Fernando Pisani
Encyclopedia
Fernando Antonio Pisani (born December 27, 1976) is a Canadian
professional ice hockey
right winger
who is currently a free agent.
of the Alberta Junior Hockey League
(AJHL), Pisani was drafted in the eighth round, 195th overall, by his hometown team, the Edmonton Oilers
in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft
. Upon being drafted, Pisani played four years of collegiate hockey for Providence College
.
In 2000–01
, the Oilers assigned him to their American Hockey League
(AHL) affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs
. Pisani spent two seasons in Hamilton, before being called up in his third AHL season in 2002–03. He scored his first NHL
goal on February 5, 2003, in a 2-1 win against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks
. He finished the season with the Oilers, playing in 35 games with 13 points. Pisani is generally considered a "late bloomer", because he did not see his first NHL action until the age of 27.
Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Pisani went overseas to Europe
and played in the Swiss
Nationalliga A and Italian
Serie A
.
As NHL play resumed in 2005–06, Pisani scored a career-high 18 goals, 19 assists and 37 points. Although the Oilers entered the playoffs as the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference
, they embarked on a cinderella run
to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals
against the Carolina Hurricanes
. Pisani became a playoff hero in the process, significantly elevating his game. Against the first-seeded Detroit Red Wings
, Pisani scored two third period goals (his fourth and fifth of the series) in game six, series-clinching 4-2 victory. Advancing to the second round against the San Jose Sharks
, Pisani recorded another two-goal effort, including the game winner, in a 6-3 game five win. Reaching the finals against Carolina, the Oilers faced elimination in the fifth game. Going into overtime
on the penalty kill, Pisani intercepted a pass and scored his second goal of the game on a breakaway
to stave off elimination. It was the first time in Stanley Cup Finals
history that an overtime game was decided by a shorthanded goal. Pisani then scored the Oilers' only goal in a losing game seven effort. He nearly tied the game with three minutes left to go in regulation off a Raffi Torres
rebound, but was denied a seemingly sure-goal by Carolina goalie Cam Ward
. Pisani finished the playoffs with a league-leading 14 goals and 5 game-winners, nearly matching his regular season output of 18 goals in 80 games. He was re-signed by the Oilers in the off-season to a four-year, $10 million contract on July 1, 2006.
Pisani followed his 2006 playoff performance with a 28-point season in 2006–07, but the Oilers failed to qualify for the post-season. Prior to the start of the 2007–08 season, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis
, sidelining him for the first 26 games of the campaign. He returned to the Oilers lineup on December 2, 2007, and was nominated for the Bill Masterton Trophy – given for perseverance and dedication to hockey – at the end of the season. The award was subsequently given to Jason Blake of the Toronto Maple Leafs
who, at the start of the season in October, had been diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia
, but still managed to play all 82 games.
An injury shortened 2008-09 NHL Season saw Pisani suit up for only 38 games, scoring seven goals to go with eight assists.
After becoming a unrestricted free agent, Pisani signed a one-year deal with the reigning Stanley Cup champions
the Chicago Blackhawks
for the 2010–11 season.
with Sheldon Souray
. He and his wife Heidi have two sons and a daughter.
Pisani holds dual citizenship with Canada and Italy. He derives Italian citizenship through his Italian-born father.
*Boldface denotes league-leading stat
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
right winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
who is currently a free agent.
Playing career
After posting 103 points in 58 games with the St. Albert SaintsSt. Albert Saints
The St. Albert Saints were a junior ice hockey franchise based in St. Albert, Alberta, for twenty-seven seasons from 1977 to 2004. Before 1977, the team played in nearby Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Mets, and in 2004 the team again moved to Spruce Grove where they now play as the Spruce Grove...
of the Alberta Junior Hockey League
Alberta Junior Hockey League
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...
(AJHL), Pisani was drafted in the eighth round, 195th overall, by his hometown team, the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft
1996 NHL Entry Draft
The 1996 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 22, 1996.- Selections by round :Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.- Round one :- Round two :...
