Paul Cavallini
Encyclopedia
Paul Edward "Wally" Cavallini (born October 13, 1965 in Toronto
, Ontario
) is a retired Canadian ice hockey
defenceman
. He is the younger brother of former player Gino Cavallini
, who was his teammate for several years with the St. Louis Blues.
A steady defenceman with some offensive abilities, Cavallini was selected by the Washington Capitals
in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft
. He entered the NHL after a season at Providence College where the Friars lost in the National Championchip to RPI and future NHL star Adam Oates. After playing parts of two seasons with the Capitals, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues where he would spend almost six seasons including his best campaign, the 1989–90 season. He played in the 1990 All-Star game and led the league in plus/minus rating that season. He then returned to the Capitals for a second tour during the 1992–93 NHL season in a trade that sent Kevin Miller to the Blues. Cavallini would once again be traded by the Capitals, this time to the Dallas Stars
where he would play until his retirement a few weeks into the 1995–96 NHL season.
In 564 NHL games, Cavallini scored 56 goals and 177 assists.
Cavallini missed 13 games during the 1990–91 season with a bizarre left index finger injury, in which he lost the tip of the finger. He suffered the injury while blocking a Doug Wilson slapshot during St. Louis' December 22, 1990, game vs. Chicago. The force of Wilson's shot literally severed the tip of Cavallini's finger. Cavallini found the tip of the finger inside his glove. Doctors hoped they could re-attach the tip in surgery, but their efforts failed. The piece of the finger was removed and the exposed bone covered with grafted skin. Cavallini did not return to action until St. Louis' January 25, 1991, game at Detroit. He scored a goal in that game.
Cavallini has three children, Zach, Reid and Cade Cavallini, and his wife's name is Tracy Smith, once an Olympic runner for Canada. They currently live in St. Louis, MO, where Cavallini is a successful stock broker.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) is a retired Canadian 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
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
. He is the younger brother of former player Gino Cavallini
Gino Cavallini
Gino J. Cavallini is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.Cavallini played one year for the St. Michael's Buzzers, a Junior hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association Following his short stint with the Buzzers, Cavallini was offered a scholarship to play college hockey for the...
, who was his teammate for several years with the St. Louis Blues.
A steady defenceman with some offensive abilities, Cavallini was selected by the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft
1984 NHL Entry Draft
The 1984 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 9, 1984, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.The 1984 Entry Draft was noted for the unusually high number of future Hall of Famers picked, particularly in lower rounds. In addition to Mario Lemieux being taken first overall, Patrick Roy was chosen...
. He entered the NHL after a season at Providence College where the Friars lost in the National Championchip to RPI and future NHL star Adam Oates. After playing parts of two seasons with the Capitals, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues where he would spend almost six seasons including his best campaign, the 1989–90 season. He played in the 1990 All-Star game and led the league in plus/minus rating that season. He then returned to the Capitals for a second tour during the 1992–93 NHL season in a trade that sent Kevin Miller to the Blues. Cavallini would once again be traded by the Capitals, this time to the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
where he would play until his retirement a few weeks into the 1995–96 NHL season.
In 564 NHL games, Cavallini scored 56 goals and 177 assists.
Cavallini missed 13 games during the 1990–91 season with a bizarre left index finger injury, in which he lost the tip of the finger. He suffered the injury while blocking a Doug Wilson slapshot during St. Louis' December 22, 1990, game vs. Chicago. The force of Wilson's shot literally severed the tip of Cavallini's finger. Cavallini found the tip of the finger inside his glove. Doctors hoped they could re-attach the tip in surgery, but their efforts failed. The piece of the finger was removed and the exposed bone covered with grafted skin. Cavallini did not return to action until St. Louis' January 25, 1991, game at Detroit. He scored a goal in that game.
Cavallini has three children, Zach, Reid and Cade Cavallini, and his wife's name is Tracy Smith, once an Olympic runner for Canada. They currently live in St. Louis, MO, where Cavallini is a successful stock broker.