Tony Esposito
Encyclopedia
For the Italian
musician, please see Tony Esposito (musician)
.
Anthony James "Tony O" Esposito (born April 23, 1943) is a retired Canadian-American
professional ice hockey
goaltender
, who played in the National Hockey League
, most notably for the Chicago Black Hawks
. He was one of the pioneers of the now popular butterfly style
. Tony is the younger brother of Phil Esposito
, a centre. Both brothers had notable careers and are enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame
.
with his brother, fellow future NHL star Phil Esposito
. He played college hockey for Michigan Tech
.
A three-year hockey letter winner, Esposito was a three-time first-team All-America selection. He was a driving force in helping the Huskies to the 1964–65 NCAA Championship and was named a first-team NCAA All-Tournament Team choice in 1965. Still currently the MTU career leader in goals against average (2.55) and second in career saved percentage (.912), Esposito was also a three-time All-WCHA first-team selection.
Esposito turned pro with the Vancouver Canucks
in the Western Hockey League
in 1967–68 and played with the Houston Apollos in the Central Hockey League in 1968–69.
He first played in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens
during the 1968–69 season. A famous game against the Boston Bruins
, then led by his brother Phil, ended in a 2–2 tie, in which Phil scored both goals for Boston. Esposito played thirteen regular season games, due to both Gump Worsley
and Rogie Vachon being injured. However, Esposito returned to the minors when they both returned from their injuries. Worsley was injured again during the playoffs, so Esposito was called again. Tony Esposito served as backup to Vachon, dressing for all four games in the finals. As the Canadiens club was deep in goaltenders at that time, with Worsley, Vachon and other prospects in the system, Esposito was left unprotected by the Canadiens in 1969.
claimed him from Montreal on waivers, known at the time as the "intra-league draft". Esposito had a spectacular season with Chicago, posting a 2.17 GAA
and setting a modern day NHL record with fifteen shutout
s, for which he won the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie. He also took the Vezina Trophy
and was named to the First All-Star team at season's end. He also was runner-up for league MVP (Hart Trophy). It was during this record setting season he earned the nickname Tony 'O'. In 1970–71, he again proved to be one of the league's top goalies and helped Chicago finish first in the NHL's West division. The Black Hawks made it to the Stanley Cup Final, but lost in seven games to Montreal. The following season he posted the lowest GAA of his career (1.77) and shared the Vezina with backup Gary Smith
. He was again selected to the NHL's First All-Star team.
Esposito was named to Team Canada for the Summit Series
of September, 1972. He was the first goalie to earn a win against the Soviets, splitting Canada's goaltending duties with Montreal's Ken Dryden
. Esposito posted the lowest GAA of the three goalies who appeared in the series. Brother Phil had an exceptional series as well and was the inspirational leader of the team.
Despite the loss of Bobby Hull
, Esposito and the Hawks led their division in 1972–73, but lost the Stanley Cup in six games to Montreal. 1973–74 was another brilliant season with a sparkling 2.04 GAA and 10 shutouts. Esposito won his third Vezina, sharing it with Philadelphia's Bernie Parent
.
The Black Hawks declined over the next few seasons although Esposito remained among the top netminders in the NHL. In 1979–80, Esposito enjoyed a fine season with six shutouts and made the First All-Star team for the third time. In 1981, he became a naturalised American citizen and played for Team USA in the Canada Cup
(he had previously represented Canada at the 1977 Ice Hockey World Championship tournament). He played a few more seasons in the Windy City, retiring after the 1983–84 season.
' Davey Kerr
(1940), ambidextrous
Montreal
goalie Bill Durnan
(1944—47, 1949 and 1950), the New York Rangers' Gilles Villemure
(1971), Tom Barrasso
of the Buffalo Sabres
(1984), Edmonton Oilers
' Grant Fuhr
(1988) and José Théodore
of the Montreal Canadiens in 2002.
