Bob Nardella | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born | Melrose Park, Illinois, U.S. | February 2, 1968||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||
Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) | ||
Position | Defense | ||
Shot | Right | ||
Played for | Alleghe Hockey Chicago Wolves Adler Mannheim Quad City Mallards Milano Vipers Rockford IceHogs | ||
National team | Italy | ||
Playing career | 1991–2006 | ||
Coaching career | 2012–present |
Robert Nardella, Jr (born February 2, 1968) is an Italian-American former professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently the head coach of the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Following his NCAA career with Ferris State University, Nardella competed in the Italian Hockey League, Deutsche Eishockey Liga, International Hockey League, and American Hockey League. During his career, he played for the Alleghe Hockey, Chicago Wolves, Adler Mannheim, Quad City Mallards, Milano Vipers, and Rockford IceHogs. Nardella spent the majority of his professional career playing with the Chicago Wolves, where he set a franchise record for most points by a defenseman with 298. He also helped them win the International Hockey League’s Turner Cup in 1998 and 2000 and the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup in 2002.
Nardella has represented Italy internationally at the 1998 Winter Olympics and 2006 Winter Olympics, as well as at the 1995, 1996, and 1997 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.
As a youth, Nardella played Minor ice hockey for the Chicago Jesters. [1] Nardella later attended Holy Cross High School for two years before completing his junior and senior high school years in Iowa while playing with the Des Moines Buccaneers in the United States Hockey League. [2] While with the Buccaneers, Nardella set a franchise record for most points scored in a season with 111 points during the 1987–88 season. [3]
As a college walk-on for Ferris State University, Nardella played three seasons with the Bulldogs putting up 74 points in 108 games. In his last season with the team, Nardella transitioned into a defensive position, on the encouragement of coach Bob Mancini, [4] and had a breakout year, putting up 40 points in 42 games. While this was not enough to attract attention from National Hockey League scouts, he was recruited by Italian third division teams. Due to his grandfather's Italian nationality, Nardella qualified for those teams as a national member. [5] Nardella joined the HC Alta Badia for the 1991-92 season. He was then moved to the top tier Italian Hockey League team, Alleghe Hockey, for the next two seasons. [5]
Nardella then joined the Chicago Wolves for their inaugural season in the International Hockey League. [5] During this time, Nardella competed in the 1995 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. He was also later named to Italy's 1996, and 1997 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships roster. [6] [7] In 1998, Nardella was selected by the Team Italy for the 1998 Winter Olympics before returning to the Wolves. [5]
Nardella won the 2000 Turner Cup Championship with the Wolves, while leading all defensemen with 13 points. As a result of his play, Nardella was named to the IHL Second All-Star Team. [8] He re-signed with the Wolves after that season. [9] Following the 2001 Turner Cup, the Chicago Wolves and five other IHL teams were absorbed into the American Hockey League. [10] That season the Wolves won the 2002 Calder Cup, with Nardella accumulating 14 points. After six consecutive seasons with the Wolves spanning from 1997 until 2003, Nardella was released by the team on January 28, 2003, and he subsequently joined the Milano Vipers in Italy and played two games for the Quad City Mallards in the UHL. While with the Vipers, Nardella helped them win the Italian Elite League Championship by scoring nine points in 11 games. He re-joined the Wolves on March 17, 2004. [8] Nardella ended his career with the Wolves as the franchise record holder for most points by a defensemen with 298 points. [11]
While playing with the Rockford IceHogs in the 2005–06 season, Nardella was again selected to represent Italy at the 2006 Winter Olympics. [12] He retired after that season on April 21, 2006. [13]
In 2012, the Chicago Wolves hired Nardella to be the team's skills development coach. On December 15, 2012, Nardella was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame. [14] In 2014, he became a part time coaching assistant until he was promoted to full time assistant coach in 2017. [11] On June 13, 2023, he was promoted to head coach. [15]
In 2023, Nardella was suspended ten games by the AHL for allegedly using homophobic language against officials. [16]
