Al Iafrate
A defenseman with a cannon for a shot and a maverick's spirit, known for his blistering speed and unforgettable hairstyles.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: March 21·Generation X
Biography
Al Iafrate burst into the NHL as a raw, thrilling talent drafted fourth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1984. He was a physical anomaly: a hulking defenseman who could skate like the wind and unleash a slap shot that was clocked at over 100 mph, a rarity in his era. His game was a captivating blend of breathtaking end-to-end rushes and punishing defensive play, though inconsistency and injuries often kept him from reaching his stratospheric potential. Traded to Washington, he had his finest season in 1992-93, scoring 25 goals and earning a spot on the NHL Second All-Star Team. Iafrate was also a cultural icon of the early '90s NHL, with his ever-changing, often outrageous haircuts and his rebellious, rock-and-roll persona. Knee problems derailed his prime, leading to stops in Boston and San Jose before his retirement. He left behind a legacy of 'what could have been,' but also a highlight reel of moments that showcased a uniquely explosive and entertaining style of defense.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Al was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Al Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Al's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the NHL Hardest Shot competition at the 1993 All-Star Game with a record 105.2 mph shot, a record that stood for 16 years.
- Was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1993 after a 25-goal, 66-point season with the Washington Capitals.
- Represented the United States in the 1987 Canada Cup tournament.
- Scored 152 goals and 463 points over 799 NHL regular-season games.
Did You Know?
He famously shaved a mohawk hairstyle into his head during the 1990 playoffs with the Washington Capitals.
He was an avid guitarist and had a strong interest in hard rock music.
He once traded his hockey stick for a custom-made guitar from the band Guns N' Roses.
Despite his reputation as a hard shooter, he also had notable playmaking ability, recording over 40 assists in a season twice.
“I just tried to get it off as hard as I could.”
