Brian Gionta

Brian Gionta
Gionta with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016
Born	(1979-01-18) January 18, 1979 (age 45) Rochester, New York, U.S.
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight	178 lb (81 kg; 12 st 10 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	New Jersey Devils Montreal Canadiens Buffalo Sabres Boston Bruins
National team	United States
NHL draft	82nd overall, 1998 New Jersey Devils
Playing career	2001–2018

Brian Joseph Gionta (born January 18, 1979) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Gionta began his NHL career in 2001 with the New Jersey Devils and served as captain for both the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres. He also was the captain for the United States in the 2018 Winter Olympics, for which he stepped away from the NHL for most of its 2017–18 season (NHL refused to release its players to the Olympics for the first time since 1994). After the Olympics, he briefly played for the Boston Bruins, and retired following their elimination from the playoffs.

Playing career

As a youth, Gionta played in the 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Rochester, New York. ^[1]

Boston College

Gionta was drafted 82nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. The diminutive but fiery forward attended high school at the Aquinas Institute in Rochester, New York, where in 1993–94 he was selected as their Rookie of the Year. He then skated for Boston College from 1997 to 2001, winning a national championship as Eagles captain in the 2000–01 season. He was mentored by former NHL forward Marty Reasoner, also a Rochester native, and enjoyed his best statistical season in his freshman year on a line with Reasoner, posting 30 goals and 62 points in 40 games as the Eagles fell to the University of Michigan in the national championship game in Boston.

Gionta followed up with a 60-point season his sophomore year as Boston College was eliminated by their Hockey East rival, the University of Maine, in the Frozen Four semi-finals. In his junior year, he posted a 33-goal, 56-point season as the Eagles fell to the University of North Dakota in that year's national championship game.

In his senior season as captain, Gionta's point total dipped again to 54 points. Nevertheless, a roster stocked with future NHL talent produced a national championship as Boston College defeated North Dakota 3–2 in overtime in Albany, New York. During his senior season, he led the nation in goal-scoring with 33 goals, including a performance against the University of Maine in which he scored on each of his first five shots.

New Jersey Devils

Gionta, who joined the New Jersey Devils during the 2001–02 season, was a member of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals-winning team that prevailed over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he played for the Devils' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Albany River Rats. In 2006, he was a member of the 2006 United States' men's team that competed in Turin, Italy.

Gionta in 2014 as captain of the Montreal Canadiens

Largely serving on the right wing of the Devils' prolific "EGG" line – which included Patrik Eliáš and Scott Gomez – Gionta was one of the Devils' most effective offensive players during his tenure in New Jersey. On March 28, 2006, Gionta became the first Devils player to score 40 goals in a season since Eliáš and Alexander Mogilny each reached the mark in the 2000–01 season.

In the last game of the 2005–06 season, Gionta broke Pat Verbeek's franchise record for goals in a season, finishing with 48. In that season, he also finished with his highest point total to date, with 89 in all 82 games of the regular season. On October 27, 2007, Gionta scored the first Devils' goal in the history of the Prudential Center in the second period of a 4–1 loss to Ottawa. (Chris Neil scored the first ever).

Gionta played 473 regular season games in total for New Jersey, in addition to 67 Stanley Cup Playoff games. As of 2011 ^[update] , Gionta holds the franchise all-time power play goal-scoring record in one season, with 24.

Montreal Canadiens

On July 1, 2009, Gionta signed a five-year contract for $25 million with the Montreal Canadiens. It reunited him with former Devils teammate Scott Gomez. ^[2] Gionta scored the last goal at Pittsburgh's Civic Arena (known as Mellon Arena at the time) during Game 7 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Penguins, on May 12, 2010. ^[3]

Just prior to his second season with the club, in 2010–11, on September 29, 2010, Gionta became only the second American-born player to serve as team captain of the Canadiens, after Chris Chelios.

