Steven Pinizzotto (born April 26, 1984) is a Canadian former professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...
right winger
A midfielder is an outfield position in association football.
Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. As central midfielders often go across boundarie ...
who played in the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
(NHL) with the
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Bruce B ...
and the
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...
.
Playing career
Junior and College
In 2000–01 Pinizzotto joined with the
Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) is a Junior A ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada. It is under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). The league was listed as the 7th best d ...
(OPJHL)
Oakville Blades
The Oakville Blades are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Oakville, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. History
The Blades started as a Junior C team, and made it to the Clarence Schmalz Cup Final once to compet ...
. He was a late bloomer, having missed the OHL Draft due to his small size (he was only 5'7" at the time). He stayed with the team for 4 seasons, leading them to the West Division championship in 2003–2004. In 2004–05 Pinizzotto was named team captain Most Valuable Player of the Year, leading in scoring with 33 goals and 62 assists for a total of 95 points. Pinizzotto recorded 78 goals, 137 assists, 215 points over 170 games, 457 penalty minutes and led the team with best plus-minus rating during his tenure with the Blades. It was enough for Tigers Coach
Wayne Wilson of the
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a private university, private research university in the town of Henrietta, New York, Henrietta in the Rochester, New York, metropolitan area. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degree ...
to offer Pinizzotto an
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...
scholarship for ice hockey.
In 2005–06 Pinizzotto joined Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers of the NCAA Indep. Conference where he recorded 7 goals and 6 assists in 20 games. His next season, 2006–07 RIT joined the
Atlantic Hockey
The Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) is an NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference. Unlike several other c ...
conference, since the program moved to the
NCAA Division 1
NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major collegiate athletic ...
level, Pinizzotto recorded 13 goals and 31 assists in 34 games.
In 2006–07 Pinizzotto led the RIT team with 44 points on 13 goals and 31 assists in only 34 games and 76 penalty minutes. He was fifth in the country with 0.91 assists per game and 12th in all of Division I, averaging 1.29 points per contest. RIT won the Atlantic Hockey regular season championship with a Tiger offense and power play finishing second overall in the nation. Pinizzotto scored eight goals and added 17 assists on the power play. Pinizzotto was the team leader and among the RIT Division I leaders, recording 22 goals and 40 assists for 62 points in 58 career games for RIT and known to be dangerous on the power play.
Hershey Bears
In March 2007, after playing only 2 years with RIT, Pinizzotto became the first RIT ice hockey player to sign a
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
(NHL) contract shortly after RIT Coach
Wayne Wilson told Pinizzotto to call
Steve Richmond
Steven L. Richmond (born December 11, 1959) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played 159 games in the National Hockey League with four teams between 1984 and 1989.
Amateur career
Richmond grew up playing hockey in Chicago ...
of the
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL) ...
He signed a two-year entry level contract with the
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL) ...
in March 2007. In later years Pinizzotto played with and against the
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Bruce B ...
'
Chris Tanev
Christopher Tanev (born December 20, 1989) is a Canadians, Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and Captain (ice hockey)#Alternate captains, alternate captain for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously playe ...
, also an RIT alum. Beginning the 2007–08 season with the
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL) ...
'
ECHL
The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The E ...
farm team, the
South Carolina Stingrays
The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Co ...
where recorded 15 goals, 17 assists for 32 points in 40 games and 58 penalty minutes.
In 2009–10 Pinizzotto played a full season with the
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a town located 14 miles east of the state capital of Harrisburg
Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the c ...
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary Minor league#Ice hockey, developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 AHL se ...
(AHL) picking up 41 points (13–28–41). He was a team-best plus-40 with 124 penalty minutes in 69 regular season games Pinizzotto would go on to help the Hershey Bears win the
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champions of the American Hockey League. It was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars.
The cup is made of sterling silver mounted on a base of Brazilian mahogany. In its curr ...
two years in a row.
In March 2009, Pinizzotto was called up to the Capitals as an injury reserve. Despite taking part in the pre-game warmup against the
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...
on March 23, he remained on standby. By the latter part of the season was sent back to Hershey, without appearing for the Capitals, and remained for duration of the season.
