Michael Del Zotto
Encyclopedia
Michael Del Zotto is a Canadian
professional ice hockey
defenceman currently playing for the New York Rangers
.
).
in the Ontario Hockey League
(OHL), Del Zotto helped his home province of Ontario win the gold medal in the 2007
Canada Winter Games.
In his second season with Oshawa, Del Zotto’s 63 points ranked him third among defencemen in the OHL. He made his second OHL playoff appearance when the Oshawa Generals got to the third round in the 2008 OHL playoffs. Del Zotto was chosen for the 2008 CHL
Top Prospects Game.
On January 8, 2009, Del Zotto was part of a trade that would send him, along with teammates John Tavares and Daryl Borden, to the London Knights
for prospects Christian Thomas, Scott Valentine, Michael Zador and six draft picks.
On October 2, 2009, Del Zotto made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins
. At age 19, he became the youngest defenceman in Rangers history
to play on an opening night. Del Zotto scored his first NHL goal the next day, against Pascal Leclaire
of the Ottawa Senators
, in the Rangers’ home opener. Del Zotto proved he was an asset to the team and as a result played on average 20-25 minuets of playing time a game.
Del Zotto was awarded the NHL's Rookie of The Month for October, 2009 after posting 12 points in his first 14 professional games.
After his first year in the league, Del Zotto was named to the 2010 NHL All-Rookie Team.
On January 31, 2011, the New York Rangers recalled Del Zotto from the Connecticut Whale to the NHL.
great Bobby Orr
.
For high school, he attended St. Andrew's College in Aurora, Ontario.
His father, Steven, was a football player at York University (1982–1985) and was drafted as a wide receiver by the Toronto Argonauts in the 8th round (66th overall) of the 1986 CFL Draft.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman currently playing for the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
.
Early career
Del Zotto began his hockey career with the Stouffville Clippers A of the Whitchurch-Stouffville Minor Hockey Association (WSMHA). He then played for the Richmond Hill Stars and the Markham Waxers in the OMHA's Eastern AAA League. (OMHAOMHA
OMHA may refer to:*Ontario Mental Health Act*Ontario Minor Hockey Association...
).
Junior
During his first season with the Oshawa GeneralsOshawa Generals
The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They are based in Oshawa, Ontario. The team is named for General Motors, an early sponsor which has its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. The Generals are one of the most successful franchises in Canadian Hockey League...
in the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(OHL), Del Zotto helped his home province of Ontario win the gold medal in the 2007
2007 Canada Games
The 2007 Canada Winter Games were held in Whitehorse, Yukon from Friday 23 February 2007 to Saturday 10 March 2007. These were the first Canada Games held North of 60 . The games were held concurrent with the Inuit Games and Dene Games...
Canada Winter Games.
In his second season with Oshawa, Del Zotto’s 63 points ranked him third among defencemen in the OHL. He made his second OHL playoff appearance when the Oshawa Generals got to the third round in the 2008 OHL playoffs. Del Zotto was chosen for the 2008 CHL
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
Top Prospects Game.
On January 8, 2009, Del Zotto was part of a trade that would send him, along with teammates John Tavares and Daryl Borden, to the London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
for prospects Christian Thomas, Scott Valentine, Michael Zador and six draft picks.
Professional
Del Zotto was selected 20th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a contract with the Rangers on May 26, 2009.On October 2, 2009, Del Zotto made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
. At age 19, he became the youngest defenceman in Rangers history
History of the New York Rangers
-Early years:In 1925, the New York Americans joined the National Hockey League, playing in Madison Square Garden. The Amerks proved to be an even greater success than expected, leading Garden president Tex Rickard to go after a team for the Garden despite promising the Amerks that they would be the...
to play on an opening night. Del Zotto scored his first NHL goal the next day, against Pascal Leclaire
Pascal Leclaire
Pascal Leclaire is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Leclaire is currently an unrestricted free agent. Leclaire played three years in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and was selected eighth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft...
of the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, in the Rangers’ home opener. Del Zotto proved he was an asset to the team and as a result played on average 20-25 minuets of playing time a game.
Del Zotto was awarded the NHL's Rookie of The Month for October, 2009 after posting 12 points in his first 14 professional games.
After his first year in the league, Del Zotto was named to the 2010 NHL All-Rookie Team.
On January 31, 2011, the New York Rangers recalled Del Zotto from the Connecticut Whale to the NHL.
Personal life
Del Zotto wears number 4 in homage to Boston BruinsBoston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
great Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr
Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr, OC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Orr played in the National Hockey League for his entire career, the first ten seasons with the Boston Bruins, joining the Chicago Black Hawks for two more. Orr is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest...
.
For high school, he attended St. Andrew's College in Aurora, Ontario.
His father, Steven, was a football player at York University (1982–1985) and was drafted as a wide receiver by the Toronto Argonauts in the 8th round (66th overall) of the 1986 CFL Draft.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2005–06 | Markham Waxers Markham Waxers The Markham Waxers are an Ontario Junior Hockey League Junior "A" ice hockey team. The Waxer organizations are from Markham, Ontario, Canada.-History:... |
OMHA Ontario Minor Hockey Association The Ontario Minor Hockey Association is a major ice hockey governing body at the minor level. The OMHA is empowered by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The OMHA oversees minor hockey from Initiation to Juvenile throughout the majority of southern Ontario... |
73 | 30 | 90 | 120 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006−07 | Oshawa Generals Oshawa Generals The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They are based in Oshawa, Ontario. The team is named for General Motors, an early sponsor which has its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. The Generals are one of the most successful franchises in Canadian Hockey League... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
64 | 10 | 47 | 57 | 78 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 14 | ||
| 2007−08 2007–08 OHL season The 2007–08 OHL season was the 28th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams played 68 games each during the schedule, that started on September 19, 2007, and concluded on March 16, 2008.... |
Oshawa Generals | OHL | 64 | 16 | 47 | 63 | 82 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 38 | ||
| 2008−09 2008–09 OHL season The 2008–09 OHL season was the 29th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2008 and concluded on March 15, 2009.... |
Oshawa Generals | OHL | 34 | 7 | 26 | 33 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008−09 | London Knights London Knights The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:... |
OHL | 28 | 6 | 24 | 30 | 30 | 14 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 18 | ||
| 2009−10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
New York Rangers New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
NHL | 80 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010−11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 47 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010−11 2010–11 AHL season The 2010–11 AHL season is the 75th season of the American Hockey League. An all-time high of thirty teams will play 80 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on October 8, 2010 and ended on April 10, 2011... |
Connecticut Whale | AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
11 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 127 | 11 | 37 | 48 | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||