Was the first NHL Goalie to officially wear the number 35, a common number now worn by many Goaltenders. It was assigned to him during training camp prior to the Chicago Black Hawks
1969-'70 season due to the fact that the standard numbers 1 and 30 were already assigned, and after posting a shutout in his first ever exhibition game for the Hawks, he chose to keep wearing the number going on to a Hall of Fame career. His number 35 was retired by the Blackhawks on November 20, 1988.
in 1988. His number 35 was retired by the Blackhawks.
Tony Esposito later became General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins
briefly, where he hired former Black Hawks teammate Gene Ubriaco
as head coach. In his first years, the Penguins finished 40-33-7 and ended a lengthy playoff drought. After starting the 1989-90 season 10-14-2, Esposito and Ubriaco were both terminated. During his tenure, Esposito is best known for drafting Mark Recchi
and pulling off a trade which landed the Penguins goaltender Tom Barasso.
In 1991, when his brother helped found the Tampa Bay Lightning
, Phil hired Tony as chief scout. Legend has it that they came up with the team name during a thunderstorm. Both Espositos were fired in 1998.
In 1998, he was ranked number 79 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players, 61 places behind No. 18-ranked Phil.
In 2007, Tony was inducted (alongside brother Phil) into the Sault Ste Marie Walk of Fame.
On March 19, 2008, the Chicago Blackhawks
honoured Esposito with "Tony Esposito Night", where he was formally introduced as an Ambassador to the Blackhawks organization. Then-Blackhawk goaltenders Patrick Lalime
and Nikolai Khabibulin
both wore Esposito's #35 jerseys in the pre-game warmups, and Khabibulin recorded a shutout in a Hawks 5–0 win over the Washington Capitals
.
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...
musician, please see Tony Esposito (musician)
Tony Esposito (musician)
Antonio "Tony" Esposito is an Italian musician, singer-songwriter and drummer from Italy.-Career :Esposito was born in Naples.He is well known for his 1984 hit single "Kalimba de Luna" from his album Il grande esploratore....
.
Anthony James "Tony O" Esposito (born April 23, 1943) is a retired Canadian-American
Canadian-American
A Canadian American is someone who was born or someone who grew up in Canada then moved to the United States. The term is particularly apt when applied or self-applied to people with strong ties to Canada, such as those who have lived a significant portion of their lives in, or were educated in,...
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...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
, who played in the National Hockey League
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...
, most notably for the Chicago Black Hawks
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...
. He was one of the pioneers of the now popular butterfly style
Butterfly style
In ice hockey, "butterfly style" is a technique of goaltending distinguished by the goaltender guarding the lower part of the net by dropping to the knees to block attempts to score. The butterfly style derives its name from the resemblance of the spread goal pads and hands to a butterfly's wings...
. Tony is the younger brother of Phil Esposito
Phil Esposito
Philip Anthony Esposito, OC is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and is considered to be one of the best to have...
, a centre. Both brothers had notable careers and are enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
.
Early years
Esposito grew up Sault Ste. Marie, OntarioSault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
with his brother, fellow future NHL star Phil Esposito
Phil Esposito
Philip Anthony Esposito, OC is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and is considered to be one of the best to have...
. He played college hockey for Michigan Tech
Michigan Technological University
Michigan Technological University is a public research university located in Houghton, Michigan, United States. Its main campus sits on on a bluff overlooking Portage Lake...
.
A three-year hockey letter winner, Esposito was a three-time first-team All-America selection. He was a driving force in helping the Huskies to the 1964–65 NCAA Championship and was named a first-team NCAA All-Tournament Team choice in 1965. Still currently the MTU career leader in goals against average (2.55) and second in career saved percentage (.912), Esposito was also a three-time All-WCHA first-team selection.
