Laba spent twos season with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL).
[7][8] Prior to the 2024–25 season, McKeen's Hockey rated him as the Rangers 7th best prospect, calling him a "prototypical, hard working, two-way center.
"[9] Scout Jesse Rubenstein called him the Rangers best NCAA prospect, even ahead of 2023 first round draft pick Gabe Perreault, praising his scoring, defense and faceoff skills.
[1] On December 12, 2022, Laba was named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
[11] During the tournament he appeared in one game as an injury replacement for Tyler Boucher and won a bronze medal.