. Upon being drafted, Pisani played four years of collegiate hockey for Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
.
In 2000–01
2000–01 AHL season
The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty...
, the Oilers assigned him to their American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs
Hamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens...
. Pisani spent two seasons in Hamilton, before being called up in his third AHL season in 2002–03. He scored his first NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
goal on February 5, 2003, in a 2-1 win against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He finished the season with the Oilers, playing in 35 games with 13 points. Pisani is generally considered a "late bloomer", because he did not see his first NHL action until the age of 27.
Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Pisani went overseas to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and played in the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Nationalliga A and Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Serie A
Serie A (hockey)
Serie A is the name of the top tier of professional ice hockey in Italy, which first began play in 1924. They are conducted under the authority of the Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio...
.
As NHL play resumed in 2005–06, Pisani scored a career-high 18 goals, 19 assists and 37 points. Although the Oilers entered the playoffs as the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference
Western Conference (NHL)
The Western Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Eastern Conference....
, they embarked on a cinderella run
Cinderella (sports)
In American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament or career than originally anticipated. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the...
to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals
2006 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2006 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2005–06 season. As a culmination of the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Eastern Conference champion Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers...
against the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
. Pisani became a playoff hero in the process, significantly elevating his game. Against the first-seeded Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, Pisani scored two third period goals (his fourth and fifth of the series) in game six, series-clinching 4-2 victory. Advancing to the second round against the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Pisani recorded another two-goal effort, including the game winner, in a 6-3 game five win. Reaching the finals against Carolina, the Oilers faced elimination in the fifth game. Going into overtime
Overtime (ice hockey)
Overtime is a method of determining the winner and loser of an ice hockey match when the scores are tied after regulation. The two main methods are the overtime period and the shootout.-Overtime periods:...
on the penalty kill, Pisani intercepted a pass and scored his second goal of the game on a breakaway
Breakaway (ice hockey)
A breakaway is a situation in ice hockey in which a player with the puck has no defending players, except for the goaltender, between himself and the opposing goal, leaving him free to skate in and shoot at will . A breakaway is considered a lapse on the part of the defending team...
to stave off elimination. It was the first time in Stanley Cup Finals
Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the professional club championship of ice hockey. Although the Cup itself has existed since 1893, an annual championship series between professional teams was not established until 1913...
history that an overtime game was decided by a shorthanded goal. Pisani then scored the Oilers' only goal in a losing game seven effort. He nearly tied the game with three minutes left to go in regulation off a Raffi Torres
Raffi Torres
Raphael "Raffi" Torres is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the New York Islanders fifth overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He has additionally played in the NHL for the Edmonton Oilers,...
rebound, but was denied a seemingly sure-goal by Carolina goalie Cam Ward
Cam Ward
Cameron Kenneth Ward is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League . Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he was raised in Sherwood Park, Alberta...
. Pisani finished the playoffs with a league-leading 14 goals and 5 game-winners, nearly matching his regular season output of 18 goals in 80 games. He was re-signed by the Oilers in the off-season to a four-year, $10 million contract on July 1, 2006.
Pisani followed his 2006 playoff performance with a 28-point season in 2006–07, but the Oilers failed to qualify for the post-season. Prior to the start of the 2007–08 season, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease . Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the colon , that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores. The main symptom of active disease is usually constant diarrhea mixed with blood, of gradual onset...
, sidelining him for the first 26 games of the campaign. He returned to the Oilers lineup on December 2, 2007, and was nominated for the Bill Masterton Trophy – given for perseverance and dedication to hockey – at the end of the season. The award was subsequently given to Jason Blake of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
who, at the start of the season in October, had been diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia
Chronic myelogenous leukemia
Chronic myelogenous leukemia , also known as chronic granulocytic leukemia , is a cancer of the white blood cells. It is a form of leukemia characterized by the increased and unregulated growth of predominantly myeloid cells in the bone marrow and the accumulation of these cells in the blood...