Esposito turned pro with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks (WHL)
The Vancouver Canucks were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. Inaugurated in 1945 with the PCHL, they became a WHL team with the merger of the PCHL with the Western Canada Senior Hockey League in 1952...
in the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League (minor pro)
The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League...
in 1967–68 and played with the Houston Apollos in the Central Hockey League in 1968–69.
He first played in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
during the 1968–69 season. A famous game against the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
, then led by his brother Phil, ended in a 2–2 tie, in which Phil scored both goals for Boston. Esposito played thirteen regular season games, due to both Gump Worsley
Gump Worsley
Lorne John "Gump" Worsley was a professional ice hockey goaltender. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, he was given his nickname due to friends deciding he looked like comic-strip character Andy Gump.-Career:...
and Rogie Vachon being injured. However, Esposito returned to the minors when they both returned from their injuries. Worsley was injured again during the playoffs, so Esposito was called again. Tony Esposito served as backup to Vachon, dressing for all four games in the finals. As the Canadiens club was deep in goaltenders at that time, with Worsley, Vachon and other prospects in the system, Esposito was left unprotected by the Canadiens in 1969.
Rise to fame
For 1969–70, the Chicago Black HawksChicago 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...
claimed him from Montreal on waivers, known at the time as the "intra-league draft". Esposito had a spectacular season with Chicago, posting a 2.17 GAA
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
and setting a modern day NHL record with fifteen shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, for which he won the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie. He also took the Vezina Trophy
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
and was named to the First All-Star team at season's end. He also was runner-up for league MVP (Hart Trophy). It was during this record setting season he earned the nickname Tony 'O'. In 1970–71, he again proved to be one of the league's top goalies and helped Chicago finish first in the NHL's West division. The Black Hawks made it to the Stanley Cup Final, but lost in seven games to Montreal. The following season he posted the lowest GAA of his career (1.77) and shared the Vezina with backup Gary Smith
Gary Smith (hockey)
Gary "Suitcase" Smith a former professional ice hockey goaltender. Gary is a son of Des Smith and brother of Brian Smith, both former National Hockey League players. Gary played for numerous clubs, including the Chicago Black Hawks, Oakland Seals, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks,...
. He was again selected to the NHL's First All-Star team.
Esposito was named to Team Canada for the Summit Series
Summit Series
The Summit Series was the first competition between the Soviet and an NHL-inclusive Canadian national ice hockey teams, an eight-game series held in September 1972...
of September, 1972. He was the first goalie to earn a win against the Soviets, splitting Canada's goaltending duties with Montreal's Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden
Kenneth Wayne Dryden, PC, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, author, and former NHL goaltender. Dryden is married with two children and four grandchildren and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame...
. Esposito posted the lowest GAA of the three goalies who appeared in the series. Brother Phil had an exceptional series as well and was the inspirational leader of the team.
Despite the loss of Bobby Hull
Bobby Hull
Robert Marvin "Bobby" Hull, OC is a former Canadian ice hockey player. He is regarded as one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time and perhaps the greatest left winger to ever play the game. Hull was famous for his blonde hair, blinding skating speed, and having the hardest shot, earning...
, Esposito and the Hawks led their division in 1972–73, but lost the Stanley Cup in six games to Montreal. 1973–74 was another brilliant season with a sparkling 2.04 GAA and 10 shutouts. Esposito won his third Vezina, sharing it with Philadelphia's Bernie Parent
Bernie Parent
Bernard Marcel Parent , better known as Bernie Parent, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 National Hockey League seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs, and also spent one season in the World Hockey Association with the...
.
The Black Hawks declined over the next few seasons although Esposito remained among the top netminders in the NHL. In 1979–80, Esposito enjoyed a fine season with six shutouts and made the First All-Star team for the third time. In 1981, he became a naturalised American citizen and played for Team USA in the Canada Cup
Canada Cup (ice hockey)
The Canada Cup was an invitational international ice hockey tournament held on five occasions between 1976 and 1991. The tournament was created to meet demand for a true world championship that allowed the best players from participating nations to compete regardless of their status as professional...
