Episode description
On Episode 66 of Crunch Chronicles, presented by Wendy's, Lukas Favale is joined by JF Labbe.
Labbe spent parts of three seasons with the Crunch during the first few seasons of their affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Acquired by Columbus in a November 2000 trade, Labbe helped turn the Crunch's 2000-01 season around.
The former AHL MVP goaltender posted a 15-15-5 record with a 2.86 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage to help the Crunch earn a berth in the playoffs.
The Sherbrooke, Quebec native put together one of the finest goaltending seasons in 2001-02. He went 27-16-7 in 51 appearances, recording a 2.18 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. He logged nine shutouts to help the Crunch top the Western Conference standings with 96 points.
Labbe made four more appearances for the Crunch in 2002-03, but spent most of that season in Columbus.
In 92 total appearances with the Crunch, Labbe was 43-33-13 with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. His 11 shutouts are tied for the most in team history.
Labbe’s AHL Hall of Fame career featured two Calder Cups – one with Hershey and one with Hartford. He was a multi-time All-Star, a Baz Bastien Memorial Award winner for the AHL’s best goaltender, an AHL MVP and an AHL Playoff MVP. He was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame in 2016.