Jason LaBarbera is a former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on January 18, 1980, in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. LaBarbera began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Tri-City Americans in 1997. He played for the team for three seasons, during which he was named the WHL Goaltender of the Year in 1999 and 2000.
In 1998, LaBarbera was drafted by the New York Rangers in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Rangers in 2000, playing in one game. He spent the majority of his early career in the American Hockey League (AHL), playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Manitoba Moose. In 2005, LaBarbera was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, where he played for four seasons.
During his time with the Kings, LaBarbera established himself as a reliable backup goaltender. He played in a career-high 45 games during the 2007-08 season, posting a 17-23-2 record with a 3.00 goals against average (GAA) and a .910 save percentage. In 2008, LaBarbera signed a two-year contract extension with the Kings.
After his time with the Kings, LaBarbera played for several other NHL teams, including the Vancouver Canucks, Phoenix Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, and Anaheim Ducks. He also spent time in the AHL with the Portland Pirates and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
LaBarbera's best season in the NHL came in 2010-11, when he played for the Coyotes. He played in 17 games, posting a 7-6-3 record with a 2.54 GAA and a .912 save percentage. He also played in four playoff games that season, helping the Coyotes reach the Western Conference Finals.
In total, LaBarbera played in 187 NHL games, posting a record of 60-73-19 with a 2.86 GAA and a .907 save percentage. He also played in 20 playoff games, posting a record of 6-8 with a 2.84 GAA and a .910 save percentage.
After the 2014-15 season, LaBarbera announced his retirement from professional hockey. He then joined the Calgary Flames as a goaltending coach, where he worked with the team's prospects and helped develop their skills.
Throughout his career, LaBarbera was known for his size and athleticism in the net. He was also a respected teammate and leader, earning the AHL's Yanick Dupre Memorial Award in 2004 for his contributions to his community and his team.
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