(he had previously represented Canada at the 1977 Ice Hockey World Championship tournament). He played a few more seasons in the Windy City, retiring after the 1983–84 season.
Distinctions
Tony O. was one of just eight goalies to win the Vezina catching the puck right-handed. The other seven were fellow Hawks' legend Charlie Gardiner (in 1932 and 1934), the New York RangersNew York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
' Davey Kerr
Dave Kerr
David Alexander Kerr was a Canadian NHL goaltender who played for the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans and New York Rangers-Playing career:...
(1940), ambidextrous
Ambidexterity
Ambidexterity is the state of being equally adept in the use of both left and right appendages . It is one of the most famous varieties of cross-dominance. People that are naturally ambidextrous are rare, with only one out of one hundred people being naturally ambidextrous...
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
goalie Bill Durnan
Bill Durnan
William Ronald Durnan was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
(1944—47, 1949 and 1950), the New York Rangers' Gilles Villemure
Gilles Villemure
Gilles Villemure is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played for the New York Rangers and Chicago Black Hawks in the 1960s and 1970s.-Playing career:...
(1971), Tom Barrasso
Tom Barrasso
Thomas Patrick Barrasso is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons for the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St...
of the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
(1984), 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 ....
' Grant Fuhr
Grant Fuhr
Grant Scott Fuhr is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League and currently the goaltending coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. In 2003, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame...
(1988) and José Théodore
José Théodore
José Théodore is a French Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League...
of the Montreal Canadiens in 2002.
Was the first NHL Goalie to officially wear the number 35, a common number now worn by many Goaltenders. It was assigned to him during training camp prior to the Chicago Black Hawks
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...
1969-'70 season due to the fact that the standard numbers 1 and 30 were already assigned, and after posting a shutout in his first ever exhibition game for the Hawks, he chose to keep wearing the number going on to a Hall of Fame career. His number 35 was retired by the Blackhawks on November 20, 1988.
Retirement
He retired from professional play in 1985 and was named to the Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1988. His number 35 was retired by the Blackhawks.
Tony Esposito later became General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
briefly, where he hired former Black Hawks teammate Gene Ubriaco
Gene Ubriaco
Eugene Stephen Ubriaco is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played three NHL seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Oakland Seals, and Chicago Black Hawks.-NHL career:...
as head coach. In his first years, the Penguins finished 40-33-7 and ended a lengthy playoff drought. After starting the 1989-90 season 10-14-2, Esposito and Ubriaco were both terminated. During his tenure, Esposito is best known for drafting Mark Recchi
Mark Recchi
Mark Louis Recchi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 22 years in the National Hockey League , most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens...
and pulling off a trade which landed the Penguins goaltender Tom Barasso.
In 1991, when his brother helped found the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
, Phil hired Tony as chief scout. Legend has it that they came up with the team name during a thunderstorm. Both Espositos were fired in 1998.
In 1998, he was ranked number 79 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players, 61 places behind No. 18-ranked Phil.
In 2007, Tony was inducted (alongside brother Phil) into the Sault Ste Marie Walk of Fame.
On March 19, 2008, 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...
honoured Esposito with "Tony Esposito Night", where he was formally introduced as an Ambassador to the Blackhawks organization. Then-Blackhawk goaltenders Patrick Lalime
Patrick Lalime
Patrick Lalime is a Canadian professional ice hockey broadcaster and former player. Lalime played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres...
and Nikolai Khabibulin
Nikolai Khabibulin
Nikolai Ivanovich Khabibulin is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League...
both wore Esposito's #35 jerseys in the pre-game warmups, and Khabibulin recorded a shutout in a Hawks 5–0 win over the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
.
