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Tony Esposito

Retired As A Player

During his last season in the NHL, 1983-84, Esposito was one of the oldest players in the league, and had problems with his coach, Orval Tessier. Esposito refused to play in the last game of the regular season, after being benched when he lost on February 5. Esposito was not invited to the Chicago Blackhawks' training camp in September 1984, then was released by the team.

Chronology

1943	Born on April 23 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
1962-63	Plays for the Junior A Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
1963-67	Attends Michigan Technical University as scholarship athlete
1967	Graduates from Michigan Tech with degree in business; turns professional as a hockey player; plays for the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Hockey League
1968-69	Plays in 19 games for the Houston Apollos of the Central Hockey League; Joins the Montreal Canadiens for 13 games
1969	Picked up by Chicago Blackhawks in the intraleague draft
1969-84	Appears in post-season every year with the Blackhawks
1984	Retires from professional hockey after being released by the Blackhawks
1988	Becomes general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins
1989	Fired as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins
1992	Becomes director of hockey operations and assistant general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightening
1998	Fired from Tampa Bay Lightening

Awards and Accomplishments

1965	Won NCAA championship with Michigan Tech; NCAA West First All-American Team; WCHA First Team All-Star; NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team
1966-67	WCHA First Team All-Star; NCAA West First All-American Team
1970	Won Vezina Trophy as NHL's best goaltender; Won Calder Trophy as best rookie; All-Star (first team); appeared in All-Star game
1971	Played in All-Star Game
1972	Won Vezina Trophy (with Gary Smith); All-Star (first team); played in All-Star Game
1973	All-Star (second team); played in All-Star Game
1974	Won Vezina Trophy (tied with Philadelphia Flyer Bernie Parent); All-Star (second team); played in All-Star game
1980	All-Star (first team); played in All-Star game
1988	Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame; his number 35 was retired by the Chicago Blackhawks

After the release, Esposito retired as a player. When he retired, his regular season record was 423-307-151, with seventy-six shutouts and a 2.92 goals against average. In ninety-nine playoff games, he had a 3.07 goals against average and six shutouts. While he played with the Blackhawks, the team made the playoffs every season. In 1988, Esposito was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, the same year his number was retired by the Chicago Blackhawks.

Additional topics

Famous Sports StarsHockeyTony Esposito Biography - Played Junior And College Hockey, Picked Up By The Blackhawks, Played In Summit Series, Retired As A Player - CONTACT INFORMATION