Photo by: Greg Anderson
LaBate to make NHL debut on Wednesday
November 23, 2016 | Men's Hockey
Former UW forward will become 81st Badger to play in the NHL
MADISON, Wis.—Former UW assistant captain Joseph LaBate is slated to make his NHL debut Wednesday night after being recalled by the Vancouver Canucks from their AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.
LaBate, who played at Wisconsin from 2011-15, was drafted in the fourth round by the Canucks in the 2011 NHL entry draft and has spent the past two-plus seasons playing for the Comets. In that time span, he has played 80 games while scoring 12 goals and adding 14 assists.
While at UW, the Eagan, Minnesota native skated in 150 games, scoring 31 goals while gaining an additional 52 assists. LaBate was on two teams that appeared in the NCAA tournament in 2013 and 2014, helping the Badgers capture the 2013 WCHA Final Five and the inaugural Big Ten tournament in 2014.
The left-winger joins the Canucks as they begin a three-game road trip in Arizona against the Coyotes. Following the game against Arizona, Vancouver will travel to Dallas for a game on Friday and then finish up the road trip in Colorado on Saturday. LaBate will join another former Badger on the Canucks roster, Jack Skille, who played for the Badgers from 2005-07.
Prior to this season, Vancouver was one of two NHL franchises that a Badger had never skated for.
???????LaBate will become the 81st former Badger to play in the NHL and will be the first UW skater to make his professional debut since Michael Mersch debuted for the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 11, 2015. LaBate will also become the 16th player from UW to skate in the NHL this season.
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LaBate, who played at Wisconsin from 2011-15, was drafted in the fourth round by the Canucks in the 2011 NHL entry draft and has spent the past two-plus seasons playing for the Comets. In that time span, he has played 80 games while scoring 12 goals and adding 14 assists.
While at UW, the Eagan, Minnesota native skated in 150 games, scoring 31 goals while gaining an additional 52 assists. LaBate was on two teams that appeared in the NCAA tournament in 2013 and 2014, helping the Badgers capture the 2013 WCHA Final Five and the inaugural Big Ten tournament in 2014.
The left-winger joins the Canucks as they begin a three-game road trip in Arizona against the Coyotes. Following the game against Arizona, Vancouver will travel to Dallas for a game on Friday and then finish up the road trip in Colorado on Saturday. LaBate will join another former Badger on the Canucks roster, Jack Skille, who played for the Badgers from 2005-07.
Prior to this season, Vancouver was one of two NHL franchises that a Badger had never skated for.
???????LaBate will become the 81st former Badger to play in the NHL and will be the first UW skater to make his professional debut since Michael Mersch debuted for the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 11, 2015. LaBate will also become the 16th player from UW to skate in the NHL this season.
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