Roberto Luongo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roberto Luongo |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 2022 | |||
Luongo practicing with the Vancouver Canucks in April 2009
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| Born | April 4, 1979 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 217 lb (98 kg; 15 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | New York Islanders Florida Panthers Vancouver Canucks |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| NHL Draft | 4th overall, 1997 New York Islanders |
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| Playing career | 1999–2019 | ||
Roberto Luongo (born April 4, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He is considered one of the best goalies of his generation. Luongo played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, and Vancouver Canucks. In 2022, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Luongo was a two-time NHL All-Star and won the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2011 for allowing the fewest goals in the league with his teammate Cory Schneider. He was a finalist for many major awards, including the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender and the Hart Memorial Trophy for the league's most valuable player. He is third all-time in games played by a goalie (1,044) and fourth all-time in wins (489). Luongo was known for using the butterfly style of goaltending.
Internationally, Luongo won two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014. After retiring as a player, he joined the Panthers' management and won the Stanley Cup as an executive in 2024 and 2025.
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Early Life and Start in Hockey
Luongo was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His father, Antonio, was an Italian immigrant, and his mother, Pasqualina, was Irish-Canadian. He grew up in a neighborhood with a large Italian community, just a few blocks away from future NHL goalie Martin Brodeur. Luongo speaks English, French, and Italian.
He started playing hockey at age eight as a forward. He wanted to be a goalie, but his parents wanted him to learn to skate first. When he was 11, his team's goalie didn't show up for a game. Luongo begged his mom to let him play in goal, and he earned a shutout. From then on, he focused on being a goaltender. The arena where he played as a kid in St. Leonard was later named the Roberto Luongo Arena in his honor.
Playing Career
Junior Hockey Success
In 1995, Luongo was drafted second overall by the Val-d'Or Foreurs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He quickly became a star. In the 1996–97 season, he won 32 games and was named the league's best professional prospect.
His great play got the attention of the NHL. In the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Islanders selected him fourth overall. At the time, he was the highest-drafted goalie in NHL history. He continued to play in the QMJHL, leading his teams to two President's Cup championships.
New York Islanders (1999–2000)
Luongo made his NHL debut with the Islanders on November 28, 1999. He played well, stopping 43 shots in a 2–1 win against the Boston Bruins. He quickly became the team's starting goalie.
However, his time with the Islanders was short. In 2000, the team drafted another goalie, Rick DiPietro, with the first overall pick. The Islanders then traded Luongo to the Florida Panthers. This trade would later be seen as a huge win for the Panthers, as Luongo became a superstar.
Florida Panthers (2000–2006)
With the Panthers, Luongo became one of the best goalies in the NHL. In the 2003–04 season, he set an NHL record for the most saves in a single season with 2,303. He was nominated for the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie.
Despite Luongo's amazing performances, the Panthers were not a strong team and missed the Stanley Cup playoffs during his time there. After the 2005–06 season, he and the team could not agree on a new contract, and he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks (2006–2014)
In Vancouver, Luongo immediately made a big impact. In his first season, 2006–07, he won a career-high 47 games and led the Canucks to the playoffs. He was a finalist for both the Hart Trophy (MVP) and the Vezina Trophy. In his first-ever playoff game, he made an incredible 72 saves in a quadruple-overtime win against the Dallas Stars.
Team Captaincy
In 2008, Luongo was named the captain of the Canucks. This was very unusual because NHL rules don't allow goalies to be official captains on the ice. He couldn't wear the "C" on his jersey, so he had it painted on his goalie mask instead. He served as captain for two seasons before stepping down to focus more on goaltending.
Stanley Cup Final and Later Years
In the 2010–11 season, Luongo had one of his best years. He and his backup, Cory Schneider, won the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals. The Canucks were the best team in the regular season and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins.
The series went to a dramatic Game 7, but the Canucks lost to the Bruins. Despite the loss, Luongo set team records for playoff wins and shutouts in a single year.
In the following seasons, Cory Schneider began to play more games. After the 2012–13 season, it seemed like Luongo might be traded. However, the Canucks surprised everyone by trading Schneider instead, making Luongo the starter again.
Return to Florida (2014–2019)
On March 4, 2014, Luongo was traded back to the Florida Panthers. Fans were excited to have him back. He continued to play at a high level and became the Panthers' all-time leader in games played, wins, and shutouts.
In 2015–16, he led the Panthers to the playoffs. On April 5, 2018, he played in his 1,000th NHL game, becoming only the third goalie in history to reach that milestone, after Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur.
After dealing with injuries, Luongo announced his retirement from hockey on June 26, 2019.
International Play
 Luongo during the quarterfinal against Russia at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver |
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| Medal record | ||
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| Representing Canada |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| Winter Olympics | ||
| Gold | 2014 Sochi | |
| Gold | 2010 Vancouver | |
| World Championships | ||
| Silver | 2005 Austria | |
| Gold | 2004 Czech Republic | |
| Gold | 2003 Finland | |
| World Cup | ||
| Gold | 2004 Canada | |
| World Junior Championships | ||
| Silver | 1999 Canada | |
Representing  Quebec |
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| World U-17 Hockey Challenge | ||
| Bronze | 1995 Canada | |
Luongo had a very successful career playing for Team Canada.
- World Championships: He won two gold medals (2003, 2004) and one silver medal (2005).
- World Cup of Hockey: He was part of the winning team in 2004.
- Olympic Games: Luongo played in three Olympics. In 2010, held in his NHL city of Vancouver, he took over as the starting goalie and led Canada to a gold medal. He won a second gold medal in 2014 as a backup to Carey Price.
Post-Playing Career
After retiring, Luongo joined the Florida Panthers' front office in 2019 as a special advisor. On March 7, 2020, the Panthers retired his number 1 jersey, making him the first player in franchise history to receive this honor.
As an executive, he helped build the Panthers team that won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025.
Personal Life
Luongo met his wife, Gina, while he was playing for the Panthers. They have a daughter and a son. Luongo is known for his sense of humor, especially on social media.
He is also involved in charity work. After the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, where he lives, Luongo gave a heartfelt speech before a game, honoring the victims and their families.
Awards and Records
NHL Awards
- William M. Jennings Trophy: 2011
- NHL Second All-Star Team: 2004, 2007
- NHL All-Star Game: 6 times
Team Records
Florida Panthers
- Most games played, wins, and shutouts in franchise history.
Vancouver Canucks
- Most wins and shutouts in franchise history.
- Most wins in a single season (47).
See also
In Spanish: Roberto Luongo para niños
