The Coachella Valley Firebirds Thursday announced the signing of goaltender Jack LaFontaine for the 2024-25 season.
The Firebirds, the Seattle Kraken’s American Hockey League affiliate, featured the 26-year-old
LaFontaine, 26, had a 2-0-0 record, 2.30 goals against average and .919 save percentage in three games with the Firebirds last season. He spent most of the season with the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks, where he was 16-3-3, with a 2.77 goals against average and .938 save percentage.
LaFontaine was selected in the third round of the 2016 NHL draft, the 75th overall pick, by the Carolina Hurricanes. LaFontaine signed with the Hurricanes on Jan. 9, 2022, turning pro in the middle of the college hockey season with the University of Minnesota. He made his professional debut four days later, allowing two goals and making one save in a 6-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
In LaFontaine’s next game with the Hurricanes, he allowed seven goals and made 31 saves in a 7-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils Jan. 22, 2022. He has not played in the NHL since then.
LaFontaine received the Mike Richter Award as college hockey’s best goaltender in the 2020-21 season with the Golden Gophers, when had a 22-7-0 record and 1.79 goals against average.