During the 2012–13 season, Gionta played in all 48 games of the lockout-shortened season and registered 14 goals and 12 assists ^[4] while leading the Canadiens on a remarkable comeback from last in the Eastern Conference to their 23rd Northeast Division title. ^[5] On March 5, 2013, Gionta scored the 20,000th NHL goal in the history of the Canadiens in a game against the New York Rangers. ^{[note 1]} Entering the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs as the second seed against the Ottawa Senators, Gionta tore his bicep in Game 1 and was forced to undergo season-ending surgery to repair it. ^[6]

Buffalo Sabres

On July 1, 2014, Gionta signed a three-year free-agent deal with hometown team, the Buffalo Sabres, for $4.25 million per year. ^[7] On October 7, 2014, Gionta was named captain of the Sabres, Becoming the first New York native to be named to the position. ^[8] Gionta played in his 1,000th NHL game on March 27, 2017 against the Florida Panthers in Buffalo. ^[9]

Boston Bruins

On February 25, 2018, Gionta signed a one-year, $700,000 contract for the remainder of the season with the Boston Bruins. ^[10]

Retirement

Gionta announced his retirement on September 24, 2018, ^[11] and revealed that he had joined the Sabres as a development coach. ^[11]

In January 2023, Niagara University announced that Gionta would join their D1 hockey team’s coaching staff as the Director of Player Development. ^[12]

International play

The Sabres opted not to re-sign Gionta in the 2017 offseason after reacquiring Jason Pominville in a trade. The Sabres' owned-and-operated American Hockey League club, the Rochester Americans, signed Gionta to their practice squad on October 9, 2017. Since the practice-only contract was not with the NHL, Gionta was able to participate in the Winter Olympics, following the NHL's announcement not to accommodate an Olympic break due to financial disputes with the IOC. ^[13] Gionta was officially named to Team USA's pre-Olympic roster on October 18, 2017, ^[14] and was named USA team captain. Gionta admitted turning down NHL offers to participate in the Olympics and intended to re-sign with the league after the Olympics ended. ^[15]

On January 29, 2018, the Americans upgraded Gionta's practice-squad contract to a one-game professional tryout contract, allowing him to play in a game for his hometown team on February 2, 2018 against the Toronto Marlies before leaving for the Olympics. Gionta scored a goal in the game, but the Americans lost 4-2.

Personal life

Gionta is the middle child of Sam and Penny Gionta. He and his wife, Harvest, have three children. ^[16] Gionta has a brother, Stephen, who played for the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders. He also has an older brother Joe, who also played for the Aquinas Institute Hockey Team and graduated in 1994. Brian Gionta has a home in the Rochester, New York area where his parents still reside.

Records

• New Jersey Devils record for most goals in a season (48 in 2005–06)

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1993–94	Aquinas Institute	HS-NY		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Rochester Jr. Americans	EmJHL		28	52	37	89	—		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Niagara Scenic	MetJHL		51	47	44	91	59		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Niagara Scenic	MetJHL		50	57	70	127	101		6	6	11	17	21
1997–98	Boston College	HE		40	30	32	62	44		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Boston College	HE		39	27	33	60	46		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Boston College	HE		42	33	23	56	66		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Boston College	HE		43	33	21	54	47		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Albany River Rats	AHL		37	9	16	25	18		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	New Jersey Devils	NHL		33	4	7	11	8		6	2	2	4	0
2002–03	New Jersey Devils	NHL		58	12	13	25	23		24	1	8	9	6
2003–04	New Jersey Devils	NHL		75	21	8	29	36		5	2	3	5	0
2004–05	Albany River Rats	AHL		15	5	7	12	10		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	New Jersey Devils	NHL		82	48	41	89	46		9	3	4	7	2
2006–07	New Jersey Devils	NHL		62	25	20	45	36		11	8	1	9	4
2007–08	New Jersey Devils	NHL		82	22	31	53	46		5	1	0	1	2
2008–09	New Jersey Devils	NHL		81	20	40	60	32		7	2	3	5	4
2009–10	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		61	28	18	46	26		19	9	6	15	14
2010–11	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		82	29	17	46	24		7	3	2	5	0
2011–12	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		31	8	7	15	16		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		48	14	12	26	8		2	0	1	1	0
2013–14	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		81	18	22	40	22		17	1	6	7	2
2014–15	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		69	13	22	35	18		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		79	12	21	33	12		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		82	15	20	35	22		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Rochester Americans	AHL		1	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Boston Bruins	NHL		20	2	5	7	2		1	0	0	0	0
NHL totals				1,026	291	304	595	377		113	32	36	68	34

