‘It is an incredibly sad day, Jason leaves so many friends and so many hockey memories’
A former NHLer who grew up in the Mattawa area has passed away.
The NHL Alumni Association announced that Jason Lafreniere passed away in his home in Vancouver.
The super-talented centre played 161 NHL games for Quebec, New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring 35 goals and 93 points.
“Jason proudly shared that his father, Roger Lafrenière (d. 2009), who also played in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues, taught him everything he needed to know about being a hockey player. We send our deepest condolences to Jason’s family, friends, and former teammates during this incredibly difficult time,” the NHL Alumni Association stated on social media on Tuesday.
Lafreniere was a top offensive player in junior hockey with the Belleville Bulls before being drafted 36th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1985. He played parts of Aside from parts of five seasons in the NHL, Lafreniere also played in various minor leagues and in Europe, winning a championship with the Sheffield Steelers in 1997.
“It is an incredibly sad day, Jason leaves so many friends and so many hockey memories, that day in Manchester will live with me, and I am sure all Steelers fans,’ said Lafreniere’s teammate and former Sheffield Steelers captain Rob Wilson. who now coaches the Peterborough Petes.
“That day Jason said, ‘Jump on my back and let’s win a championship.’”
Lafreniere also played for the Canadian National Team during the 1990-91 season.