Joe Vitale (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Joe Vitale is an American
ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins
organization of the National Hockey League
. Vitale began his professional career in 2009 with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
of the American Hockey League
.
in St. Louis, Missouri
, where he was part of three state championships, two undefeated seasons and one national title. He also played for the St. Louis Jr. Blues
of the Central States Hockey League
for two seasons, including a national championship in 2003-04. In 2004-05, he played for the Sioux Falls Stampede
of the United States Hockey League
.
On July 30, 2005, Vitale was drafted by the Penguins with the 195th selection in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft
. He enrolled in Northeastern University and began his college career as a freshman in 2005-06. He was named Hockey East
Rookie of the Week in February and received Northeastern's Ed Arrington Memorial Rookie of the Year Award. In 2006-07, he was named alternate captain of the squad as a sophomore and was named to Hockey East's All-Academic Team. As a junior in 2007-08, he was named All-New England and New England's Most Improved Player, was named to the All-Hockey East Second Team, and was Northeastern's Most Valuable Player. Vitale's college career concluded when Northeastern lost to Cornell
in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Northeastern's first trip to the NCAA tournament in 15 years. He finished his career at Northeastern with 34 goals and 60 assists for 94 points and 268 penalty minutes in 143 games.
. He finished the season with 4 points in 5 regular season games. Vitale also played in all 12 of the Penguins playoff games. During the 2009–10 season, Vitale played in 74 games in the AHL, scoring six goals and recording 26 assists for a total of 32 points. In January 2010, the Penguins and Vitale agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2011–12 season.
Vitale made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 10, 2011 against the Los Angeles Kings
. On February 16, 2011, Vitale scored his first NHL goal against Peter Budaj
of the Colorado Avalanche
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ice hockey player for 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...
organization of 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...
. Vitale began his professional career in 2009 with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
of 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...
.
Amateur career
Joe Vitale graduated from Christian Brothers College High SchoolChristian Brothers College High School
Christian Brothers College High School , is a Lasallian Catholic college preparatory school for young men in St. Louis, Missouri. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis and is owned and operated by the De La Salle Christian Brothers Midwest District.-Early years :The school...
in St. Louis, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, where he was part of three state championships, two undefeated seasons and one national title. He also played for the St. Louis Jr. Blues
St. Louis Jr. Blues
The St. Louis Jr. Blues are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League . The team plays their home games at the Affton Ice Rink in Affton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...
of the Central States Hockey League
Central States Hockey League
The North American 3 Hockey League is an American Tier III Junior "A" ice hockey league that consists of 16 teams from Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Pennsylvania....
for two seasons, including a national championship in 2003-04. In 2004-05, he played for the Sioux Falls Stampede
Sioux Falls Stampede
The Sioux Falls Stampede is a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League . Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Stampede plays its home games at the Sioux Falls Arena....
of the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
.
On July 30, 2005, Vitale was drafted by the Penguins with the 195th selection in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft
2005 NHL Entry Draft
The 2005 NHL Entry Draft was the 43rd NHL Entry Draft.As a lockout cancelled the games of the 2004–05 NHL season, the draft order was determined by lottery on July 22, 2005. Teams were assigned 1 to 3 balls based on their playoff appearances and first overall draft picks from the past three years...
. He enrolled in Northeastern University and began his college career as a freshman in 2005-06. He was named Hockey East
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....
Rookie of the Week in February and received Northeastern's Ed Arrington Memorial Rookie of the Year Award. In 2006-07, he was named alternate captain of the squad as a sophomore and was named to Hockey East's All-Academic Team. As a junior in 2007-08, he was named All-New England and New England's Most Improved Player, was named to the All-Hockey East Second Team, and was Northeastern's Most Valuable Player. Vitale's college career concluded when Northeastern lost to Cornell
Cornell Big Red
The Cornell Big Red is the informal name of the sports teams, and other competitive teams, at Cornell University. The university sponsors 36 varsity sports, as well as numerous intramural and club teams. Cornell participates in NCAA Division I as part of the Ivy League.The men's and women's hockey...
in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Northeastern's first trip to the NCAA tournament in 15 years. He finished his career at Northeastern with 34 goals and 60 assists for 94 points and 268 penalty minutes in 143 games.
Professional career
On April 3, 2009, Vitale signed a one-year, entry level NHL contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2009-10 season. He also signed an Amateur Try-Out contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the remainder of the 2008-09 season. He recorded his first professional goal and assist on April 4, 2009 against the Albany River RatsAlbany River Rats
The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
. He finished the season with 4 points in 5 regular season games. Vitale also played in all 12 of the Penguins playoff games. During the 2009–10 season, Vitale played in 74 games in the AHL, scoring six goals and recording 26 assists for a total of 32 points. In January 2010, the Penguins and Vitale agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2011–12 season.
Vitale made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 10, 2011 against the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. On February 16, 2011, Vitale scored his first NHL goal against Peter Budaj
Peter Budaj
Peter Budaj is a Slovak professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
of 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...
.
Career statistics
| 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 | ||
| 2004–05 | Sioux Falls Stampede Sioux Falls Stampede The Sioux Falls Stampede is a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League . Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Stampede plays its home games at the Sioux Falls Arena.... |
USHL United States Hockey League The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger... |
53 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Northeastern University | 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.... |
31 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Northeastern University | HE | 35 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Northeastern University | HE | 37 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Northeastern University | HE | 40 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza... |
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... |
5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | ||
| 2009–10 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 74 | 6 | 26 | 32 | 70 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 60 | 9 | 21 | 30 | 64 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 18 | ||
| 2010–11 | 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... |
NHL | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||