifinals against the Washington Capitals, known as the Easter Epic on April 18, 1987, at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The Capitals led 2-1 in the third period until Trottier tied it at 14:37, exploiting a broken rivet on goalie Bob Mason's skate that left him off-balance. The game extended into four overtimes, with Islanders goaltender Kelly Hrudey making crucial saves amid 75 shots on goal for New York compared to 58 for Washington.
At 8:47 of the fourth overtime, LaFontaine scored the winner from the point, assisted by Ken Leiter and Gord Dineen, after a deflection off Rod Langway and a screen by Dale Henry. "I just shot it and said, 'Please just hit the net,'" LaFontaine recalled. The 3-2 victory propelled the Islanders past the Capitals, showcasing their resilience. Assistant trainer Jim Pickard had predicted the goal, squirting LaFontaine with water before his shift.
Beyond the ice, LaFontaine's Islander experience inspired his philanthropy. Influenced by teammates' community involvement, he founded the LaFontaine Foundation in Buffalo and later the Companions in Courage, building interactive game rooms in children's hospitals for over 25 years. "Life is truly about the assists," he said, crediting the sport for teaching service and purpose. The induction allows reflection on how the Islanders shaped his legacy as player, family man, and advocate.
