Jason LaBarbera

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size= 250px
team=Los Angeles Kings
league = NHL
former_teams = New York Rangers
position = Goaltender
catches = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 230
nickname = Barbs
nationality = CAN
birth_date = birth date and age|1980|1|18
birth_place = Burnaby, BC
draft = 66th overall
draft_year = 1998
draft_team = New York Rangers
career_start = 2001

Jason LaBarbera (born January 18, 1980 in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada) is a professional ice hockey goaltender for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. He was drafted by the New York Rangers in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He was the chosen 66th overall in the 3rd round following a standout junior career with the Portland Winter Hawks.

Playing career

Jason, whose real first name is Antonio, saw his first NHL action with the New York Rangers in relief of Kirk McLean (his childhood hero) in the 2000–01 NHL season, with two saves in 10 minutes of play in an 8–6 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 2003–04 season brought a bit more playing time for LaBarbera with the New York Rangers. LaBarbera, in the midst of a spectacular season with the Rangers' AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack, was called up to the Rangers. He played in four games that season, playing to a record of 1–2–0 with a 4.85 GAA and a .824 save percentage. His lone NHL victory that season was a 3–2 win over the Washington Capitals on March 5, 2004.

Despite his award-winning performance with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL, the Rangers did not sign LaBarbera to a contract for the 2005–06 season, likely due to the highly-touted Ranger draft picks, goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist and Al Montoya. The Los Angeles Kings quickly inked the netminder prior to the start of the season.

LaBarbera's first full season in the NHL was spent backing up Kings starting goalie Mathieu Garon. He got off to a quick start with the Kings, going undefeated in his first seven starts. LaBarbera earned his first NHL shutout on April 17, 2006, blanking the San Jose Sharks in a 4–0 victory.

In 2006, LaBarbera played for the Kings' minor league affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs. Although there have been injuries to Kings goalies Mathieu Garon and Dan Cloutier during the 2006–07 season, the Kings were hesitant to call LaBarbera up because he does not have a two-way contract, therefore requiring him to clear waivers in order to be called up and sent back down and making it likely that he would be claimed by another team before he could clear and return to Los Angeles.

On July 3, 2007, LaBarbera signed a 2-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings. He is currently the starting goaltender for the Kings.

Awards

* WHL - All-Star team (1999–00)
* AHL - All-Star First Team (2003–04, 2006–07)
* AHL - Baz Bastien Award - Top Goaltender (2003–04, 2006–07)
* AHL - Les Cunningham Award - MVP (2003–04)
* AHL - Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Trophy - Fewest team goals against (2004–05, 2006–07)

Records

* AHL - Most shutouts in one season - 13 (2003–04)

External links

*hockeydb|29212

ee also

* List of NHL players
* List of Los Angeles Kings players