Tom Kostopoulos | |||
---|---|---|---|
![]() Kostopoulos with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2015 | |||
Born | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | January 24, 1979||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
Weight | 204 lb (93 kg; 14 st 8 lb) | ||
Position | Right wing | ||
Shot | Right | ||
Played for | Pittsburgh Penguins Los Angeles Kings Montreal Canadiens Carolina Hurricanes Calgary Flames New Jersey Devils | ||
NHL draft | 204th overall, 1999 Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
Playing career | 1999–2018 |
Thomas George Kostopoulos (Greek : Θωμάς Κωστόπουλος; born January 24, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He most notably played in the National Hockey League (NHL) before playing his career with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL). Kostopoulos was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the seventh round (204th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, and the 2017–18 season was his 19th year as a professional hockey player.
In his early years, Kostopoulos graduated from Fairwind Senior Public School in 1993.[ citation needed ] As a youth, he played in the 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Toronto Red Wings minor ice hockey team. [1] After playing much of his minor hockey in the GTHL with the Toronto Marlboros and Mississauga Reps, Kostopoulos played one year with the Brampton Capitals of the OJHL (OHA).[ citation needed ] He was a 2nd round pick (18th overall) in the 1996 OHL Priority Selection by the London Knights.
Kostopoulos was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the seventh round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Before that he played junior hockey with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. He made his professional minor-league hockey debut with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. Kostopoulos made his NHL debut with the Penguins in the 2001–02 season and enjoyed his best season so far with Pittsburgh in 2003–04. During the 2005 off season, he played with the Manchester Monarchs, having signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Kings. [2] On July 3, 2007 he signed a free-agent contract with the Montreal Canadiens. [3]
On January 22, 2008, he recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick in an 8–2 victory against the Boston Bruins. [4]
On November 10, 2008, Kostopoulos was suspended for three games for a hit on Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Van Ryn during the game between the teams on November 8. He was given a boarding major penalty and ejected from the game. Kostopoulos also forfeited US-$33,000 in pay. [5] Kostopoulos responded about the incident by saying," First and foremost, I sincerely regret the injuries suffered by Mike Van Ryn...this is an unfortunate turn of events. I was just trying to get in on the forecheck and get the puck. I didn't anticipate him turning and couldn't stop. I was trying to finish my check and obviously it did not end up well. I never intend on injuring another player. I feel bad. I hope he is going to be all right and resume playing as quickly as possible." [6] NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell said in announcing the suspension that while Van Ryn was not in a defenceless position, his injuries—including a concussion—were significant enough to warrant suspending Kostopoulos. [7]
Kostopoulos was again suspended for a January 7, 2011, hit which broke Brad Stuart's jaw. Kostopoulos was assessed a minor roughing penalty during the game, but then served a six-game suspension for making primary contact with the head. [8]
On January 23, 2013, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL announced Kostopoulos had signed with the team on a Professional Try Out. [9] On March 5, 2013, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed Kostopoulos to a one-year two-way contract [10] but was claimed off waivers by the New Jersey Devils the following day. [11]
On September 3, 2013, Kostopoulos signed a one-year AHL contract to continue to play with and lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. [12]
On April 4, 2018, Kostopoulos announced he planned on retiring at the conclusion of the 2017–18 season, his 19th professional year. [13] After retiring, he joined the Penguins organization as a player development coach. [14]
Kostopoulos was born in Mississauga, Ontario, on January 24, 1979. [15] He names his brother Chris, a coach in Texas, as his biggest influence in hockey. Kostopoulos has three nephews, Cameron, Tyler, and Josh who live in Texas with his brother Chris. [16] Kostopoulos also has one half sister, Laurie Bodley. They spend their offseasons in Oakville, Ontario. [16]
Kostopoulos and his wife Lisa have two children together. [17] [18]
His mother is Cheryl Kostopoulos, who is of English heritage, and his father is George Kostopoulos, who is Greek.
