Tom Fitzgerald (hockey)
Encyclopedia
Thomas James Fitzgerald (born August 28, 1968) is a retired American professional ice hockey
player who played seventeen seasons in the National Hockey League
and the American Hockey League
. He currently serves as assistant to the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins
. He won the Stanley Cup
in 2009
as an assistant coach with Pittsburgh.
in Reading MA, he then went on to play college hockey for Providence College
and was selected by the New York Islanders
of the NHL in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft
(1st round, 17th overall). He turned pro in 1988 with the Islanders' American Hockey League
affiliate Springfield Indians
, and in 1990 was one of the key players who led Indians to the Calder Cup
championship.
He played parts of five seasons for the Islanders and the first player in NHL playoff history to score two shorthanded goals on the same minor penalty, against the Pittsburgh Penguins
on May 2, 1993, which also equaled the NHL record for shorthanded goals by a player in one game. He was selected as one of the original Florida Panthers
in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft
. Although he has been cast as a defensive forward in the NHL, he had his best scoring years in Miami and was one of the leaders in Florida's 1996 Stanley Cup
run. In those 1995–96 playoffs, Fitzgerald scored the decisive goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins
. It was a 58-foot slapshot that found its way past Penguins goalie Tom Barrasso
.
He was briefly traded to the Colorado Avalanche
in 1998 before being drafted in another expansion draft
, this time by the Nashville Predators
, who sought out his veteran leadership. Fitzgerald was named Nashville's first captain and so served for four seasons. He has subsequently played for the Chicago Blackhawks
and the Toronto Maple Leafs
. While with Toronto, Fitzgerald and his Maple Leafs teammate Gary Roberts both played in the 1,000th game of their careers on January 13, 2004.
In the summer of 2004, Fitzgerald signed as a free agent
with the Boston Bruins
. In July 2006, the Boston Bruins chose not to renew his contract. He announced his retirement after 17 NHL seasons on September 12, 2006.
during the 2006 Stanley Cup
playoffs, and was one of NESN's studio analysts during postgame coverage of Boston Bruins
' matches. Their son Ryan was a member of the 2011 MA Super Eight Champion Malden Catholic Hockey team. He is considered a top prospect and is already committed to Boston College for the 2013 Season.
In July 2007, Fitzgerald left NESN when he was named Director of Player Development for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In October, Tom was then named as an assistant coach to Team USA Deutschland Cup
team, helping push the United States to second place. On July 3, 2009, Fitzgerald was then promoted within the Penguins organization, to assistant General Manager.
Fitzgerald is Irish
, is cousin to, and grew up with NHL player Keith Tkachuk
.
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...
player who played seventeen seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and the American Hockey League
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...
. He currently serves as assistant to the general manager of 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...
. He won the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
in 2009
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
as an assistant coach with Pittsburgh.
Playing career
Fitzgerald played his high school hockey at Austin Preparatory SchoolAustin Preparatory School
Austin Preparatory School is a co-educational Catholic school located in Reading, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. It was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1961...
in Reading MA, he then went on to play college hockey for Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
and was selected by the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the NHL in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft
1986 NHL Entry Draft
The 1986 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 21, 1986 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1985–86 NHL season and playoff standings...
(1st round, 17th overall). He turned pro in 1988 with the Islanders' American Hockey League
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...
affiliate Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
, and in 1990 was one of the key players who led Indians to the Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
championship.
He played parts of five seasons for the Islanders and the first player in NHL playoff history to score two shorthanded goals on the same minor penalty, 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...
on May 2, 1993, which also equaled the NHL record for shorthanded goals by a player in one game. He was selected as one of the original Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft
1993 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1993 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 24, 1993, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 1993–94 season, the Florida Panthers and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.-Rules:...
. Although he has been cast as a defensive forward in the NHL, he had his best scoring years in Miami and was one of the leaders in Florida's 1996 Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
run. In those 1995–96 playoffs, Fitzgerald scored the decisive goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals 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...
. It was a 58-foot slapshot that found its way past Penguins goalie Tom Barrasso
Tom Barrasso
Thomas Patrick Barrasso is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons for the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St...
.
He was briefly traded to the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
in 1998 before being drafted in another expansion draft
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
, this time by the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, who sought out his veteran leadership. Fitzgerald was named Nashville's first captain and so served for four seasons. He has subsequently played for the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
and the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. While with Toronto, Fitzgerald and his Maple Leafs teammate Gary Roberts both played in the 1,000th game of their careers on January 13, 2004.
In the summer of 2004, Fitzgerald signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Boston Bruins
Boston 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...
