Coachella Valley Firebirds Re-Sign Goaltender To AHL Contract

The Seattle Kraken's AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, have re-signed goaltender Jack LaFontaine to an AHL contract.

The 26-year-old played just three games with the Firebirds last season recording a .919SV% and 2.30GAA. His time in the ECHL with the Kansas City Mavericks saw him post a .911SV% and 2.77GAA in 23 games.

Chris Dreidger and Ales Stezka made the bulk of the starts for the Firebirds last season but with Dreidger off to the Florida Panthers, LaFontaine should be able to carve out a larger role and play more minutes.

The former University of Michigan and University of Minnesota goaltender made two starts in the NHL during the 2021-22 season with the Carolina Hurricanes. In four years, he's played 21 games posting a .898SV% and a 2.72GAA. Before making his NHL debut, LaFontaine earned the award for the NCAA’s Top Collegiate Goalie (Mike Richter Award), a finalist spot for the Hobey Baker Award (NCAA Top Collegiate Hockey Player) and was named an NCAA (West) First-Team All-American.

The Mississauga, Ontario native has posted better career numbers in the ECHL to date, registering a .904SV% and a 3.18GAA.

More starts in the AHL and a guaranteed role should help LaFontaine post consistent numbers and help the Firebirds squad.

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