Jerry Lafond

Last updated
Jerry Lafond
Born August 21, 1944
Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada
Died April 23, 2022
Dawson Creek, BC
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defenseman
Played for North Dakota
Providence Reds
Denver Spurs
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 19641971

Jerry Lafond is a Canadian retired ice hockey defenseman who was an All-American for North Dakota. [1]

Contents

Career

Lafond began his tenure with the varsity team at North Dakota in 1964. In his first season with the program Lafond scored 14 points and helped the Fighting Sioux jump from 5th place to 1st in the WCHA and finish as runner-up for the conference championship. The team received the second western seed and finished third in the NCAA Tournament. UND declined a bit the following year, posting a 13–9 mark in conference play and tied for second place. During the season Lafond became the first defenseman in program history to record a hat-trick, which he did on November 27. [2] North Dakota escaped an unenviable draw in the conference first round and pushed a tough Denver team into overtime, but lost the match 3–4.

Lafond was named team co-captain for his senior season and the Fighting Sioux ended atop the WCHA once again. Lafond was named to both the All-WCHA First Team and the All-American team. With the team being the lowest-scoring team in the conference (106 goals in 29 games), North Dakota was highly dependent on Lafond and the defensive corps holding opposing attackers at bay. After winning both games in the WCHA Tournament North Dakota won its first ever conference championship, sharing the crown with Michigan State. UND was placed opposite ECAC Hockey champion Cornell and the offensive troubles continued, UND was unable to score a single goal on Ken Dryden and, despite a valiant effort by Lafond et al., the single goal North Dakota allowed was one too many. The team finished the tournament in fourth place after a dismal effort against MSU.

Lafond continued his playing career after graduating and moved east. He played two seasons as a professional with the Providence Reds, then two more seasons as an amateur, first with the Denver Spurs and then in his home town with the Dawson Creek Canucks.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

  Regular Season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1964–65 North Dakota WCHA 331131420
1965–66 North Dakota WCHA 28712190
1966–67 North Dakota WCHA 295101526
1967–68 Providence Reds AHL 56023232480112
1968–69 Providence Reds AHL 60110111490002
1969–70 Denver Spurs WHL 718142226
1970–71Dawson Creek CanucksCarHL
NCAA Totals9013354846
AHL Totals1161333438170114

Awards and honors

AwardYear
All-WCHA First Team 1966–67 [3]
AHCA West All-American 1966–67 [1]

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William R. Steenson was a Canadian ice hockey defenseman who captained North Dakota to the program's first National Championship in 1959.

Reginald P. Morelli was a Canadian ice hockey player who played center and was awarded the Most Outstanding Player of the 1959 NCAA Tournament.

Alan McLean is a Canadian retired ice hockey Center who was an All-American for North Dakota and was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1963 NCAA Tournament.

David Merrifield is a Canadian retired ice hockey Center who was an All-American for North Dakota and helped the team win the 1963 NCAA Tournament.

Robert Munro is a Canadian retired ice hockey centre and coach who was a two-time All-American for North Dakota.

David Hoogsteen is a Canadian retired ice hockey coach and center who was an All-American for North Dakota.

Jay Panzer is an American former ice hockey defenseman who was an All-American for North Dakota.

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References

  1. 1 2 "1966-1967 All-American Team". The American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  2. "North Dakota men's ice hockey 2018-19 Media Guide" (PDF). North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  3. "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.