Al Iafrate

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
played_for = Toronto Maple Leafs
Washington Capitals
Boston Bruins
San Jose Sharks
position = Defense
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 240
shoots = Left
nationality = USA
birth_date = Birth date and age|1966|5|21|mf=y
birth_place = Dearborn, Michigan, USA
draft = 4th overall
draft_year = 1984
draft_team = Toronto Maple Leafs
career_start = 1984
career_end = 1998

Albert Anthony "Al" Iafrate (born 21 March, 1966 in Dearborn, Michigan) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League between 1984 and 1999. He is perhaps most famous for his rocket slap shot that set the NHL Skills Competition record at 105.2 MPH. He was given the nickname "the Planet" by Boston Globe sportswriter Kevin Dupont for his "all world" talent.

Iafrate was selected 4th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft after a standout career with the Detroit Compuware Spitfires and a short but distinguished stay with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League. During his time with the Spitfires, Iafrate was a teammate of fellow Detroit-area natives and future NHLers Kevin Hatcher and Shawn Chambers. Hatcher and Iafrate would later team to quarterback the Washington Capitals power play in the early 1990s.

He played 799 career NHL games, scoring 152 goals and 311 assists for 463 points. He also compiled 1301 penalty minutes. His best season statistically was the 1992–93 season, when he scored 25 goals and 41 assists for 66 points with the Washington Capitals. That year the Capitals set a record for most goals by defensemen on a team in one season.

Iafrate dealt with numerous injuries throughout his career, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, sciatic nerve damage in his back, and a ruptured appendix. These injuries ultimately led to his retirement at age 32. Iafrate attempted comebacks during the 1998-99 and 2001-02 seasons, although these comebacks ended during training camp.

Iafrate played for Team USA in the 1984 Winter Olympics at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

During his career, Iafrate also played for the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks.

External links

* [http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1984/84004.html Profile at hocketdraftcentral.com]
*hockeydb|2441
*legendsofhockey|10698