. In July 2006, the Boston Bruins chose not to renew his contract. He announced his retirement after 17 NHL seasons on September 12, 2006.
Personal
Tom and his wife Kerry have four sons; Ryan, Casey, Jack and Brendan. Fitzgerald did a stint as an analyst for the Outdoor Life NetworkVersus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
during the 2006 Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
playoffs, and was one of NESN's studio analysts during postgame coverage of Boston Bruins
Boston 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...
' matches. Their son Ryan was a member of the 2011 MA Super Eight Champion Malden Catholic Hockey team. He is considered a top prospect and is already committed to Boston College for the 2013 Season.
In July 2007, Fitzgerald left NESN when he was named Director of Player Development for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In October, Tom was then named as an assistant coach to Team USA Deutschland Cup
Deutschland Cup
The Deutschland Cup is an in-season international ice hockey tournament hosted by the German Ice Hockey Federation which has been contested in most years since 1987.- Early Years :...
team, helping push the United States to second place. On July 3, 2009, Fitzgerald was then promoted within the Penguins organization, to assistant General Manager.
Fitzgerald is Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, is cousin to, and grew up with NHL player Keith Tkachuk
Keith Tkachuk
Keith Matthew Tkachuk is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played for four teams and three franchises in his 19-year career. He is one of only four American-born players to score 500 goals, and is the sixth American player to score 1,000 points.- Playing career :Tkachuk began...
.
Regular season and playoffs
| 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 | ||
| 1986–87 | Providence College Providence College Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic... |
HE Hockey East Hockey East Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates in New England. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference.... |
27 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Providence College | HE | 36 | 19 | 15 | 34 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Springfield Indians Springfield Indians The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with... |
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... |
61 | 24 | 18 | 42 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 1988-89 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring Leaders:Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes, PPG = Powerplay Goals, SHG = Shorthanded Goals, GWG = Game Winning Goals-Leading goaltenders:... |
New York Islanders New York Islanders The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 23 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 1989–90 AHL season The 1989–90 AHL season was the 54th season of the American Hockey League.Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Sherbrooke Canadiens repeated finishing first overall in the regular season... |
Springfield Indians | AHL | 53 | 30 | 23 | 53 | 32 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 13 | ||
| 1989–90 | New York Islanders | NHL | 19 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1990–91 1990–91 AHL season The 1990–91 AHL season was the 55th season of the American Hockey League. Fifteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season... |
Capital District Islanders Capital District Islanders The Capital District Islanders were a team in the American Hockey League based in Troy, New York, which is located within a region popularly called the Capital District... |
AHL | 27 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | New York Islanders | NHL | 41 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 1991–92 AHL season The 1991–92 AHL season was the 56th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns from divisions into three divisions, creating the new Atlantic division. Fifteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Fredericton Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season... |
Capital District Islanders | AHL | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | New York Islanders | NHL | 45 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | New York Islanders | NHL | 77 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 34 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 18 | ||
| 1993–94 | Florida Panthers Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the... |
NHL | 83 | 18 | 14 | 32 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 48 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 1995-96 NHL season The 1995–96 NHL season was the 79th regular season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup winners were the Colorado Avalanche, who, in their first year as the Avalanche, swept the Florida Panthers in four games.-League business:... |
Florida Panthers | NHL | 82 | 13 | 21 | 34 | 75 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 34 | ||
| 1996–97 1996-97 NHL season The 1996–97 NHL season was the 80th regular season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup winners were the Detroit Red Wings, who swept the Philadelphia Flyers in four games and won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 42 years. The regular season saw a decline in scoring and rise in the... |
Florida Panthers | NHL | 71 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 64 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1997–98 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 69 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise... |
NHL | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20 | ||
| 1998–99 | Nashville Predators Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 80 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 82 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 82 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 63 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... |
NHL | 15 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2002–03 | Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 66 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 57 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2003–04 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 69 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 52 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 2005–06 | Boston Bruins Boston 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... |
NHL | 71 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1097 | 139 | 190 | 329 | 776 | 78 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 90 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Comp | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 11th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held in Piešťany, Trenčín, Nitra, and Topoľčany, Czechoslovakia . Finland captured its first World Junior gold medal. Czechoslovakia captured the silver, and Sweden the bronze... |
United States | WJC World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world... |
7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 1989 | United States | WC | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| 1991 1991 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -Final Round:-Consolation Round:No team was relegated because of the expansion to twelve teams.-World Championship Group B :... |
United States | WC | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Junior int'l totals | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | ||
| Senior int'l totals | 20 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 18 | ||