Vinny Saponari

Vinny Saponari
Saponari in 2023
Born	(1990-02-15) February 15, 1990 (age 34) Powder Springs, Georgia, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shoots	Right
DEL2 team Former teams	Eispiraten Crimmitschau St. John's IceCaps Milwaukee Admirals Hartford Wolf Pack Portland Pirates Lake Erie Monsters Frisk Asker HC Sparta Praha Krefeld Pinguine Augsburger Panther
NHL draft	94th overall, 2008 Atlanta Thrashers
Playing career	2013–present

Vinny Saponari (born February 15, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey right winger who is currently under contract with Eispiraten Crimmitschau of the DEL2.

Playing career

Saponari was drafted 94th overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. ^[1] After his draft selection, Saponari began playing for Boston University ^[2] but was dismissed in 2010 along with his brother Victor. ^[3] Following this, he spent a season in the United States Hockey League for the Dubuque Fighting Saints before returning to college hockey with two seasons at Northeastern University.

Saponari signed with the St. John's IceCaps of the American Hockey League at the tail-end of the 2012–13 season, playing in seven regular season games and scoring a goal and an assist. He signed with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL for the 2013–14 season in what would be his only consistent season in the league, playing fifty-eight games and scoring thirty-three points. Afterwards, he played predominantly in the ECHL over the next two seasons and only made brief appearances in the AHL for the Hartford Wolf Pack, Portland Pirates and the Lake Erie Monsters before returning to the Admirals for a brief spell there as well.

On September 10, 2016, Saponari left North America and signed for Frisk Asker of Norway's GET-ligaen. ^[4] On May 15, 2017, he moved to the Czech Republic and signed for HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga, ^{[5] [6]} but only played fifteen games for the team before returning to Frisk Asker on December 3, 2017, for the remainder of the season. ^[7] On July 22, 2018, Saponari signed with the Krefeld Pinguine of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. ^[8]

In the midst of his third season with Krefeld Pinguine in 2020–21, Saponari registered just 2 assists through 8 regular season contests before opting to mutually terminate his contract on February 1, 2021. ^[9]

On June 1, 2021, Saponari returned to the DEL, signing an initial one-year deal with Augsburger Panther. ^[10]

In his second year with Augsburg in the 2022–23 season, Saponari posted 3 goals and 15 points through 39 regular season games, however was unable to help prevent the Panthers finish in a relegation position. He left the club at the conclusion of his contract on March 17, 2023. ^[11]

On June 13, 2023, Saponari opted to continue his career in Germany, joining second tier club, ETC Crimmitschau of the DEL2. ^[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005–06	Culver Military Academy	USHS		42	16	37	53	24		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	U.S. National Development Team	NAHL		35	9	10	19	43		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	U.S. National Development Team	NAHL		15	1	7	8	0		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Boston University	HE		44	8	9	17	39		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Boston University	HE		38	12	18	30	32		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Dubuque Fighting Saints	USHL		56	18	46	64	35		11	5	4	9	6
2011–12	Northeastern University	HE		34	7	16	23	14		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Northeastern University	HE		34	7	22	29	24		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	St. John's IceCaps	AHL		7	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Cincinnati Cyclones	ECHL		14	1	10	11	4		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL		58	15	18	33	14		2	0	0	0	0
2014–15	Greenville Road Warriors	ECHL		68	18	51	69	16		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		3	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Portland Pirates	AHL		6	1	3	4	6		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Greenville Swamp Rabbits	ECHL		40	6	11	17	12		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL		11	0	3	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Frisk Asker	GET		43	15	36	51	14		17	7	14	21	36
2017–18	HC Sparta Praha	ELH		15	1	6	7	6		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Frisk Asker	GET		17	5	11	16	6		10	3	6	9	6
2018–19	Krefeld Pinguine	DEL		43	9	9	18	10		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Krefeld Pinguine	DEL		50	8	23	31	12		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Krefeld Pinguine	DEL		8	0	2	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Kassel Huskies	DEL2		20	4	19	23	4		11	5	8	13	2
2021–22	Augsburger Panther	DEL		46	12	12	24	16		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Augsburger Panther	DEL		39	3	12	15	14		—	—	—	—	—
DEL totals				186	32	58	90	54		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007	United States	U18			7	2	2	4	0
2008	United States	U18			7	0	3	3	33
Junior totals					14	2	5	7	33

References

1. Atlanta Thrashers Draft History
2. Vinny Saponari - Men's Ice Hockey - Boston University Athletics
3. BU Players Dismissed, Suspended
4. SISTE BRIKKEN ER PÅ PLASS! (in Norwegian)
5. POSILOU DO ÚTOKU JE AMERIČAN VINNY SAPONARI (in Czech)
6. SAPONARI: SPARTA HAS GREAT REPUTATION AND QUALITY
7. SUPPORTERFAVORITTEN ENDELIG KLAR (in Norwegian)
8. VINNY SAPONARI ENTSCHEIDET SICH FÜR DIE PINGUINE (in German)
9. Krefeld Pinguine (February 1, 2021). "Pinguine, Saponari part ways". Facebook . Retrieved February 1, 2021.
10. "Saponari first newcomer" (in German). Augsburger Panther. June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
11. "Further personnel decisions at the Panthers" (in German). Augsburger Panther. March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
12. "Vinny Saponari becomes an Ice Pirate" (in German). Eispiraten Crimmitschau. June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.

External links

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