Obit: Former Red Wings Goalie Laforest Dead at 62

The greatest legacy that former Detroit Red Wings goalie Mark Laforest might’ve left on the hockey world was one of the more clever nicknames in NHL history.

Laforest was simply known as Trees.

Laforest, who died Monday at the age of 62, was also known for his indomitable spirit. He refused to give up on the game, no matter how many teams chose to give up on him.

We are saddened to learn that former Leafs goalie Mark Laforest (affectionately known as “Trees”) has passed away.

Mark appeared in 27 games for the Maple Leafs during the 1989-90 season and after his retirement, appeared at many NHL alumni events. pic.twitter.com/nPWTi3vn3D

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 1, 2025

He went unselected in both the OHL and NHL drafts. Laforest was cut by the junior B team in Welland, Ontario.

“I thought the book on me was closed when I wasn’t taken in the OHL draft and when I was cut in junior B by Welland,” Laforest said in a 2012 interview with Welland Tribune reporter Bernd Franke.

Red Wings Were First NHL Team For Laforest

Instead, he’d go on to play 103 NHL games between the pipes, the first 33 of which came with the Red Wings. The Red Wings opted to sign him as a free agent in 1983.

His NHL debut was a successful one. Laforest would turn aside 35 of 36 shots as Detroit beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 in Dec. 3, 1985.

It was not a sign of coming attractions. Playing behind what was the NHL’s worst team, Laforest would lose 15 of his next 16 decisions. He wound up the season 4-21 with a 4.96 goals-against average and .845 save percentage. The scrappy Laforest did manage to collect 23 penalty minutes, which ranked him seventh among NHL goaltenders.

Almost two minutes of a goalie fight? 😏 https://t.co/BUzNnrZ1Aa#NJD sean BURKE 🆚
mark LAFOREST #TOR
1989 OCT 23 • #NHL #HFrandomizer#NJDevils  #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/nbUneBkHFH

— hockeyfights (@hockeyfights) June 29, 2023

During his time in the Red Wings organization, Laforest would backstop the Adirondack Wings to the AHL Calder Cup title in 1985-86.

“That was an amazing experience,” Laforest said. “It’s so hard to do.”

In both 1987 and 1991, Laforest was awarded the Aldege (Baz) Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding goalkeeper.

During a 14-season pro career, he’d also play for the Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators.

“I had a great time, I enjoyed myself immensely” Laforest said. “I lived my dream.

“It was quite a ride.”