Vancouver Canucks
![Steve Pinizzotto](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Steve_Pinizzotto.jpg)
On July 3, 2011, Pinizzotto signed a one-year, two-way deal ($600,000) with the
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Bruce B ...
after receiving contract offers from 9 other NHL teams. Pinizzotto was slated to fill a 4th line spot with the Canucks right out of training camp. The Canucks saw him as a
Raffi Torres
Raffi Cavoukian, ( hy, Րաֆֆի, born July 8, 1948), known professionally by the mononym Raffi, is a Canadian singer-lyricist and author of Armenian descent born in Egypt, best known for his children's music. He developed his career as a " ...
replacement. His combination of physicality, puck-handling ability, scoring, skating well, finishing checks, going hard to the net, and defensive ability impressed coach
Alain Vigneault
Alain Vigneault (born May 14, 1961) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach. Vigneault has previously coached the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL, as well as in the Quebec Major Ju ...
. He recorded a 2-assist, 5-hit effort in a preseason home opener against the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
, and finished the preseason tied for the highest plus/minus on the team at plus-3 and 5 points in 4 games. Pinizzotto, who made the team out of training camp, suffered a left shoulder injury on an ill-timed hit on
Douglas Murray during their last preseason game against the
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, and are owned by San Jose Sports & Entertainm ...
on September 25, 2011. His shoulder was popped back into place but after being on IR for 6 weeks, he tweaked his shoulder in practice just before a team road trip. Pinizzotto's injury caused him to miss the entire season. In his absence Vancouver claimed
Dale Weise
Dale Kenton Weise (born August 5, 1988) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He played for the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, and Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey Leag ...
on waivers.
On July 2, 2012, Pinizzotto re-signed with the Canucks. During the
2012 NHL lockout
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
, he was assigned to the
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League and are the top minor-league affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the C ...
where he tallied four goals, eight assists, and 29 penalty minutes in 24 games. Pinizzotto was lauded for being a strong skater, going hard to the net, and his heavy shot. His offensive side, strong penalty-killing skills, and aggressive play also attracted attention.
At the minor league level, Pinizzotto consistently showed grit and strong two-way play with a combination of physicality and scoring, tallying 38 goals, 72 assists, 110 points, and 408 penalty minutes in his 234 career AHL games with Chicago and Hershey. With Hershey, he was a strong contributor on their 2009 and 2010 Calder Cup Championship.
Vancouver protected Pinizzotto, believing with a high degree of probability he would be picked up on waivers. On March 13, 2013, Pinizzotto was headed to Vancouver for his NHL opportunity. He was a sought-after commodity when he signed with Vancouver and always attracted a lot of interest for his grit, tenacity, and decent skill level. The Canucks were anxious to get Pinizzotto back into their lineup and bring a physical presence to the game.
Pinizzotto made his NHL debut on March 14, 2013, against the
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators (commonly referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and ha ...
after travelling all day, arriving from Chicago just hours before game time. In his first shift of the game, he sent Nashville's
Kevin Klein
Kevin R. Klein (born December 13, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the New York Rangers and the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 37th overal ...
crashing to the ice with a big hit, leading to a
fight
Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...
with the defenceman.
Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers
On August 4, 2013, Pinizzotto was signed by the
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern ...
to a one-year, two-way deal. Following training camp, Pinizzotto played 21 games for Florida's AHL affiliate, the
San Antonio Rampage
The San Antonio Rampage were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. The Rampage was primarily owned by Spurs Sports & Entertainment throughout the team's existence. In 2020, the franchise was sold ...
, where he scored 7 points (6–1–7) and racked up 67 penalty minutes. Pinizzotto became known on the team for his work ethic and perseverance.
On January 17, 2014, the Panthers traded Pinizzotto (along with
Jack Combs) to the
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...
in exchange for
Derek Nesbitt
Derek Nesbitt (born April 16, 1982) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey player and the current head coach of the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL.
Playing career
Undrafted, Nesbitt previously played with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pe ...
and
Ryan Martindale. Sent to the Oilers' minor-league affiliate in Oklahoma City, Pinizzotto impressed
Oklahoma City Barons
The Oklahoma City Barons were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). The team's first season was 2010–11 AHL season, 2010–11. They played their home games at the Cox Convention Center, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
H ...
coach
Todd Nelson with his hard nosed two-way style and energy.
