Alex Pietrangelo

Alex Pietrangelo
Pietrangelo in 2014
Born (1990-01-18) January 18, 1990
King City, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team St. Louis Blues
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 4th overall, 2008
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 2008–present

Alexander Pietrangelo (born January 18, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for and serving as captain of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). As a junior, he played with the Niagara IceDogs and Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Pietrangelo has competed in with Team Canada at the junior and senior level, including a gold medal win with Canada's under-20 team at the 2009 World Junior Championships. Individually, he has been named Best Defenceman at the 2010 World Junior Championship and 2011 Men's World Championship. With his Great play he was rewarded with a 1st team All Star selection in 2017-18. His father is the cousin of former NHL goaltender Frank Pietrangelo.[1]

On January 7, 2014, Pietrangelo was named to the 2014 Canadian Olympic hockey team, winning a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Playing career

Minor

Pietrangelo played minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Area when he was growing up. He started to play hockey with the Richmond Hill Stars of the OMHA before playing three years with the Vaughan Kings of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). As a novice aged player (nine and under), Pietrangelo and his Toronto Pro Hockey Development teammates participated in the 2000 Brick Super Novice Tournament in Edmonton, Alberta. His teammates included Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Philip McRae and Michael Del Zotto. Toronto, however, was defeated in the tournament final by the Vancouver Pacific Vipers, on a goal by Jordan Eberle.[2][3] Pietrangelo was also a member of the All-Ontario Peewee AAA Champion Vaughan Kings team in 2003. He played three years in the Toronto Jr. Canadiens AAA system.[4] The Jr. Canadiens won Ontario's bantam championship in 2005, with Pietrangelo scoring the game-winning goal in the final against the Markham Waxers.[5]

Junior

After his successful minor hockey career, Pietrangelo was drafted third overall by the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Mississauga IceDogs in the first round of the 2006 OHL Priority Selection.[6] He scored at a near point-per-game pace in his rookie season with the IceDogs with 52 points in 59 games, then moved with the team to Niagara as the franchise relocated in 2007.

In September 2007, he was named Canadian Hockey League Player of the Week after recording three goals and four assists in two games.[7] In December 2007, TSN ranked Pietrangelo third overall among eligible skaters for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.[8] International Scouting Services described Pietrangelo as a "tremendous specimen in terms of size and skills"[9] and ranked him fifth among North American draft prospects at mid-season, then sixth in their final rankings leading up to the Draft.[10] After finishing his second OHL season with 53 points in 60 games, he was selected fourth overall by the St. Louis Blues at the Entry Draft on June 20, 2008.[11]

Pietrangelo during 2008 Blues Fan Fest

Coming into training camp, the Blues signed him to an entry-level contract on September 4, 2008.[12] Pietrangelo earned his way onto the team for opening night and played his first NHL game against the Nashville Predators on October 10, 2008.[13] Three days later, however, he suffered a head injury on October 13 in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, when Ryan Hollweg checked him from behind into the boards.[14] Pietrangelo returned shortly, and after playing eight games total for the Blues, he was sent back to his junior team, the Niagara IceDogs.[15] On April 10, 2009, he was assigned to the Blues' top minor league affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League (AHL), after his junior season had ended.[16]

Pietrangelo began the 2009–10 season on the Blues' roster for a second consecutive year, but played in only nine games by December 2009. After the Blues lent him to the Canadian under-20 team for the 2010 World Junior Championships, Pietrangelo was returned to the OHL. During the World Juniors, his OHL rights were traded from the IceDogs to the Barrie Colts.[17] Playing half a season with Barrie, he recorded 29 points in 25 games, while adding 14 points in 17 playoff games. Due to his long playoff run with the Colts, he did not have the opportunity to play in the AHL as he did the previous season.

Professional

Pietrangelo with the Blues in 2014.

In 2010–11, Pietrangelo played his first full season with the Blues, leading all team defencemen with 43 points (11 goals and 32 assists) over 79 games. He also led team defencemen in plus-minus (+18) and shots (161), while ranking third in average ice time per game.[18] Due to his previous eight- and nine-game seasons in the NHL, he did not qualify as a rookie.[19] Comparatively, the League's leading scorer among rookie defencemen that season was teammate Kevin Shattenkirk, who was born a year earlier than Pietrangelo; he also recorded 43 points.[20] At the end of the 2011–12 season, Pietrangelo was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team.[21]

On September 13, 2013, Pietrangelo agreed to a seven-year, $45 million contract with the Blues.[22]

On August 24, 2016, Pietrangelo was named captain of the St. Louis Blues.[2]

In his second year as captain, Pietrangelo was injured in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on February 9 and was placed on injured reserve until December 19.[23] Despite his set back from injury, Pietrangelo was selected for his first NHL All-Star Game where he won the All-Star passing challenge.[24] Pietrangelo also set a new career high in points and goals at the conclusion of the regular season.

