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Bruce Scoop Cooper on the Passing of Mark Lafforrest |
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RIP TO FORMER FLYER GOALIE MARK “TREES” LAFOREST PASSING UNEXPECTEDLY AT JUST 62.
Special Article from the Flyers #1 Historian, Bruce “Scoop” Cooper…
One of the most colorful hockey targets I ever knew in my half century career in pro hockey media and broadcasting — and there were lots of those!! I took this picture of him at the Flyers-Rangers Alumni Game at the 2012 NHL Winter Classic week at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Well known for his often highly unorthodox style (if it could actually call it a “style” at all), I remember watching Trees play a game for the Binghamton Rangers against the Bears in Hershey in 1992. The next night in Philadelphia, the Flyers were playing the New York Rangers and Neil Smith, then the Rangers President/GM and an old friend, asked me how he played the night before. I told him “Trees was great — he made 32 saves three of which actually appeared to be intentional.” We both smiled and had a good laugh about that.
Mark Laforest, a former NHL goalie, passed away on April 1st at the age of 62. He played 103 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators between 1985 and 1994. Laforest won the Calder Cup of the American Hockey League in 1986 and twice won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL's top goalie in 1987 and 1991.
Laforest went undrafted by teams in the National Hockey League and became a free agent. He signed a multi-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings in May 1983 and was assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate. 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 of 4.95 and a save percentage of .846. Laforest returned to Adirondack and backstopped them to the playoffs, winning the 1986 Calder Cup championship. He signed a new contract with Detroit in the offseason.
With his trade to the Flyers, Laforest was expected to compete for the backup job behind Ron Hextall. However, Hextall was suspended for eight games to start the season and Laforest became the opening night goaltender for the Flyers. In his first game on October 8, 1987, he registered a 2–2 tie with the Montreal Canadiens. Laforest earned his first win with the Flyers in the next game on October 10, a 5–4 victory over the Minnesota North Stars.[15] He collected his first shutout with the Flyers and the team's first shutout of the season in a 6–0 win over the Winnipeg Jets on March 26, 1988. He spent the majority of the 1987–88 season with the Flyers. Laforest was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 8, 1989 for a fifth and a seventh round draft choice in the 1991 NHL entry draft.
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.
During his career in the NHL he played for the following organizations:
Detroit Red Wings
Philadelphia Flyers
Toronto Maple Leafs
Ottawa Senators
Condolences to his family and friends and may he Rest in Peace.
Sourced from Wikipedia and several social media posts.
Special thanks again to Brian Macdonald for his notification of Laforest's passing.
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