Mark Andrew Laforest (July 10, 1962 - March 31, 2025) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. Throughout his career, he left a significant mark in both the American Hockey League (AHL) and the National Hockey League (NHL).
Early Career and AHL Success
Laforest went undrafted by NHL teams and became a free agent. In May 1983, he signed a multi-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings and was assigned to their AHL affiliate. He split the 1983-84 season between the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL and the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League (IHL), and the 1984-85 season between Adirondack and the Mohawk Valley Stars of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League.
He began the 1985-86 season with the team unsure of his development. However, Laforest had a strong training camp and earned a spot with Adirondack. Laforest took advantage of the opportunity, earning a record of 9-0-0 before being recalled by Detroit in relief of Greg Stefan.
Laforest starred for the AHL Red Wings with a record 26-8-2 in 37 games with a GAA of 2.83 and a save percentage of .911. For his play in the AHL, Laforest won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the league's best goaltender.
Laforest spent the majority of his 14-year professional career in the AHL, playing for the Adirondack Red Wings, Hershey Bears, Newmarket Saints, Binghamton Rangers, New Haven Senators and Prince Edward Island Senators. He also spent two seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals in the International Hockey League.
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Laforest posted a record of 149-116-26 in 306 career AHL appearances and won the league’s Aldege “Baz” Bastien Award twice, in 1986-87 and again in 1990-91.
Calder Cup Championship
Laforest was returned to Adirondack and backstopped them to the playoffs and winning the 1986 Calder Cup championship.
NHL Debut and Career
Laforest made his NHL debut on December 3, 1985, in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, saving 35 of 36 shots, letting only Dave Poulin score against him. He registered his first NHL shutout on January 28, 1986, stopping 26 shots in a 4-0 win over the Washington Capitals. He remained with Detroit until March, with a record of 4-21-0, a GAA 4.95 and a save percentage of .846.
He appeared in 103 NHL games over six seasons with the Red Wings, Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators. He finished his NHL career with a mark of 25-54-4 with a goals against average of 5.95 and a .805 save percentage.
Detroit Red Wings
That same offseason Detroit acquired Glen Hanlon from the New York Rangers to tend the goal alongside Stefan and Laforest returned to Adirondack for the 1986-87 season. He was recalled by Detroit and made his season debut in the NHL on January 24, 1987, in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues with Rob Ramage scoring two of the goals against him. Laforest earned his first NHL win of the season in his next game for Detroit on January 31, a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, with teammate Joe Kocur scoring twice in the third period. He played in five NHL games that season in total, going 2-1-0 with a GAA of 3.30 and a save percentage of .892.
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Philadelphia Flyers
With his trade to the Flyers, Laforest was expected to compete for the backup job behind Ron Hextall. However, Hextall had been suspended for eight games to start the season and Laforest became the opening night goaltender for the Flyers.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Upon joining the Maple Leafs, Laforest was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Newmarket Saints, at the beginning of the 1989-90 season. He was recalled by Toronto on October 21, 1989 and was used in a rotating three-goalie system alongside Allan Bester and Jeff Reese. He made his Maple Leafs debut that night against the Washington Capitals. He earned his first win in a Maple Leafs jersey, with two goals by Vincent Damphousse and Mark Osborne each in an 8-4 victory. Laforest gained notoriety with the Maple Leafs fans after he took part in a line brawl between his team and the New Jersey Devils on October 23.
NHL GOALIE FIGHTS /ALTERCATIONS 2014
Ottawa Senators
The Rangers sought to limit their exposure in the 1992 NHL expansion draft by making a side deal with the expansion Ottawa Senators. Only two players per team could be selected by the expansion teams and the Rangers sought to limit who they would lose by offering to trade two young players to the Senators for future considerations if the Senators selected Laforest. The Senators agreed, but after the draft began, the Rangers reneged and demanded a draft pick to seal the deal. The Senators refused, and the Rangers came with a counter-offer; for selecting Laforest the Rangers would offer only one of the two young players and the Rangers final draft pick in the 1992 NHL entry draft.
After being selected by the Senators, Laforest was traded back to the New York Rangers in exchange for Jody Hull. However, the Rangers were unwilling to accept Laforest's return and insisted the Senators keep him. The Senators assigned Laforest to their AHL affiliate, the New Haven Senators for the 1992-93 season where he shared the net with rookie goaltender Darrin Madeley. As New Haven was pushing to make the Calder Cup playoffs in their first year, the owner of New Haven, Peter Shipman, insisted that Laforest be the starting goaltender. However, New Haven failed to make the playoffs as they were eliminated by the Providence Bruins.
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For the 1993-94 season the New Haven team was relocated and became the Prince Edward Island Senators. Laforest was assigned there to start the season. He appeared in 43 games in the AHL with a record of 9-25-5, a GAA of 4.09 and a save percentage of .881. Laforest was recalled by Ottawa and made his NHL Senators debut on March 4, 1994, in relief of starter Craig Billington.
Later Career
Laforest played with the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL for the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons. In his second year, he set a personal best, appearing in 53 games that season. In his final season, Laforest played with the Utica Blizzard of the Colonial Hockey League.
Laforest's nickname was "Trees".
Achievements
| Achievement | Year |
|---|---|
| Calder Cup Champion | 1986 |
| Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award | 1987, 1991 |