The University of Minnesota is suddenly in need of a new starting goaltender.
Fifth-year netminder and team tri-captain Jack LaFontaine chose to leave the Golden Gophers and sign a one-year, entry-level contract Sunday with the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, who drafted him 75th overall in 2016. The 6-foot-3 LaFontaine, from Mississauga, Ontario, has been assigned to Carolina's taxi squad but could be fast-tracked to playing for the Hurricanes due to injury woes in Carolina's goaltending depth, which was believed to be the impetus for his signing halfway through the NCAA season. According to NHL.com, LaFontaine's one-year entry-level contact is worth $750,000 at the NHL level, and $70,000 at the American Hockey League level, through the end of the 2021-22 season.
The winner of last year's Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in NCAA Division I men's hockey, and a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as best overall player, LaFontaine, posted a 22-7-0 record in 2020-21 for Minnesota to go with a 1.79 goals-against average and five shutouts in 29 appearances. He also led Minnesota to the Big Ten tournament title and an NCAA tournament berth, and was named Big Ten postseason MVP and First Team All-America.
LaFontaine, 24, began his collegiate career with the University of Michigan from 2016-18, where he went 5-11-1 in 22 games from 2016 to 2018 with the Wolverines. He played the 2018-19 campaign with Penticton (BCHL), where he went 30-13-1 with a 2.19 GAA in 45 regular-season games before joining Minnesota the following fall.
LaFontaine made his final NCAA appearance with 21 saves in Saturday's 6-3 win at Michigan State, one day after he made 24 stops in a 4-1 win at MSU. In 96 career NCAA contests, he finished 48-35-7 overall with a 2.52 GAA and five shutouts, including a 12-8-0 mark in 20 games this season for the ninth-ranked Golden Gophers.
The only other goalie to see action so far this season for Minnesota has been junior Justen Close, who has played all of 28 minutes. He has six career NCAA appearances with no decisions in just under three seasons. Also on this year's Minnesota roster is freshman netminder Brennan Boynton, who has yet to make his collegiate debut.
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