Alex Pietrangelo

Alexander Pietrangelo (born January 18, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently serving as captain of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Petro", Pietrangelo has played for the Blues in every season since 2008. As a junior, he played with the Niagara IceDogs and Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In 2016, Pietrangelo was named captain of the Blues. Pietrangelo captained the Blues to their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history in 2019, where he tied the league-lead in the playoffs in assists and notably scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 7.

Alex Pietrangelo
Pietrangelo at the Blues Stanley Cup parade in 2019
Born	(1990-01-18) January 18, 1990 King City, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
NHL team	St. Louis Blues
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	4th overall, 2008 St. Louis Blues
Playing career	2008–present

Pietrangelo has competed with Team Canada at the junior and senior level, winning a gold medal win with Canada's under-20 team at the 2009 World Junior Championships. Individually, he was named Best Defenceman at the 2010 World Junior Championship and 2011 Men's World Championship. Pietrangelo was named to the 2014 Canadian Olympic hockey team and won a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Playing career

Minor

Pietrangelo at the Blues 2008 FanFest, weeks before signing his entry-level contract.

Pietrangelo played minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Area when he was growing up. He started to play hockey for the NobleKing Knights, Rep A team and then with the Richmond Hill Stars of the OMHA before playing three years with the Vaughan Kings of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). As a novice aged player (nine and under), Pietrangelo and his Toronto Pro Hockey Development teammates participated in the 2000 Brick Super Novice Tournament in Edmonton, Alberta. His teammates included Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Philip McRae and Michael Del Zotto. Toronto, however, was defeated in the tournament final by the Vancouver Pacific Vipers, on a goal by Jordan Eberle.[1][2] Pietrangelo was also a member of the All-Ontario Peewee AAA Champion Vaughan Kings team in 2003. He played three years in the Toronto Jr. Canadiens AAA system.[3] The Jr. Canadiens won Ontario's bantam championship in 2005, with Pietrangelo scoring the game-winning goal in the final against the Markham Waxers.[4]

Junior

After his successful minor hockey career, Pietrangelo was drafted third overall by the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Mississauga IceDogs in the first round of the 2006 OHL Priority Selection.[5] He scored at a near point-per-game pace in his rookie season with the IceDogs with 52 points in 59 games, then moved with the team to Niagara as the franchise relocated in 2007.

In September 2007, he was named Canadian Hockey League Player of the Week after recording three goals and four assists in two games.[6] In December 2007, TSN ranked Pietrangelo third overall among eligible skaters for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.[7] International Scouting Services described Pietrangelo as a "tremendous specimen in terms of size and skills"[8] and ranked him fifth among North American draft prospects at mid-season, then sixth in their final rankings leading up to the Draft.[9] After finishing his second OHL season with 53 points in 60 games, he was selected fourth overall by the St. Louis Blues at the Entry Draft on June 20, 2008.[10]

Pietrangelo during the 2010–11 season, his first full season with the Blues.

Coming into training camp, the Blues signed him to an entry-level contract on September 4, 2008.[11] Pietrangelo earned his way onto the team for opening night and played his first NHL game against the Nashville Predators on October 10, 2008.[12] Three days later, however, he suffered a head injury on October 13 in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, when Ryan Hollweg checked him from behind into the boards.[13] Pietrangelo returned shortly, and after playing eight games total for the Blues, he was sent back to his junior team, the Niagara IceDogs.[14] On April 10, 2009, he was assigned to the Blues' top minor league affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League (AHL), after his junior season had ended.[15]

Pietrangelo began the 2009–10 season on the Blues' roster for a second consecutive year, but played in only nine games by December 2009. After the Blues lent him to the Canadian under-20 team for the 2010 World Junior Championships, Pietrangelo was returned to the OHL. During the World Juniors, his OHL rights were traded from the IceDogs to the Barrie Colts.[16] Playing half a season with Barrie, he recorded 29 points in 25 games, while adding 14 points in 17 playoff games. Due to his long playoff run with the Colts, he did not have the opportunity to play in the AHL as he did the previous season.

Pietrangelo with the Blues during the 2013–14 season.

Professional

In 2010–11, Pietrangelo played his first full season with the Blues, leading all team defencemen with 43 points (11 goals and 32 assists) over 79 games. He also led team defencemen in plus-minus (+18) and shots (161), while ranking third in average ice time per game.[17] Due to his previous eight- and nine-game seasons in the NHL, he did not qualify as a rookie.[18] Comparatively, the league's leading scorer among rookie defencemen that season was teammate Kevin Shattenkirk, who was born a year earlier than Pietrangelo; he also recorded 43 points.[19] At the end of the 2011–12 season, Pietrangelo was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team.[20] On September 13, 2013, Pietrangelo agreed to a seven-year, $45 million contract with the Blues.[21] Pietrangelo was again named to the NHL Second All-Star Team during the 2013–14 season.