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998	United States	WJC		7	5	3	8	0
1999	United States	WJC		6	6	5	11	6
2000	United States	WC		7	2	1	3	2
2001	United States	WC		9	2	0	2	6
2005	United States	WC		7	2	1	3	6
2006	United States	OLY		6	4	0	4	2
2018	United States	OLY		5	0	0	0	4
Junior totals				13	11	8	19	6
Senior totals				34	10	2	12	20

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-Hockey East Rookie Team	1997–98
Hockey East Rookie of the Year	1997–98
All-Hockey East Second Team	1997–98
AHCA East Second-Team All-American	1997–98
All-Hockey East First Team	1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01
AHCA East First-Team All-American	1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01
World Junior Championships All-Star Team	1999 [17]
Hockey East Player of the Year	2000–01
Stanley Cup	2003

Notes

^ 1: Michael Cammalleri had previously scored the 20,000th goal in Canadiens' franchise history in 2009. Cammalleri's mark included the Canadiens time in the National Hockey Association. ^[18]

References

1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
2. "Canadiens ink Gionta to five-year deal". The Sports Network. July 1, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
3. "Canadiens 5-2 Penguins (May 12, 2010) Final Score". ESPN. May 12, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
4. "Brian Gionta player profile". Montreal Canadiens. June 1, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
5. "2012-13 NHL Standings". National Hockey League. May 1, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
6. "Brian Gionta to undergo surgery". habseyesontheprize.com. May 8, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
7. "Gionta glad to be with hometown Buffalo Sabres". National Hockey League. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
8. GIONTA NAMED SABRES CAPTAIN
9. "Brian Gionta's 1,000-game milestone one for the underdog". Democrat and Chronicle . March 27, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
10. "Bruins Sign Brian Gionta To One-Year Contract". NHL.com. February 25, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
11. "Brian Gionta announces retirement after 16 NHL seasons". Sportsnet.ca. September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
12. "Niagara Hockey Adds Brian Gionta To Coaching Staff". Niagara University. January 12, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
13. Filipowski, Nick (October 9, 2017). "Gionta to skate with Amerks, prepare for international competition". WIVB-TV. Retrieved October 9, 2017.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
14. Schlager, Brandon (October 18, 2017). "A peak at Pyeongchang: USA Hockey announces roster for pre-Olympic tournament". The Sporting News. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
15. Hoppe, Bill (November 8, 2017). "Former Sabres captain Brian Gionta excited to represent Team USA". Olean Times Herald. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
16. "Gionta becomes dad for third time". 25stanley.com (in French). May 18, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
17. Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, p.530, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Canada, ISBN   978-1-55468-621-6
18. Kreda, Allan (March 5, 2013). "Isles send Habs to 1st regulation loss in month". The Hour. Associated Press.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Greg Koehler	Hockey East Rookie of the Year 1997–98	Succeeded by Darren Haydar
Preceded by Ty Conklin Mike Mottau	Hockey East Player of the Year 2000–01	Succeeded by Darren Haydar
Preceded by Cory Larose	Hockey East Scoring Champion 2000–01	Succeeded by Darren Haydar
Preceded by Award created	Hockey East Three-Stars Award 2000–01	Succeeded by Colin Hemingway
Sporting positions
Preceded by Saku Koivu	Montreal Canadiens captain 2010–14	Succeeded by Max Pacioretty
Preceded by Steve Ott	Buffalo Sabres captain 2014–17	Succeeded by Jack Eichel