Companions in Courage (27 page)

A
merican-born P
AT
LAF
ONTAINE
has enjoyed success at every level of hockey, competing brilliantly not only in the National Hockey League but on the international
stage as well.

Named as both the regular-season and playoff MVP with Verdun of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the quick-handed center
was then selected third overall in the 1983 NHL entry draft by the New York Islanders. He spent the first part of the 1983–84
season playing for the United States national team and was the club’s leading scorer at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics.

In 1989–90, Pat became only the third Islanders player (Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier were the others) to score fifty goals
in a season. He finished with fifty-four.

Traded to Buffalo on October 25, 1991, Pat quickly established himself as a leader. He wore the captain’s C for the club from
1992 to 1997, and for the 1994–95 season won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which honors perseverance and dedication
to the sport. It was in Buffalo that he began the tireless work with children and charities that led to the creation of Companions
in Courage.

Pat finished his NHL career with the New York Rangers (1997–98) and again played for the U.S. Olympic team, this time in Nagano,
Japan, in 1998.

Pat always enjoyed international competition. He played on the American team that defeated Canada in the World Cup of Hockey
in 1996 and also on the 1989 team at the World Championships. He also played on two Canada Cup teams (1987 and 1991).

On September 22, 2000, Pat was honored with the Patriots Award, given by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.