International play


Medal record
Representing Canada Canada
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
2014 Sochi
Canada Cup / World Cup
2016 Toronto
World Junior Championships
2009 Canada
2010 Canada

Pietrangelo was picked to play for Team Canada's under-18 team at the 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, where he served as an alternate captain. The team finished fourth.[25] He played next for the Canadian National Junior Team at the 2009 World Junior Championships and won a gold medal.[26]

The following year, Pietrangelo was loaned by his NHL team, the St. Louis Blues, to play for Team Canada in his second World Junior Championships in 2010.[27] He was selected as an alternate captain to Patrice Cormier. In the final game of the round-robin, Pietrangelo scored a shorthanded game-tying goal against the United States to send the game to overtime. Canada eventually won in a shootout and earned a bye into the semi-final.[28] Advancing to the gold medal game, Canada met the United States in a rematch, but lost 6–5 in overtime. Pietrangelo picked up several individual honours at the conclusion of the tournament. He was named a Tournament All-Star by the media, the Best Defenceman by the directorate and was selected by the coaching staff as one of Canada's top three players.

As the St. Louis Blues failed to make the playoffs in Pietrangelo's first full season in the NHL, he was selected to Canada's men's team for the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia. With two goals and three assists for five points over seven games, he led Canada in defensive scoring, while tying for second overall among all tournament defencemen.[29] Canada advanced to the quarterfinal as the top-ranked team in their pool, but lost 2–1 to Russia. At the end of the tournament, Pietrangelo was chosen as the Best Defenceman by the directorate.[30]

Pietrangelo was part of Canada's gold-medal winning 2014 Winter Olympic team. He played in all six of Canada's games, contributing one assist.

Personal life

Pietrangelo was born to parents Joe and Edy, and raised along with his older brother David in King City.[31] Pietrangelo married St. Louis native Jayne in July 2016,[32][33] and they had their first children, triplets, in July 2018.[34]

As a child, Pietrangelo's friend died of cancer, and as an adult, his niece was diagnosed, but survived, Wilms' tumor.[35] This led him to partner with Friends of Kids with Cancer to raise funds and awareness for youth living with cancer.[36][37]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Toronto Jr. Canadiens GTHL 44 13 31 44 33 — — — — —
2006–07 Mississauga IceDogs OHL 59 7 45 52 45 4 0 0 0 8
2007–08 Niagara IceDogs OHL 60 13 40 53 94 6 5 4 9 4
2008–09 Niagara IceDogs OHL 36 8 21 29 32 — — — — —
2008–09 St. Louis Blues NHL 8 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2008–09 Peoria Rivermen AHL 1 0 0 0 4 7 0 3 3 2
2009–10 St. Louis Blues NHL 9 1 1 2 6 — — — — —
2009–10 Barrie Colts OHL 25 9 20 29 27 17 2 12 14 8
2010–11 St. Louis Blues NHL 79 11 32 43 19 — — — — —
2011–12 St. Louis Blues NHL 81 12 39 51 36 8 0 5 5 0
2012–13 St. Louis Blues NHL 47 5 19 24 10 6 1 1 2 2
2013–14 St. Louis Blues NHL 81 8 43 51 32 6 1 2 3 0
2014–15 St. Louis Blues NHL 81 7 39 46 28 6 0 2 2 0
2015–16 St. Louis Blues NHL 73 7 30 37 20 20 2 8 10 16
2016–17 St. Louis Blues NHL 80 14 34 48 24 11 0 4 4 8
2017–18 St. Louis Blues NHL 78 15 39 54 22 — — — — —
NHL totals 617 80 277 357 199 57 4 22 26 26

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2009 Canada WJC 1st, gold medalist(s) 6 1 2 3 0
2010 Canada WJC 2nd, silver medalist(s) 6 3 9 12 14
2011 Canada WC 5th 7 2 3 5 2
2014 Canada Oly 1st, gold medalist(s) 6 0 1 1 0
2016 Canada WCH 1st, gold medalist(s) 6 1 2 3 2
Junior totals 12 4 11 15 14
Senior totals 19 3 6 9 4

