Samuel Laberge Bio
Samuel Laberge (born April 10, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who plays for the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 205 pounds, the left-shooting forward skates with energy and is known for his physical presence and willingness to compete in all zones. Undrafted out of major junior, Laberge has built his career through perseverance, moving from the ECHL and the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH) to the AHL and, eventually, the NHL.
Samuel Laberge
Early Life and Background
Samuel Laberge was born on April 10, 1997, in Châteauguay, Quebec, Canada. Growing up in this community just outside Montreal, he was introduced to hockey at a young age and developed his game in the local youth system. He played his minor hockey for the Châteauguay Grenadiers, where he first learned the structured habits that would later define his work ethic as a professional.
In his first year of eligibility for the under-18 AAA team, Laberge was cut, an early setback that pushed him to play at the Midget Espoir level. The disappointment proved to be a turning point. While at that level, he was drafted by the Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), setting the stage for the next phase of his career. Before leaving Châteauguay, he helped the Grenadiers win the Jimmy Ferrari Cup as Quebec AAA champions in 2014.
Path to Hockey
Laberge joined the Rimouski Océanic and made a quick impression, scoring his first QMJHL goal against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on September 14, 2013, during a brief stint in the 2013–14 season. The following year, as a rookie in 2014–15, he became part of an Océanic team that won the President’s Cup as QMJHL champions, giving him an early taste of team success at a high level.
Although Laberge went undrafted at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, his development caught the attention of NHL organizations. He attended the Los Angeles Kings’ summer development camp and continued to grow with Rimouski. He was named the QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year in both 2015–16 and 2016–17, serving as alternate captain in the former season and captain in the latter. These honors reflected not only his play but also his standing in the locker room.
Samuel Laberge Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Laberge turned professional on July 12, 2017, when he signed with the Texas Stars of the AHL. He scored his first AHL goal on November 25, 2017, netting the game-winner in a 3–2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters. During the 2018 Calder Cup playoffs, he scored his first AHL playoff goal in style, a double-overtime game-winner against the Ontario Reign in Game 3 of the first round.
He re-signed with the Stars for 2018–19, but the season was cut short by injury. Laberge missed more than two months after sustaining a concussion, an experience that required him to return home to fully recover. The injury and recovery tested his resolve, but he used the time to reset and prepare for the next opportunity.
Professional Odyssey (2019–2021)
In the fall of 2019, Laberge accepted a professional tryout with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. While traveling to camp, he learned that his father, Pierre, had been diagnosed with bone cancer. After only three days in Manitoba, Laberge left camp to be with his family in Châteauguay, where he took a job in construction and began to reassess his future in hockey.
Once back home, he received offers from more than half of the seven teams in the semi-professional Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH). He signed with the Sorel-Tracy Éperviers, the closest LNAH team to Châteauguay, and rediscovered his passion for the game. He finished the season as Sorel-Tracy’s top scorer, recording 29 points in 33 games, though the league’s playoffs were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Entering 2020–21, he signed with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL, but the North Division season was suspended. He later joined the Allen Americans as a free agent.
Utica Comets Era (2021–2024)
On July 21, 2021, Laberge signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract with the Utica Comets. Assigned to the Thunder and named an alternate captain, he was recalled to Utica only five games into the season and shuttled between the two clubs for much of the year. In February 2022, the Comets informed him that he would be staying at the AHL level more permanently, a sign of trust in his progression.
He re-signed with Utica on June 21, 2022, and played his first NHL preseason game on September 26, 2022, against the Montreal Canadiens, with his father in attendance in Quebec. In the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs, he scored the series-winning overtime goal against the Laval Rocket in the preliminary round. On November 18, 2023, he recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick in a win over Laval. Midway through the 2023–24 season, on November 25, he signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils, the NHL parent club of the Comets. He made his NHL debut on November 30 against the Philadelphia Flyers, becoming the 743rd former ECHL player to reach the NHL. The Devils re-signed him to a one-year, two-way deal on May 16, 2024.
San Jose Barracuda Era (2025–Present)
As a free agent, Laberge signed a one-year, two-way contract with the San Jose Sharks on July 1, 2025, joining the San Jose Barracuda for the 2025–26 season. He continues to add AHL experience while remaining under NHL contract, working to establish himself at the top level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Laberge plays a north-south, energy-driven style. He finishes checks, is willing to drop the gloves, and is comfortable in a bottom-six forward role. His 92 penalty minutes in 59 AHL games during 2023–24 illustrate his physical edge, while his scoring touch, including a 29-point season in the LNAH and timely playoff goals, shows he can contribute offensively when given opportunity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include his first AHL playoff goal in double overtime against Ontario, his Calder Cup playoff series-winner against Laval, his Gordie Howe hat trick against Laval in November 2023, and his NHL debut with the New Jersey Devils on November 30, 2023. His perseverance through injury, family hardship, and time in the LNAH has become a defining part of his story.
Samuel Laberge Career Wins
Samuel Laberge has collected wins across the QMJHL, AHL, ECHL, and LNAH, highlighted by team championships and key individual victories.
QMJHL and AHL Highlights
With the Rimouski Océanic, Laberge won the President’s Cup as QMJHL champions in 2014–15. In the AHL, his first goal was a game-winner against the Cleveland Monsters, and he later scored a double-overtime playoff winner against the Ontario Reign. He also buried a series-clinching overtime goal against the Laval Rocket in the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs.
Other Wins and Performances
Before turning pro, Laberge helped the Châteauguay Grenadiers win the Jimmy Ferrari Cup as Quebec AAA champions in 2014. In the LNAH, he led Sorel-Tracy in scoring with 29 points in 33 games, a strong individual performance during a turbulent personal period.
Samuel Laberge Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Laberge was raised in Châteauguay, Quebec, where his family supported his hockey development from minor hockey through the junior ranks.
Personal Life
His father, Pierre Laberge, has been a central figure in his career journey. Pierre’s diagnosis with bone cancer led Samuel to leave the Manitoba Moose in 2019 to return home, a decision that ultimately helped him reset his path back toward professional hockey.
2025 Season Performance
For the 2025–26 season, Laberge joined the San Jose Barracuda on a one-year, two-way NHL contract with the San Jose Sharks. He will be expected to provide physicality, depth scoring, and veteran presence for the Barracuda while remaining an option for the Sharks at the NHL level.
Coming off an NHL debut and a 19-point AHL season with Utica in 2023–24, Laberge enters the year with momentum and an opportunity to push for more NHL games. His blend of grit, penalty-killing reliability, and offensive upside makes him a steady contributor for San Jose’s developmental pipeline.
If he continues his trajectory, Laberge has a chance to become a regular call-up option for the Sharks, leveraging the work ethic that carried him from undrafted junior to the NHL.