, but still managed to play all 82 games.
An injury shortened 2008-09 NHL Season saw Pisani suit up for only 38 games, scoring seven goals to go with eight assists.
After becoming a unrestricted free agent, Pisani signed a one-year deal with the reigning Stanley Cup champions
2010 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 14, 2010, after the 2009–10 NHL regular season. The Finals ended on June 9, 2010, with the Chicago Blackhawks defeating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to two to win their fourth championship and their first since 1961...
the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
for the 2010–11 season.
Personal life
He attended St. Edmund's and Archbishop O'Leary Catholic High SchoolArchbishop O'Leary Catholic High School
Archbishop O'Leary is a high school located in central Edmonton just north of the downtown core. Archbishop O'Leary is known for its diverse teaching ways...
with Sheldon Souray
Sheldon Souray
Sheldon Sharik Souray is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League . He has previously played for the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, who originally drafted him 71st overall in 1994, and the Montreal Canadiens...
. He and his wife Heidi have two sons and a daughter.
Pisani holds dual citizenship with Canada and Italy. He derives Italian citizenship through his Italian-born father.
Records
- First player to score a shorthanded overtimeOvertime (ice hockey)Overtime is a method of determining the winner and loser of an ice hockey match when the scores are tied after regulation. The two main methods are the overtime period and the shootout.-Overtime periods:...
goal in Stanley Cup FinalsStanley Cup FinalsThe Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the professional club championship of ice hockey. Although the Cup itself has existed since 1893, an annual championship series between professional teams was not established until 1913...
history - June 14, 2006
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1993-94 | St. Albert Saints St. Albert Saints The St. Albert Saints were a junior ice hockey franchise based in St. Albert, Alberta, for twenty-seven seasons from 1977 to 2004. Before 1977, the team played in nearby Spruce Grove as the Spruce Grove Mets, and in 2004 the team again moved to Spruce Grove where they now play as the Spruce Grove... |
AJHL Alberta Junior Hockey League The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy... |
50 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994-95 | Bonnyville Pontiacs Bonnyville Pontiacs The Bonnyville Pontiacs are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Bonnyville, Alberta, Canada at the R. J. Lalonde Arena, capacity 2700.... |
AJHL | 16 | 4 | 34 | 38 | 97 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995-96 | St. Albert Saints | AJHL | 58 | 40 | 63 | 103 | 134 | 18 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 28 | ||
| 1996–97 | Providence College Providence College Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic... |
HE Hockey East Hockey East Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates in New England. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference.... |
35 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Providence College | HE | 36 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Providence College | HE | 38 | 14 | 37 | 51 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Providence College | HE | 38 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 2000–01 AHL season The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty... |
Hamilton Bulldogs Hamilton Bulldogs The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
52 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 2001–02 AHL season The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion... |
Hamilton Bulldogs | AHL | 79 | 26 | 34 | 60 | 60 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 4 | ||
| 2002–03 2002–03 AHL season The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Hamilton Bulldogs | AHL | 41 | 17 | 15 | 32 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
35 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2003–04 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 76 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | SCL Tigers SCL Tigers SC Langnau Tigers are a professional ice hockey team from Langnau im Emmental, Switzerland. They have played in Switzerland's top hockey level, National League A, since last promotion in 1998.-History:-Champions:*NDA Championship : 1976... |
NLA | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Asiago Hockey A.S. | ITL Serie A (hockey) Serie A is the name of the top tier of professional ice hockey in Italy, which first began play in 1924. They are conducted under the authority of the Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio... |
12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 80 | 18 | 19 | 37 | 42 | 24 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 10 | ||
| 2006–07 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 77 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 56 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 38 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 40 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... |
NHL | 60 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| NHL totals | 482 | 87 | 82 | 169 | 200 | 33 | 15 | 4 | 19 | 12 | ||||
*Boldface denotes league-leading stat