Ian Laperriere Visit


TEAM SPIRIT

Ian Laperriere appeared at the Avs' practice facility in Englewood with a team called Colorado Special Hockey, a team made up of developmentally disabled children and adults.

While not all of the players were aware Laperriere was a professional athlete, he treated them all the same, skating hard with the older ones, taking it slow and easy with the others.

A few times kids got distracted or discouraged and lay on the ice, which quickly got the attention of Laperriere, who raced over, offered encouragement and got them skating again. He also took time to talk with kids who weren't skating and spent about 45 minutes signing autographs and posing for photos with the more than 40 players and their families, his chatter and wide smile making everyone feel comfortable.

"You just get here and it doesn't take too much to get going," Laperriere said. "Especially this time of the year, with Christmas around the corner and it's holiday time, you're in the spirit to make a difference in a kid's life and we get to do that."

Ian Laperriere with Goalie Sara Stephenson