Angelo Esposito

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team = Atlanta Thrashers
league = NHL
prospect_team = Montreal Junior Hockey Club
prospect_league = QMJHL
position = Centre
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
nickname = The Next One
weight_lb = 190
nationality = CAN
birth_date = birth date and age|1989|2|20
birth_place = Montreal, PQ, CAN
draft = 20th overall
draft_year = 2007
draft_team = Pittsburgh Penguins
career_start = 2008

Angelo Esposito (born February 20, 1989, in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian ice hockey player who currently plays for the Montreal Junior of the QMJHL. On June 22nd 2007, the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted him twentieth overall in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Esposito's Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), career started in controversy. He was considered a possible first overall draft choice in the QMJHL, but told all general managers that he intended to play college hockey in the NCAA. Just minutes before the Val d'Or Foreurs were slated to make their pick, the Quebec Remparts announced that they had traded several players and draft choices to get the Foreurs' draft pick, which was slated at eleventh overall. Despite his overwhelming talent and potential, Esposito was passed over by QMJHL general managers to that point because of his previous announcement that he would play in the US collegiate system. He was subsequently drafted by the Remparts. A couple of weeks later, Esposito and the Remparts came to an agreement, allowing him to play for them the next year.

After showing impressive numbers in the pre-season, Esposito made the team's roster, centering the first line. Esposito scored in his first regular season game on his very first shift against the Rimouski Oceanic. By mid-season, Esposito was selected QMJHL "Rookie of the Month" twice and the "Offensive Player of the Week" once. Before completing his first season in the QMJHL, Esposito was already drawing comparisons to a former Remparts' star, Guy Lafleur [ cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=fa0c20a3-bfcb-43c4-bec8-517c30c68887&k=90354 |title=Humble Esposito flattered by praise |publisher=canada.com |accessdate=2008-09-03] .

After playing at the Under-17 World Junior Hockey Championship as the captain of Team Quebec, Esposito's offensive production slowed. He was temporarily assigned to the third line where he could play without the pressure of being on the first offensive line. He finished the 2005–2006 season with 98 points, the QMJHL's second-best total for a rookie, behind Claude Giroux. Along with wingers Mathieu Melanson (86 points) and Alexander Radulov (152 points), the Remparts' first line was the most productive scoring line in the entire league. That year, Esposito played a large role in the Remparts' Memorial Cup victory.

Esposito was at one time touted as a possible first-overall pick in the NHL entry draft, but declining offensive production at the junior level led to him eventually being picked twentieth overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins. On February 26th, 2008, the Penguins traded him to the Atlanta Thrashers along with Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, and a first-round draft pick in 2008 for Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis.

Esposito made his pro debut at the conclusion of the 2007-08 junior season, playing one game with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL [ cite web |url=http://thrashers.nhl.com/team/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8474185&service=page&tab=bio |title=Angelo Esposito Official Player Page |publisher=atlantathrashers.com |accessdate=2008-09-03] . On June 07, 2008, his junior rights were traded by the Remparts to the Montreal Junior.

International Play

Played for Team Quebec in:
*2006 World U-17 hockey challenge
**was named Captain
**won gold medalPlayed for Team Canada in:
*2006 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament (U-18 World Juniors)
**was named Captain
**won gold medal

Awards

QMJHL

"Player of the week"
*Week 2: 2005–09–26 to 2005–10–02

"Rookie of the month"
*October 2005
*November 2005

"Trophies"
*Michel Bergeron Trophy (offensive rookie): 2006
*QMJHL Rookie All-Star Team - 2006

Career Statistics

Trivia

*Angelo Esposito is not related to former NHL players Phil and Tony Esposito. He does, however, have uncles named Phil and Tony Esposito [ cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=fa0c20a3-bfcb-43c4-bec8-517c30c68887&k=90354 |title=Humble Esposito flattered by praise |publisher=canada.com |accessdate=2008-09-03]

*He attended Shattuck-Saint Mary's School in Faribault, Minnesota, following in the footsteps of future NHL stars Sidney Crosby, Zach Parise, and Jonathan Toews, among many others.

*Angelo Esposito's birthday (February 20) is the same as former NHL star Phil Esposito, and he wears number 7 on his jersey, the same number that Phil wore in the NHL

References

External links

*hockeydb|89534