Awards and accomplishments
- Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Champion (19691969 Stanley Cup FinalsThe 1969 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series played from April 27 to May 4, 1969, between the defending champions Montreal Canadiens and the St. Louis Blues, the same finalists as in 1968. The Canadiens would win the series in four-straight games....
). - Calder Memorial TrophyCalder Memorial TrophyThe Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The Rookie of the Year trophy has been awarded 79 times since its creation for the 1936–37 NHL season...
(19701969-70 NHL seasonThe 1969–70 NHL season was the 53rd season of the National Hockey League. For the third straight season, the St. Louis Blues reached the Stanley Cup finals, and for the third straight year, they were swept four games to none...
). - NHL First All-Star Team Goalie (1970, 1972, 19801979-80 NHL seasonThe 1979–80 NHL season was the 63rd season of the National Hockey League. This season saw the addition of four teams from the disbanded World Hockey Association as expansion franchises. The Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, New England Whalers , and Quebec Nordiques joined the NHL, bringing the total...
). - NHL Second All-Star Team Goalie (19731972-73 NHL season-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:-Leading goaltenders:Note: GP = Games played; Min - Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts-Debuts:...
, 19741973-74 NHL season-NHL awards:A new award, the Jack Adams for the best coach, was introduced for this season. The first winner was Fred Shero of the Philadelphia Flyers.-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:...
). - Vezina TrophyVezina TrophyThe Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
(1970, 1972, 1974). - NHL All-Star Game Goalie (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1980).
- Member of Canada men's national ice hockey team at 1972 Summit Series and 1977 Ice Hockey World Championship tournament.
- Played for US national men's hockey team in the 1981 Canada Cup1981 Canada CupThe 1981 Canada Cup was the second best-on-best ice hockey world championship and involved the world's top six hockey nations. Tournament games were held in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa. The Soviet Union defeated Canada in a single game final to win its first title, while Soviet...
. - His #35 was retired by the Chicago BlackhawksChicago BlackhawksThe 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...
on November 20, 1998. - In 1998, he was ranked number 79 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
Regular season
| 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 | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962–63 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Greyhounds play home games at the Essar Centre. The present team was founded in 1962 as a team in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The Greyhounds name has been used by several ice hockey... |
NOJHA | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1963–64 | Michigan Tech Huskies Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey The Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Michigan Technological University. The Huskies are a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association... |
WCHA Western Collegiate Hockey Association The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference.... |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1964–65 | Michigan Tech Huskies | WCHA | 17 | — | — | — | 1020 | 40 | 1 | 2.35 | — |
| 1965–66 | Michigan Tech Huskies | WCHA | 19 | — | — | — | 1140 | 51 | 1 | 2.68 | — |
| 1966–67 | Michigan Tech Huskies | WCHA | 15 | — | — | — | 900 | 39 | 0 | 2.60 | — |
| 1967–68 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks (WHL) The Vancouver Canucks were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. Inaugurated in 1945 with the PCHL, they became a WHL team with the merger of the PCHL with the Western Canada Senior Hockey League in 1952... |
WHL | 63 | 25 | 33 | 4 | 3734 | 199 | 4 | 3.20 | — |
| 1968–69 | Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHL | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 746 | 34 | 2 | 2.73 | — |
| 1968–69 | Houston Apollos Houston Apollos The Houston Apollos were a minor professional ice hockey team based in Houston, Texas. They played in the Central Hockey League from 1965 to 1969, and then from 1979 to 1981.... |