Although Nardella was born in the United States, due to his grandfather's Italian heritage he was able to represent Italy internationally. [5] Because Nardella played in Italy for a few seasons, he earned Italian citizenship. [17]
While Nardella comes from a hockey involved family, he also encouraged his sons to become hockey players as well. His uncle Mike worked for the Chicago Blackhawks organization [18] and his cousin Frank played NCAA hockey for Dartmouth College. [19] While living in Rosemont with his wife Alicia, Nardella's elder son Bobby played NCAA hockey for the University of Notre Dame [18] [20] and his younger son Nicholas played in the North American Hockey League. [21]
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1986–87 | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | ||||||||||||
1987–88 | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | 44 | 67 | 111 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
1988–89 | Ferris State University | CCHA | 28 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1989–90 | Ferris State University | CCHA | 38 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1990–91 | Ferris State University | CCHA | 42 | 12 | 28 | 40 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1991–92 | HC Alta Badia | ITA.2 | 45 | 45 | 60 | 105 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1992–93 | Alleghe Hockey | ITA | 16 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 8 | ||
1992–93 | Alleghe Hockey | AL | 32 | 19 | 37 | 56 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1993–94 | Alleghe Hockey | ITA | 23 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1993–94 | Alleghe Hockey | AL | 30 | 13 | 36 | 49 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1994–95 | Chicago Wolves | IHL | 74 | 9 | 40 | 49 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | ||
1995–96 | HC Milano | ITA | 30 | 14 | 31 | 45 | 31 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 60 | ||
1995–96 | HC Milano | AL | 8 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1996–97 | Adler Mannheim | DEL | 50 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 59 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | ||
1997–98 | Chicago Wolves | IHL | 65 | 13 | 35 | 48 | 40 | 22 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 24 | ||
1998–99 | Chicago Wolves | IHL | 82 | 8 | 45 | 53 | 86 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||
1999–2000 | Chicago Wolves | IHL | 77 | 10 | 36 | 46 | 26 | 16 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 10 | ||
2000–01 | Chicago Wolves | IHL | 78 | 9 | 40 | 49 | 58 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 34 | ||
2001–02 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 52 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 47 | 24 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 12 | ||
2002–03 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 15 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2002–03 | Quad City Mallards | UHL | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2002–03 | HC Milano | ITA | 11 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 19 | ||
2003–04 | Rockford IceHogs | UHL | 44 | 7 | 38 | 45 | 82 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2003–04 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 13 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | ||
2005–06 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 20 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2005–06 | Rockford IceHogs | UHL | 26 | 3 | 19 | 22 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
ITA totals | 80 | 37 | 69 | 106 | 71 | 31 | 9 | 21 | 30 | 86 | ||||
IHL totals | 376 | 49 | 196 | 245 | 246 | 67 | 11 | 32 | 43 | 74 | ||||
AHL totals | 100 | 10 | 43 | 53 | 85 | 34 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 |
Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | Italy | WC | 7th | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | |
1996 | Italy | WC | 7th | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | |
1997 | Italy | WC | 8th | 8 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | |
1998 | Italy | OG | 12th | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
2006 | Italy | OG | 11th | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
Senior totals | 26 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 28 |
Award | Year | Ref |
---|---|---|
USHL | ||
USHL Forward of the Year | 1988 | [22] |
IHL | ||
IHL Second All-Star Team | 2000 | [8] |
Turner Cup | 1998, 2000 | |
AHL | ||
Calder Cup Champion | 2002 | [23] |
Christos Kostas Chelios is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He was one of the longest tenured players in the National Hockey League (NHL), and is a three-time Stanley Cup champion—one with the Montreal Canadiens and two with the Detroit Red Wings.
