Tony Esposito facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tony Esposito
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1988
Esposito with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1973
Born	(1943-04-23)April 23, 1943 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Died	August 10, 2021(2021-08-10) (aged 78) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Right
Played for	Montreal Canadiens Chicago Black Hawks
National team	Canada and  United States
Playing career	1967–1984

Anthony James "Tony O" Esposito (April 23, 1943 – August 10, 2021) was a famous ice hockey goaltender. He played for 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Most of his career, 15 seasons, was with the Chicago Black Hawks.

Tony Esposito helped create the "butterfly style" of goaltending. This style is very popular today. He was the younger brother of Phil Esposito, another hockey legend. Both brothers are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Blackhawks honored Tony by retiring his jersey number 35 in 1988.

Esposito won the Vezina Trophy three times. This award went to the goalie whose team allowed the fewest goals. In 1970, he set an NHL record with 15 shutouts in one season. A shutout means the other team scores zero goals. He also won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie player that year. Tony was chosen for the league's First All-Star Team three times. He also played for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union. In 2017, he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' ever.

Tony Esposito's Hockey Journey

Starting Out in Hockey

Tony Esposito grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. His older brother, Phil Esposito, also became a famous NHL player. Phil once joked that Tony became a goalie because he always lost when they played. Tony played college ice hockey for Michigan Tech.

He was a top college player for three years. Tony helped his team, the Michigan Tech Huskies, win the NCAA Championship in 1965. He was chosen as an All-American player multiple times.

Tony turned professional in 1967. He played for the Vancouver Canucks and the Houston Apollos.

He first played in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens in the 1968–69 season. He was 25 years old. Tony was one of the first American college players drafted by an NHL team. He played 13 games that season when other goalies were injured. The Canadiens won the Stanley Cup that year, and Tony's name was added to it. Because the Canadiens had many good goalies, Tony was available for other teams to pick in 1969.

Becoming a Star Goalie

In the 1969–70 season, the Chicago Black Hawks picked Tony. He had an amazing season with Chicago. He had a low GAA of 2.17. He also set a modern NHL record with 15 shutouts. For this, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie. He also won the Vezina Trophy and was named to the First All-Star team. This record-setting season earned him the nickname "Tony O." The "O" stood for the many zeros he kept on the scoreboard for opponents.

In 1970–71, he was still one of the best goalies. He helped the Black Hawks reach the Stanley Cup Final. They lost to Montreal in seven games. The next season, 1971–72, he had his lowest GAA ever (1.77). He shared the Vezina Trophy with his backup goalie, Gary Smith. He was again named to the NHL's First All-Star team.

Tony Esposito played for Team Canada in the Summit Series in September 1972. This was a big series against the Soviet Union. He was the first goalie to beat the Soviets. He had the best stats of all the goalies in the series. His brother Phil also played incredibly well in this series.

In 1972–73, the Hawks made it to the Stanley Cup Final again. They lost to Montreal in six games. Tony was named to the NHL's Second All-Star team. The 1973–74 season was another great one for him. He had a 2.04 GAA and 10 shutouts. Tony won his third Vezina Trophy, sharing it with Bernie Parent. He was also a Second Team All-Star again.

The Black Hawks team became less strong in later years. But Tony remained one of the best goalies in the NHL. In 1979–80, he had a great season with six shutouts. He made the First All-Star team for the third time. In 1981, he became an American citizen. He then played for Team USA in the Canada Cup. He played a few more seasons in Chicago. He retired after the 1983–84 season.

Tony Esposito's Goaltending Style

Tony Esposito had a unique way of playing goalie. He didn't like to stand up too much. He felt that standing up made it harder to cover the net. Instead, he would move out from the net as players shot. He called his style "aggressive goaltending." He would "attack the puck."

He believed in playing the angles against the shooter. He would start further out from the goal crease. Then, he would move back as the shooter got closer. This was a new way to play goalie at the time.

Special Achievements and Facts

Tony Esposito was one of only eight goalies to win the Vezina Trophy while catching the puck with his right hand. This means he was left-handed, using his strong left hand for his stick and blocker.

He was the second NHL player to wear the number 35. This number is now common for goalies. He got it during training camp in 1969 because numbers 1 and 30 were already taken. After getting a shutout in his first game with it, he decided to keep it. His number 35 was retired by the Blackhawks on November 20, 1988.

Tony was known to be a bit superstitious. He didn't like hockey sticks crossed. He always lined up his sticks in a certain way. He also wore contact lenses throughout his career.

Life After Hockey

Tony Esposito retired from playing in 1984. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988. His number 35 was retired by the Blackhawks on the same day.

After playing, Tony became the General Manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He helped draft Mark Recchi and traded for goalie Tom Barrasso. In 1991, his brother Phil started the Tampa Bay Lightning. Phil hired Tony as the chief scout for the team. Both brothers left the team in 1998.

In 1998, The Hockey News ranked Tony as number 79 on their list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players. His brother Phil was ranked much higher at number 18.

In 2007, Tony and Phil were both added to the Sault Ste. Marie Walk of Fame. On March 19, 2008, the Chicago Blackhawks held "Tony Esposito Night." He was named an Ambassador for the team. The Blackhawks goalies that night wore his number 35 during warm-ups.

Personal Life

Tony Esposito was married to Marilyn. They had two sons, Mark and Jason. Tony Esposito passed away on August 10, 2021. He was 78 years old and died from pancreatic cancer.

Awards and Honours

• Stanley Cup Champion (1969)
• Calder Memorial Trophy (1970)
• NHL First All-Star Team Goalie (1970, 1972, 1980)
• NHL Second All-Star Team Goalie (1973, 1974)
• Vezina Trophy (1970, 1972, 1974)
• NHL All-Star Game Goalie (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1980)
• Member of Canada men's national ice hockey team at 1972 Summit Series and 1977 World Championship
• Played for US national men's hockey team in the 1981 Canada Cup
• His #35 was retired by the Chicago Blackhawks on November 20, 1988
• Ranked #79 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players (1998)
• Hockey Hall of Fame (1988)

See also

In Spanish: Tony Esposito para niños