On August 24, 2016, Pietrangelo was named captain of the Blues.[1] In his second year as captain, he was injured in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on December 9 and was placed on injured reserve until December 19.[22] Despite his setback from injury, Pietrangelo was selected for his first NHL All-Star Game where he won the All-Star passing challenge.[23] Pietrangelo also set a new career-high in points and goals at the conclusion of the regular season. On June 12, 2019, Pietrangelo and the Blues defeated the Boston Bruins to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Pietrangelo scored the cup-winning goal in Game 7 after being set up by Jaden Schwartz. During the 2019 playoffs, Pietrangelo tied with Bruins defenceman Torey Krug for leading the league in assists and lead the league in scoring amongst defenceman.

On December 29, 2019, Pietrangelo got his 326th assist, topping Al MacInnis as the most by a Blues defenseman. Pietrangelo was selected to play in his second All-Star Game, along with Blues teammates Ryan O'Reilly, David Perron and Jordan Binnington.

International play

Pietrangelo at the 2010 World Junior Championships
Medal record
Representing Canada
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
	2014 Sochi
Canada Cup / World Cup
	2016 Toronto
World Junior Championships
	2009 Canada
	2010 Canada

Pietrangelo was picked to play for Team Canada's under-18 team at the 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, where he served as an alternate captain. The team finished fourth.[24] He played next for the Canadian National Junior Team at the 2009 World Junior Championships and won a gold medal.[25]

The following year, Pietrangelo was loaned by his NHL team, the St. Louis Blues, to play for Team Canada in his second World Junior Championships in 2010.[26] He was selected as an alternate captain to Patrice Cormier. In the final game of the round-robin, Pietrangelo scored a shorthanded game-tying goal against the United States to send the game to overtime. Canada eventually won in a shootout and earned a bye into the semi-final.[27] Advancing to the gold medal game, Canada met the United States in a rematch, but lost 6–5 in overtime. Pietrangelo picked up several individual honours at the conclusion of the tournament. He was named a Tournament All-Star by the media, the Best Defenceman by the directorate and was selected by the coaching staff as one of Canada's top three players.

As the St. Louis Blues failed to make the playoffs in Pietrangelo's first full season in the NHL, he was selected to Canada's men's team for the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia. With two goals and three assists for five points over seven games, he led Canada in defensive scoring, while tying for second overall among all tournament defencemen.[28] Canada advanced to the quarterfinal as the top-ranked team in their pool, but lost 2–1 to Russia. At the end of the tournament, Pietrangelo was chosen as the Best Defenceman by the directorate.[29] Pietrangelo was part of Canada's gold-medal winning 2014 Winter Olympic team. He played in all six of Canada's games, contributing one assist.

Personal life

Pietrangelo was born to parents Joe and Edy, and raised along with his older brother David in King City.[30] His father is the cousin of former NHL goaltender Frank Pietrangelo.[31] Pietrangelo married St. Louis native Jayne in July 2016.[32][33] In June 2017, he and his wife lost a son due to complications with the pregnancy.[34] They had triplets in July 2018.[35]

As a child, Pietrangelo's friend died of cancer. As an adult, his niece was diagnosed with Wilms' tumor, but survived.[34] This led him to partner with Friends of Kids with Cancer to raise funds and awareness for youth living with cancer.[36][37]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005–06	Toronto Jr. Canadiens	GTHL		44	13	31	44	33		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Mississauga IceDogs	OHL		59	7	45	52	45		4	0	0	0	8
2007–08	Niagara IceDogs	OHL		60	13	40	53	94		6	5	4	9	4
2008–09	Niagara IceDogs	OHL		36	8	21	29	32		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	St. Louis Blues	NHL		8	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Peoria Rivermen	AHL		1	0	0	0	4		7	0	3	3	2
2009–10	St. Louis Blues	NHL		9	1	1	2	6		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Barrie Colts	OHL		25	9	20	29	27		17	2	12	14	8
2010–11	St. Louis Blues	NHL		79	11	32	43	19		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	St. Louis Blues	NHL		81	12	39	51	36		8	0	5	5	0
2012–13	St. Louis Blues	NHL		47	5	19	24	10		6	1	1	2	2
2013–14	St. Louis Blues	NHL		81	8	43	51	32		6	1	2	3	0
2014–15	St. Louis Blues	NHL		81	7	39	46	28		6	0	2	2	0
2015–16	St. Louis Blues	NHL		73	7	30	37	20		20	2	8	10	16
2016–17	St. Louis Blues	NHL		80	14	34	48	24		11	0	4	4	8
2017–18	St. Louis Blues	NHL		78	15	39	54	22		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	St. Louis Blues	NHL		71	13	28	41	22		26	3	16	19	12
2019–20	St. Louis Blues	NHL		70	16	36	52	20
NHL totals				758	109	341	450	241		83	7	38	45	38

