Russell LaForest is Squamish's newest millionaire - Millionaire, actually.
The Quesnel Millionaires of the B.C. Hockey League (BCHL) picked up LaForest from Squamish last season and the team is thankful for his presence on the roster this season.
LaForest, 18, has two goals and two assists just six games into the season. The big forward found the back of the net just once in 33 games played last season.
Millionaires coach Brian Kozak said the 2005 stats on LaForest don't tell the whole story as the young hockey player scored a third goal against the Chilliwack Chiefs last Saturday (Sept. 24) but the goal was disallowed because a fight started at the same time LaForest was beating the opposing goal tender and sliding the puck into an open net.
Kozak said he thought the goal should have been allowed but the referee ruled the whistle blew because of the fight before the puck went into the net.
Kozak said LaForest is off to a great start and he's impressed with LaForest, because of the fact that the young star is one of the younger players on the Millionaires' roster.
"Russell is pretty much an all around player," said Kozak. "What we are looking for in Russell is a consistency in his game."
The Millionaires picked LaForest up from a Junior B team from Grand Forks. A scout reported LaForest was highly skilled and was ready to play with a more competitive team. Kozak decided to scoop up LaForest based on the scouting report.
"He has the ability to play at the college level or university level," said Kozak.
LaForest is working toward getting into post secondary school on a hockey scholarship, according to his father.
Paul LaForest said his son left home at 16 to establish a hockey career.
The move from Squamish has meant three different schools in three years, but despite all the moving around, LaForest graduated from Howe Sound Secondary School in June. He is now picking up extra high school courses in Quesnel.
The six foot three inch (2.13 metres), 185 lbs. (83.9 kilograms) lefty is going to see his parents Sunday (Oct. 2) when the Millionaires roll into Burnaby for a [email protected]
