- Michael Del Zotto
-
Michael Del Zotto 
Born June 24, 1990
Stouffville, ON, CANHeight 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) Position Defence Shoots Left NHL team New York Rangers NHL Draft 20th overall, 2008
New York RangersPlaying career 2009–present Michael Del Zotto (born June 24, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the New York Rangers.
Contents
Playing career
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. (OMHA).[1]
Junior
During his first season with the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Del Zotto helped his home province of Ontario win the gold medal in the 2007 Canada Winter Games.[1]
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.[1]
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.[2]
Professional
Del Zotto was selected 20th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.[3] He signed a contract with the Rangers on May 26, 2009.[4]
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.[5]
After his first year in the league, Del Zotto was named to the 2010 NHL All-Rookie Team.[6]
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 Bruins great Bobby Orr.[1]
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 Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2005–06 Markham Waxers OMHA 73 30 90 120 90 — — — — — 2006−07 Oshawa Generals OHL 64 10 47 57 78 9 3 9 12 14 2007−08 Oshawa Generals OHL 64 16 47 63 82 15 2 6 8 38 2008−09 Oshawa Generals OHL 34 7 26 33 48 — — — — — 2008−09 London Knights OHL 28 6 24 30 30 14 3 16 19 18 2009−10 New York Rangers NHL 80 9 28 37 32 — — — — — 2010−11 New York Rangers NHL 47 2 9 11 20 — — — — — 2010−11 Connecticut Whale AHL 11 0 7 7 8 — — — — — NHL totals 127 11 37 48 52 — — — — — References
- ^ a b c d "Del Zotto, Michael – NHL.com - NHL Entry Draft Prospect Profiles". NHL.com. 2008. http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=15. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
- ^ "Del Zotto traded to London Knights". New York Rangers. 2009-01-09. http://rangers.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=403074&page=NewsPage&service=page. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ "Rangers thrilled to land Del Zotto at No. 20". New York Rangers. 2008-06-21. http://rangers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?bcid=366563. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- ^ "Rangers sign 2008 first-round pick Del Zotto". New York Rangers. 2009-05-26. http://rangers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=423827. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- ^ "Rangers' Del Zotto top October rookie". NHL.com. 2009-11-03. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=504639. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
- ^ http://rangers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=532499
External links
- Michael Del Zotto's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
- Michael Del Zotto at TSN.ca
- Michael Del Zotto's NHL player profile
Preceded by
Alexei CherepanovNew York Rangers first round draft pick
2008Succeeded by
Chris KreiderCategories:- 1990 births
- Living people
- Canadian ice hockey defencemen
- Canadian people of Italian descent
- Connecticut Whale players
- Ice hockey people from Ontario
- London Knights alumni
- National Hockey League first round draft picks
- New York Rangers draft picks
- New York Rangers players
- Oshawa Generals alumni
- People from Whitchurch-Stouffville
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