Awards and honors

Award Year
NHL
Second All-Star Team 2012, 2014 1st Team All Star 2017-18

References

  1. ↑ "The sky's the limit for Blues' defenseman Pietrangelo". NHL.com. 2009-09-08. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  2. 1 2 Pietrangelo, Alex (March 26, 2018). "There's a Place You can Go". The Players Tribune. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  3. ↑ Short, John (2000-08-14). "Vipers take Brick in OT thriller". Edmonton Journal. p. D4.
  4. ↑ "Player Profile - Alex Pietrangelo". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  5. ↑ "Sports Ticker". Toronto Star. 2005-04-03. p. B10.
  6. ↑ "Stamkos No. 1 at OHL draft". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-05-06. Archived from the original on 11 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  7. ↑ "Pietrangelo named CHL Player of the Week". Canadian Online Explorer. 2007-10-01. Archived from the original on 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  8. ↑ McKenzie, Bob (2007-09-07). "Stamkos unanimous pick for top prospect". The Sports Network. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  9. ↑ "ISS Draft Rankings (OHL)". The Sports Network. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  10. ↑ "Pietrangelo Looking to Make it Big". St. Louis Blues.com. 20 June 2008. Archived from the original on 22 June 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
  11. ↑ "Blues Select Pietrangelo with 4th pick". St. Louis Blues.com. 2008-06-20. Archived from the original on 2008-06-22. Retrieved 2006-06-22.
  12. ↑ "Blues sign Pietrangelo: Defenseman was the Blues' first-round pick in 2008". St. Louis Blues. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  13. ↑ "Rookie will start season on blue line". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 2008-10-07. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
  14. ↑ "Blues come back to beat Maple Leafs". The Hockey News. 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
  15. ↑ "Blues assign Pietrangelo to Niagara". St. Louis Blues. 13 November 2008. Archived from the original on 16 November 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  16. ↑ "Blues Assign Pietrangelo to Peoria". NHL.com. April 10, 2009. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  17. ↑ Aaron Bell (2010-01-08). "Around the OHL". Ontario Hockey League. Archived from the original on 1 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
  18. ↑ "2010-2011 Regular Season St Louis Blues Defenseman Summary Total Points". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  19. ↑ "Calder Memorial Trophy". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  20. ↑ "2010-2011 - Regular Season - Rookie - All Skaters - Summary - Total Points". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  21. ↑ "Pietrangelo Named to 2nd All-Star Team". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
  22. ↑ Brehm, Mike (2013-09-13). "Blues sign Alex Pietrangelo to seven-year deal". USA Today. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  23. ↑ "Alex Pietrangelo activated from injured reserve". ESPN.com. December 19, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Blues' Pietrangelo wins All-Star passing challenge". foxsports.com. January 27, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Canada's National Team Finishes Fourth". Hockey Canada. 2007-08-18. Archived from the original on 2007-05-04. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  26. ↑ "Canada's junior hockey heroes proud in victory". CTV News. 2009-01-06. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  27. ↑ "NHLer Pietrangelo aims to be go-to guy". The Leader-Post. 2009-12-14. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
  28. ↑ "Canada comes back to beat USA in shootout". The Sports Network. 2010-01-02. Archived from the original on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
  29. ↑ "Defensemen Scoring Leaders" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 2011-05-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-31. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  30. ↑ "Best Players Selected By the Directorate" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  31. ↑ Kelly, Tim (July 31, 2014). "NHL star hopes to bring Stanley Cup back to King Twp". yorkregion.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  32. ↑ Courtepatte, Jake (September 14, 2016). "Pietrangelo humbled as next Blues captain". Kings Weekly Sentinel. Retrieved May 30, 2018. The summer of 2016 has been a whirlwind season for Pietrangelo, who married his fiancée Jayne in July before building a house in his hometown of King City.
  33. ↑ Rutherford, Jeremy (December 25, 2016). "Blues head off to enjoy Christmas break". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Pietrangelo becomes father of triplets". NHL.com. July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  35. ↑ "There's a Place You Can Go". theplayerstribune.com. March 26, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  36. ↑ Korac, Louie (September 16, 2017). "Pietrangelo raising awareness, money for cancer". NHL.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Alex Pietrangelo Shares his Personal Connection to Friends at the 19th Annual Golf Tournament & Auction". friendsofkids.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
David Perron		 St. Louis Blues first round draft pick
2008		 Succeeded by
David Rundblad
Preceded by
Erik Karlsson		 World Junior Best Defenceman
2010		 Succeeded by
Ryan Ellis
Sporting positions
Preceded by
David Backes		 St. Louis Blues captain
2016–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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