Awards and honours

Award	Year
NHL
Stanley Cup champion	2019
Second All-Star Team	2012, 2014
All-Star Game	2018, 2020

References

1. Pietrangelo, Alex (March 26, 2018). "There's a Place You can Go". The Players Tribune. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
2. Short, John (August 14, 2000). "Vipers take Brick in OT thriller". Edmonton Journal. p. D4.
3. "Player Profile - Alex Pietrangelo". Hockey Canada. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
4. "Sports Ticker". Toronto Star. April 3, 2005. p. B10.
5. "Stamkos No. 1 at OHL draft". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 6, 2006. Archived from the original on February 11, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
6. "Pietrangelo named CHL Player of the Week". Canadian Online Explorer. October 1, 2007. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
7. McKenzie, Bob (September 7, 2007). "Stamkos unanimous pick for top prospect". The Sports Network. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
8. "ISS Draft Rankings (OHL)". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on July 10, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
9. "Pietrangelo Looking to Make it Big". St. Louis Blues.com. June 20, 2008. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
10. "Blues Select Pietrangelo with 4th pick". St. Louis Blues.com. June 20, 2008. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
11. "Blues sign Pietrangelo: Defenseman was the Blues' first-round pick in 2008". St. Louis Blues. Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
12. "Rookie will start season on blue line". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 7, 2008. Archived from the original on October 9, 2008. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
13. "Blues come back to beat Maple Leafs". The Hockey News. October 13, 2008. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
14. "Blues assign Pietrangelo to Niagara". St. Louis Blues. November 13, 2008. Archived from the original on November 16, 2008. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
15. "Blues Assign Pietrangelo to Peoria". NHL.com. April 10, 2009. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
16. Aaron Bell (January 8, 2010). "Around the OHL". Ontario Hockey League. Archived from the original on January 1, 2010. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
17. "2010-2011 Regular Season St Louis Blues Defenseman Summary Total Points". National Hockey League. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
18. "Calder Memorial Trophy". National Hockey League. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
19. "2010-2011 - Regular Season - Rookie - All Skaters - Summary - Total Points". National Hockey League. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
20. "Pietrangelo Named to 2nd All-Star Team". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
21. Brehm, Mike (September 13, 2013). "Blues sign Alex Pietrangelo to seven-year deal". USA Today. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
22. "Alex Pietrangelo activated from injured reserve". ESPN.com. December 19, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
23. "Blues' Pietrangelo wins All-Star passing challenge". foxsports.com. January 27, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
24. "Canada's National Team Finishes Fourth". Hockey Canada. August 18, 2007. Archived from the original on May 4, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
25. "Canada's junior hockey heroes proud in victory". CTV News. January 6, 2009. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2009.
26. "NHLer Pietrangelo aims to be go-to guy". The Leader-Post. December 14, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
27. "Canada comes back to beat USA in shootout". The Sports Network. January 2, 2010. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
28. "Defensemen Scoring Leaders" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. May 15, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
29. "Best Players Selected By the Directorate" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 12, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
30. Kelly, Tim (July 31, 2014). "NHL star hopes to bring Stanley Cup back to King Twp". yorkregion.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
31. "The sky's the limit for Blues' defenseman Pietrangelo". NHL.com. September 8, 2009. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
32. Courtepatte, Jake (September 14, 2016). "Pietrangelo humbled as next Blues captain". Kings Weekly Sentinel. Retrieved May 30, 2018. The summer of 2016 has been a whirlwind season for Pietrangelo, who married his fiancée Jayne in July before building a house in his hometown of King City.
33. Rutherford, Jeremy (December 25, 2016). "Blues head off to enjoy Christmas break". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
34. "There's a Place You Can Go". theplayerstribune.com. March 26, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
35. "Pietrangelo becomes father of triplets". NHL.com. July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
36. Korac, Louie (September 16, 2017). "Pietrangelo raising awareness, money for cancer". NHL.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
37. "Alex Pietrangelo Shares his Personal Connection to Friends at the 19th Annual Golf Tournament & Auction". friendsofkids.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.

External links

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

Awards and achievements
Preceded by David Perron	St. Louis Blues first round draft pick 2008	Succeeded by David Rundblad
Preceded by Erik Karlsson	World Junior Best Defenceman 2010	Succeeded by Ryan Ellis
Sporting positions
Preceded by David Backes	St. Louis Blues captain 2016–present	Succeeded by Incumbent