Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

LaBarbera retires, joins Hitmen staff

During the latter part of his professional hockey career, journeyman goaltender Jason LaBarbera had thoughts about being a coach once his own playing days were done. His time of transition has arrived.
SPORT-LaBarbera-Hitmen.21.jpg

During the latter part of his professional hockey career, journeyman goaltender Jason LaBarbera had thoughts about being a coach once his own playing days were done.

His time of transition has arrived.

LaBarbera, a Prince George minor hockey product who played 16 pro seasons - including 12 in the NHL - was announced as the goaltending coach for the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen on Tuesday. He replaces Darcy Wakaluk, who followed former Calgary head coach Brent Kisio to the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

"(Coaching) was definitely in the back of my mind, for sure," LaBarbera said on the Hitmen website (hitmenhockey.com).

"I got to watch a lot of hockey games in my career, sitting on the bench," he added with a chuckle. "I got to play, obviously, with a lot of good goalies over the years. You're always looking for things here and there with the guys.... The challenging part for sure will be taking what I've learned and applying it onto the ice and into drills and into communicating and that sort of stuff. Really, the timing of it all just couldn't have been any better for me."

The 36-year-old LaBarbera has maintained a Calgary address for the past 13 years. His decision to retire came after a 2015-16 season that saw him appear in just 23 games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. LaBarbera, who was slowed by hip injuries, could have continued his career in Europe but told the Calgary Sun he didn't want to uproot his family - wife Kodette and sons Ryder and Easton.

"I played 16 years professionally, and having Calgary as my off-season home - it's been my new home I guess - and to be able to stay here and transition into (coaching) is exciting for me," LaBarbera said on hitmenhockey.com. "It's exciting that I can take some of the things I've learned over the years and try to translate into coaching and try and help the guys out as much as I possibly can."

In the NHL, LaBarbera stopped pucks for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Phoenix Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks. In 187 career regular-season games, he had a 62-73-0-20 record, a 2.85 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. Six of his wins were by shutout.

In the AHL, LaBarbera saw duty with the Hartford Wolf Pack, Manchester Monarchs, Oklahoma City Barons, Rockford IceHogs, Norfolk Admirals and the Phantoms. His AHL highlights included two top goaltender awards (2003-04 and 2006-07) and one MVP honour. LaBarbera was named most valuable player in 2003-04, a season in which he amassed a league-record 13 shutouts with the Wolf Pack.

LaBarbera has now come full circle, back to the WHL. He was originally property of the Tri-City Americans but played most of his major-junior career with the Portland Winter Hawks (1996-97 to 1999-2000). In his final WHL season, 1999-2000, he split his time between the Winter Hawks and Spokane Chiefs.

"It's nice coming right out of playing (and) going right into (coaching), even at the junior level," said LaBarbera, whose only other instructional gigs have been at summer hockey schools. "I played in the Western league too - I know it was a long time ago - but (I'll) be able to relate my experiences to what they're going through and be as honest as possible. I'm looking forward to meeting the guys and being around them. It's nice to be around a team structure again."

The Hitmen leaned on two goaltenders last season, Cody Porter and Nik Amundrud. Both are currently 18 years old.

The Hitmen are owned by the NHL's Calgary Flames.