In April 2014, the 6'1", 205-pound forward got a call from the
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...
to play wing. The 29-year-old veteran had already made a strong presence in the NHL, having had 12 games with 29 penalty minutes for Vancouver, while adding a physical dimension with skill. Pinizzotto impressed the Oilers in his first game with the organization. With his work ethic and penalty-kill abilities, Pinizzotto was called up to play 6 games with the Oilers. He played six games with the Oilers, and recorded his first two NHL points and 15 penalty minutes.
On June 12, 2014, Pinizzotto was re-signed by the Oilers to a one-year extension. Pinizzotto had a strong camp and played 4 pre-season games, scoring 2 points, recording 21 penalty minutes, and finishing +2, earning a roster spot after the last round of cuts.
On November 17, 2014, Pinizzotto was called up by the Oilers from their AHL affiliate, the
Oklahoma City Barons
The Oklahoma City Barons were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). The team's first season was 2010–11 AHL season, 2010–11. They played their home games at the Cox Convention Center, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
H ...
. Pinizzotto made his 2014–15 season debut on November 19, 2014, against his previous team, the Vancouver Canucks, with a
Gordie Howe hat trick
A Gordie Howe hat trick is a variation on ice hockey's hat-trick. It is accomplished when a player collects a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game. It is named after Hall of Famer Gordie Howe.
The term was coined by a 1950s New York spo ...
. At 2:27 into the game, Pinizzotto dropped his gloves with
Derek Dorsett
Derek Dorsett (born December 20, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Blue Jackets drafted him i ...
, then less than 5 minutes into the second period, Pinizzotto scored his 1st NHL goal when he beat
Ryan Miller
Ryan Dean Miller (born July 17, 1980) is an American former ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) mostly for the Buffalo Sabres. Miller was drafted 138th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999 NHL E ...
with a wrist shot from the top of the faceoff circle to open the scoring for the Oilers. Pinizzotto finalized the Gordie Howe hat trick when he assisted on
Boyd Gordon
Boyd Gordon (born October 19, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Washington Capitals, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, and Philadelphia Flyers.
Playing ca ...
’s goal. On
Hockey Night in Canada
CBC Television has aired National Hockey League (NHL) broadcasts under the ''Hockey Night in Canada'' (often abbreviated ''Hockey Night'' or ''HNiC'') brand that is primarily associated with its Saturday night NHL broadcasts throughout its hi ...
Coach's Corner intermission show,
Don Cherry
Donald Stewart Cherry (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. Cherry played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, and later coached the team for five se ...
and
Ron MacLean broadcast the replay of Pinizzotto's Gordie Howe hat trick, as did multiple broadcasters.
DEL
On May 26, 2015, Pinizzotto, an impending free agent, opted to sign his first contract abroad, agreeing to a one-year deal with
EHC München EHC may refer to:
* Eastern Harbour Crossing, a transport tunnel in Hong Kong
* EHC Hoensbroek, a Dutch football club
* The Electric Hellfire Club, an American industrial metal band
* Encompass Health, an American healthcare provider
* Environmenta ...
of the German league
Deutsche Eishockey Liga
The Deutsche Eishockey Liga (for sponsorship reasons called "PENNY Deutsche Eishockey Liga") (; English: ''German Ice Hockey League'') or DEL, is a German professional ice hockey league and the highest division in German ice hockey. Founded in ...
(DEL).
Pinizzotto claimed the DEL championship in each of his three seasons in Munich, before leaving at the conclusion of his contract. On June 13, 2018, Pinizzotto opted to continue his career in Germany, agreeing to a one-year contract with Kölner Haie for the
2018–19 season.
Playing style
Pinizzotto was known as an energy winger, known for his physicality, puck-handling ability and scoring, skating well, finishing checks, going hard to the net, and defensive ability. Pinizzotto missed the 2011–12 season with the Canucks. He was a hardworking, gritty, two-way player with a combination of physicality and scoring, having 38 goals, 72 assists, 110 points, and 408 penalty minutes in his 234 career AHL games with Chicago and Hershey, where he was a strong contributor for their 2009 and 2010 Calder Cup Championships.