Nolan Baumgartner is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was formerly an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Baumgartner was selected by the Washington Capitals in the 1st round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He played parts of ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for six different teams between 1995 and 2010. Baumgartner played only one full season in the NHL, 2005–06 with the Vancouver Canucks, and spent most of his playing career in the AHL.
John Murray Anderson is a Canadian former ice hockey right winger. He was the head coach of the Chicago Wolves of the International Hockey League (IHL) and American Hockey League (AHL) from 1997 to 2008 and again from 2013 to 2016. In the National Hockey League (NHL), he is a former head coach of the Atlanta Thrashers and assistant coach of the Phoenix Coyotes and Minnesota Wild. He played 12 seasons in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, and Hartford Whalers.
Craig Berube is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. Nicknamed "Chief", Berube played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals and New York Islanders. After retirement, Berube served as head coach of the Flyers for two seasons, and the St. Louis Blues for parts of six seasons, winning the Stanley Cup in 2019 as then-interim head coach. Berube additionally served as national team scout for Canada at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, under Blues general manager Doug Armstrong.
Bruce James Cassidy, nicknamed "Butch", is a Canadian hockey coach and former professional ice hockey player. He is the current head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously served as the head coach of the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins. As a defenceman, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL. Cassidy won the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023.
Jason Krog is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre last contracted by Lørenskog IK in the Norwegian GET-ligaen (GET).
Lonny W. Bohonos is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He played most notably for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League and also appeared in several games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the later stages of his career, he played overseas in the Swiss Nationalliga A and Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
Dale "Digger" DeGray is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman who played 153 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was an eighth round selection, 182nd overall, of the Calgary Flames at the 1981 NHL Entry Draft and played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings and Buffalo Sabres in addition to the Flames before settling into a long minor league career. Internationally, DeGray represented Canada on one occasion; he was a member of the bronze medal winning team at the 1995 World Championship. DeGray is currently the general manager of the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and was named the OHL Executive of the Year in 2010–11.
Bruce Allan Boudreau is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He previously served as head coach of the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, and Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). As a player, Boudreau played professionally for 20 seasons, and was a third round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. He played 141 games in the NHL with the Maple Leafs and Chicago Black Hawks, and 30 games in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Minnesota Fighting Saints. Boudreau played most of his career in the American Hockey League (AHL) for various teams where he was known for his goals and point-scoring abilities, recording 316 goals and 483 assists for 799 points in 634 games.
Kevin G. Doell is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Atlanta Thrashers.
Stanley W. Drulia is an American former professional right winger and a scout for the Nashville Predators of the NHL as of December, 2018.
Danny Groulx is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the American Hockey League and Liiga. In 2018, Groulx was inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame and named the head coach of Riverains du collège Charles-Lemoyne Midget AAA team.
Justin Peters is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was selected in the second round, 38th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Timothy G. Breslin was a professional ice hockey left wing. Breslin played eight seasons in the International Hockey League (IHL) with the Phoenix Roadrunners and Chicago Wolves and part of a season in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays. He also played major league roller hockey in Roller Hockey International (RHI) with the Chicago Cheetahs.
Vezio Sacratini is a retired Italian-Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for various teams across Europe, most notably the Cardiff Devils, and the Italian national team. Sacratini was a member of the Italian team that finished 9th in the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Cole Schneider is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing with the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League (AHL). After leaving the University of Connecticut in 2012, he began his professional career with the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Colin Fraser is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings and the St. Louis Blues. Fraser is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, having won the Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010, and the Kings in 2012. Fraser was a part of the Kings for the 2014 season, but failed to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup that year. After retiring from professional hockey in 2015, Fraser returned to the Blackhawks to work in their scouting department.
Vince Dunn is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Robert Virgil Nardella III is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
David Gust is an American professional ice hockey winger currently playing with the Rockford IceHogs in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Chicago: Resign defenceman Chris LiPuma, Bob Nardella and Tom Tilley.
American Hockey League CHICAGO WOLVES -- Announced the retirement of D Bob Nardella.