By Mason Lyttle
JANESVILLE, WI – Jets goaltender Jack LaFontaine became the first Jet to ever be selected in the NHL Draft on Saturday morning in Buffalo when the Carolina Hurricanes picked him 75th overall. The 6’2” Canadian goaltender finished 13th on NHL Central Scouting’s list of North American goalies, and adds to the promising wealth of goaltending prospects in Carolina’s system.
LaFontaine was outstanding in his first and only season in the North American Hockey League, posting a .921 save percentage with a 2.16 goals against average (GAA) in 41 regular season games. He sharpened his play in the Robertson Cup Playoffs, improving both his save percentage to .926 and his GAA to 1.89, despite losing a hard-fought series to the Minnesota Wilderness. LaFontaine was named to the NAHL Selects team in February’s Top Prospects Tournament, where he won his only start, stopping 30 of 32 pucks.
His Janesville teammates recognized him with the team’s Rookie of the Year Award at the awards banquet in April. Last year’s winner, Wisconsin Badgers goaltender Matt Jurusik, is also on NHL Central Scouting’s watch list.
A product of the Don Mills Flyers of the Greater Toronto Midget program, LaFontaine came to Janesville after a season with the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, where he played in 30 games to a .923 save percentage.
More to come.
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