Personal
Pinizzotto was born in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
to Linda and Leo Pinizzotto. He has
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
and
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
dual citizenship because his mother, who although born in Canada is of German descent. She is a real estate agent in
Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga ( ), historically known as Toronto Township, is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is situated on the shores of Lake Ontario in the Regional Municipality of Peel, adjoining the western border of Toronto. With a popul ...
. His father is Italian. Pinizzotto has two older brothers, Jason, an
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; french: Ligue de hockey de l'Ontario (LHO)) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 16–19. There are exceptions for overag ...
(OHL) third-round draft pick for the
Barrie Colts
The Barrie Colts are a junior ice hockey team in Ontario Hockey League, based in Barrie, Ontario, Canada.
Pre-OHL history
There were two previous Barrie Colts teams which played Junior A & B hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association, one from 1 ...
and professional hockey player for the
SC Bietigheim-Bissingen
SC Bietigheim-Bissingen, also known as the Bietigheim Steelers, is a professional ice hockey team based in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany. They currently play in DEL, the highest-level league in Germany. Prior to the 2021—22 season they played i ...
in
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, and Marc, who played pro hockey for the
Black Dragons Erfurt
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have ...
in
Thüringen
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million.
Erfurt is the capital and larg ...
, Germany.
Pinizzotto credits his strong dedication to hockey to his family. He grew up in Mississauga but played his
minor hockey
Minor hockey is an umbrella term for amateur ice hockey which is played below the junior age level. Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body contact, vary from cla ...
within the
Greater Toronto Hockey League
The Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), formerly known as the Metro Toronto Hockey League, is a minor level ice hockey organization based in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario. The league was founded in 1911 as the Beaches Hockey League by ...
, competing with the Toronto Red Wings and Toronto Marlboros with stars like
Rick Nash
Richard McLaren Nash (born June 16, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who serves as the director of player development for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). After being selected first overal ...
,
David Clarkson, and
Chris Campoli
Christopher Campoli (born July 9, 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Dundas Real McCoys of the Ontario Hockey Association's Allan Cup Hockey. He played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, and ...
. He also excelled in AAA rep baseball, playing for the Ontario Baseball Association (OBA). After graduating from high school at
Lorne Park Secondary School
Lorne Park Secondary School (often abbreviated as LP or LPSS) is a state school, public high school located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It serves the Lorne Park neighbourhood, as well as a larger catchment area for the Extended French program ...
, and competing in
junior hockey
Junior hockey is a level of competitive ice hockey generally for players between 16 and 21 years of age. Junior hockey leagues in the United States and Canada are considered amateur (with some exceptions) and operate within regions of each cou ...
, Pinizzotto received a hockey scholarship to the
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a private university, private research university in the town of Henrietta, New York, Henrietta in the Rochester, New York, metropolitan area. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degree ...
, where he studied packaging design while playing college hockey.
In 2000, Pinizzotto was invited to appear in a Nike Hockey commercial at the age of 17.
Markus Näslund
Markus Sten Näslund (born 30 July 1973) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player and former general manager for Modo Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL, formerly named Elitserien). He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) f ...
, former
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Bruce B ...
star, and
Ilya Kovalchuk
Ilya Valeryevich Kovalchuk (russian: Илья Валерьевич Ковальчук; born 15 April 1983) is a Russian former professional ice hockey winger. He played for the Atlanta Thrashers, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings, Montrea ...
, the first overall pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft for the
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 seaso ...
, starred in the commercial. Pinizzotto can be seen in the centre front of the scene when the Zamboni gates open with Näslund and Kovalchuk.
Career statistics
Awards and honors
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinizzotto, Steve
1984 births
Living people
Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Germany
Canadian ice hockey right wingers
Canadian people of German descent
Canadian sportspeople of Italian descent
Chicago Wolves players
Edmonton Oilers players
Hershey Bears players
Kölner Haie players
EHC München players
Oklahoma City Barons players
RIT Tigers men's ice hockey players
Rochester Institute of Technology alumni
San Antonio Rampage players
South Carolina Stingrays players
Ice hockey people from Toronto
Undrafted National Hockey League players
Vancouver Canucks players