He is of Greek descent, and in 2008 was the grand marshal of the Hellenic Community of Montreal's Greek Independence Day parade. [19] Kostopoulos is involved with the Canadian Cancer Society as well as Garth Brooks' Teammates For Kids Foundation. [16]
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1995–96 | Brampton Capitals | OPJHL | 24 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1996–97 | London Knights | OHL | 64 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1997–98 | London Knights | OHL | 66 | 24 | 26 | 50 | 108 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 26 | ||
1998–99 | London Knights | OHL | 66 | 27 | 60 | 87 | 114 | 25 | 19 | 16 | 35 | 32 | ||
1999–00 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 76 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 121 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2000–01 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 80 | 16 | 36 | 52 | 120 | 21 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 6 | ||
2001–02 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2001–02 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 70 | 27 | 26 | 53 | 112 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2002–03 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 71 | 21 | 42 | 63 | 131 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | ||
2002–03 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2003–04 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 21 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 43 | 24 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 3 | ||
2003–04 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 60 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2004–05 | Manchester Monarchs | AHL | 64 | 25 | 46 | 71 | 99 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | ||
2005–06 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 76 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 100 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2006–07 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 76 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2007–08 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 67 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 113 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | ||
2008–09 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 78 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 106 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
2009–10 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 82 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 106 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2010–11 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 17 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2010–11 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 59 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2011–12 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 81 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2012–13 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 17 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2012–13 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2013–14 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 71 | 22 | 25 | 47 | 72 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 20 | ||
2014–15 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 72 | 16 | 28 | 44 | 62 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 | ||
2015–16 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 75 | 19 | 33 | 52 | 97 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 4 | ||
2016–17 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 74 | 24 | 30 | 54 | 49 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
2017–18 | Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 31 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
AHL totals | 722 | 211 | 329 | 540 | 980 | 100 | 23 | 51 | 74 | 101 | ||||
NHL totals | 630 | 61 | 96 | 157 | 723 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania, just outside the city of Wilkes-Barre. They have won the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy twice for having the best record in the regular season.
Michel Therrien is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach. (NHL). Therrien formerly coached the Montreal Canadiens, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers.
Ryan Whitney is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He is an analyst on NHL Network and a co-host of the Barstool Sports hockey podcast Spittin' Chiclets with former NHL enforcer Paul Bissonnette. In 2019, New Amsterdam Vodka collaborated with Whitney to create a pink lemonade-flavored vodka called Pink Whitney.
Jean-Phillipe Marc Joseph Côté is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He appeared in 27 games in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2005–06 and 2013–14 seasons. The rest of his career, which lasted from 2003 to 2018, was mainly spent in the minor leagues. He is the son of former NHL player Alain Côté.
Paul Albert Bissonnette, nicknamed "Biz Nasty", is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Phoenix Coyotes.
Tom Sestito is an American former professional ice hockey forward. He most recently played with the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League (AHL). He has previously played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Vancouver Canucks in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Andy Chiodo is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Chiodo played eight games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2003–04 season, for whom he is presently a goaltending coach. The rest of his career, which lasted from 2003 to 2017, was mainly spent in European leagues.
Tim Brent is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played over 200 games in the National Hockey League (NHL), most notably for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes.
Mark Letestu is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He played in eleven seasons of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets.
Todd Michael Richards is an American ice hockey coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Pierre-Luc Létourneau-Leblond is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins. In July of 2023, he was inducted into the New York Hockey Hall of Fame. He played a physical game and is known as an agitator and a fighter. He was an extremely tough player, who very rarely fell when fighting. He is known as having some of the longest fights.
Eric Tangradi is an American former professional ice hockey left winger. He played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, and Barys Nur-Sultan in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Tangradi was drafted 42nd overall in the 2nd round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks.
Jarred Michael Tinordi is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Calgary Wranglers in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 22nd overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Tinordi was also drafted in the seventh round by Metallurg Magnitogorsk during the 2010 KHL Junior Draft.
Oskar Sundqvist is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Gregory Pateryn is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He was selected in the fifth round, 125th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and played for the Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks.
Robert T. Farnham is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who last played for Belfast Giants in British Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). He previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.
Ethan Prow is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing with the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Joseph Cramarossa is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for Löwen Frankfurt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Jean-Sébastien Dea is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently under contract with HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Casey DeSmith is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He holds the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins record for most saves in a playoff game. DeSmith was named to the AHL's 2016–17 All-Rookie Team and was a co-recipient of the 2017 Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award.