Michael Pezzetta

Last updated

Michael Pezzetta
Born (1998-03-13) 13 March 1998 (age 26)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team Montreal Canadiens
NHL draft 160th overall, 2016
Montreal Canadiens
Playing career 2018present

Michael Pezzetta (born March 13, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the sixth round, 160th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Contents

Playing career

Junior

Originally selected 11th overall by the Sudbury Wolves in the 2014 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection, Pezzetta made his OHL debut during the 2014–15 season. [1] On January 9, 2018, during his overage season with Sudbury, Pezzetta was traded to the Sarnia Sting. [2]

Professional

Pezzetta signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens on March 7, 2018, [3] and would make his professional debut during the 2018–19 season with the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket.

During the 2021–22 season, on November 1, 2021, Pezzetta was recalled by the Canadiens and made his NHL debut the following night versus the Detroit Red Wings. [4] In his rookie season with the Canadiens, Pezzetta collected five goals and six assists in 51 games for 11 points, and led the team in penalty minutes with 81. [5] In the midst of a terrible season for the team, Pezzetta endeared himself to many fans with his effort. [6]

Pezzetta signed a one-year, $750,000 deal to remain with the Canadiens for the 2022–23 season. [5] Initially seeing little ice time as the team's 13th forward, a spate of injuries eventually moved him regularly into the lineup again. Appearing in 63 games, he managed seven goals and eight assists, while leading the team in hits (239) and with the most penalty minutes among team forwards. [7] Pezzetta drew headlines for scoring the shootout-winning goal in a March 27, 2023, game against the Buffalo Sabres and then celebrating in the style made famous by Tiger Williams. [8] [9]

On June 2, 2023, Pezzetta signed a new two-year contract with the Canadiens. He expressed enthusiasm for the organization, saying "there's so much history and the fans are wild and it's such a loud and just fun atmosphere to be a part of. You want to stick around in this atmosphere for as long as you can." [10] [11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2014–15 Sudbury Wolves OHL 61571256
2015–16 Sudbury WolvesOHL6410182898
2016–17 Sudbury WolvesOHL541091988520217
2017–18 Sudbury WolvesOHL3515163153
2017–18 Sarnia Sting OHL2781321261211215
2018–19 Laval Rocket AHL 55641077
2018–19 Maine Mariners ECHL 30006
2019–20 Laval RocketAHL3222463
2020–21 Laval RocketAHL2023530
2021–22 Laval RocketAHL833616
2021–22 Montreal Canadiens NHL 51561181
2022–23 Montreal CanadiensNHL63781577
2023–24 Montreal CanadiensNHL61391259
NHL totals175152338217

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2014 Canada White U17 5th50222
Junior totals50222

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References

  1. "Wolves Sign Pezzetta". CHL.ca. Sudbury Wolves. May 31, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  2. "TRADE ALERT: Sting Add High Compete & Experience in Michael Pezzetta". CHL.ca. Sarnia Sting. January 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  3. "Canadiens agree to terms with Pezzetta, Bitten". Montreal Canadiens. March 7, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2021 via NHL.com.
  4. "DET@MTL: Game Recap". Montreal Canadiens. November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021 via NHL.com.
  5. 1 2 "One-year contract extension for Michael Pezzetta". Montreal Canadiens. July 11, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2023 via NHL.com.
  6. Stephens, Mike (July 11, 2022). "Canadiens sign Pezzetta to one-year extension". The Hockey News . Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  7. "Canadiens sign Pezzetta to two-year contract extension". Sportsnet.ca. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  8. Cowan, Stu (March 27, 2023). "Pezzetta pays tribute to Tiger Williams with his shootout celebration". Montreal Gazette . Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  9. "Tigers Williams on Michael Pezzetta's celebration: 'I should've given him a lesson before he did it'". Sportsnet.ca. March 29, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  10. Cowan, Stu (June 2, 2023). "Canadiens' new two-year deal with Michael Pezzetta is a win for both sides". Montreal Gazette . Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  11. "Michael Pezzetta: "I love it here"". Montreal Canadiens. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023 via NHL.com.