CHL | 19 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1139 | 46 | 1 | 2.42 | — |
| 1969–70 | Chicago Black Hawks 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 | 63 | 38 | 17 | 9 | 3763 | 136 | 15 | 2.17 | — |
| 1970–71 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 57 | 35 | 14 | 6 | 3325 | 126 | 6 | 2.27 | .920 |
| 1971–72 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 48 | 31 | 10 | 6 | 2780 | 82 | 9 | 1.77 | — |
| 1972–73 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 56 | 32 | 17 | 7 | 3340 | 140 | 4 | 2.51 | — |
| 1973–74 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 70 | 34 | 14 | 21 | 4143 | 141 | 10 | 2.04 | — |
| 1974–75 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 71 | 34 | 30 | 7 | 4219 | 193 | 6 | 2.74 | .905 |
| 1975–76 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 68 | 30 | 23 | 13 | 4003 | 198 | 4 | 2.97 | .905 |
| 1976–77 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 69 | 25 | 36 | 8 | 4067 | 234 | 2 | 3.45 | — |
| 1977–78 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 68 | 28 | 22 | 14 | 3840 | 168 | 5 | 2.63 | — |
| 1978–79 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 63 | 24 | 28 | 11 | 3780 | 206 | 4 | 3.27 | — |
| 1979–80 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 69 | 31 | 22 | 16 | 4140 | 205 | 6 | 2.97 | — |
| 1980–81 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 66 | 29 | 23 | 14 | 3935 | 246 | 0 | 3.75 | — |
| 1981–82 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 52 | 19 | 25 | 8 | 3069 | 231 | 1 | 4.52 | .867 |
| 1982–83 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 39 | 23 | 11 | 5 | 2340 | 135 | 1 | 3.46 | .867 |
| 1983–84 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 18 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 1095 | 88 | 1 | 4.82 | .859 |
| NHL totals | 886 | 423 | 306 | 151 | 52,583 | 2563 | 76 | 2.92 | — | ||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968–69 | Houston Apollos | CHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 59 | 3 | 0 | 3.05 |
| 1969–70 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 8 | 4 | 4 | 480 | 27 | 0 | 3.38 |
| 1970–71 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 18 | 11 | 7 | 1151 | 42 | 2 | 2.19 |
| 1971–72 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 5 | 2 | 3 | 300 | 16 | 0 | 3.20 |
| 1972–73 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 15 | 10 | 5 | 895 | 46 | 1 | 3.08 |
| 1973–74 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 10 | 6 | 4 | 584 | 28 | 2 | 2.88 |
| 1974–75 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 8 | 3 | 5 | 472 | 34 | 0 | 4.32 |
| 1975–76 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 4 | 0 | 4 | 240 | 13 | 0 | 3.25 |
| 1976–77 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 2 | 0 | 2 | 120 | 6 | 0 | 3.00 |
| 1977–78 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 4 | 0 | 4 | 252 | 19 | 0 | 4.52 |
| 1978–79 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 4 | 0 | 4 | 243 | 14 | 0 | 3.46 |
| 1979–80 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 6 | 3 | 3 | 373 | 14 | 0 | 2.25 |
| 1980–81 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 3 | 0 | 3 | 215 | 15 | 0 | 4.19 |
| 1981–82 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 7 | 3 | 3 | 381 | 16 | 1 | 2.52 |
| 1982–83 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 5 | 3 | 2 | 311 | 18 | 0 | 3.47 |
| NHL totals | 99 | 45 | 53 | 6017 | 308 | 6 | 3.07 | ||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Canada | Summit-72 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 240 | 13 | 0 | 3.25 | |
| 1977 1977 World Ice Hockey Championships The 1977 Ice Hockey World Championships took place in Vienna, Austria from 21 April to 8 May. Eight teams took part, first playing each other once, then the four best teams advancing to a new round. The tournament was also the 55th ice hockey European Championship... |
Canada | WC Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 510 | 27 | 1 | 3.17 | |
| 1979 1979 Challenge Cup The 1979 Challenge Cup was an international ice hockey series of games between the Soviet national ice hockey team and a team of all-stars from the National Hockey League, held in New York City. It replaced the NHL's all-star festivities for the 1978–79 NHL season.The Challenge Cup, unlike its... |
NHL All-Stars | Ch-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1981 1981 Canada Cup The 1981 Canada Cup was the second best-on-best ice hockey world championship and involved the world's top six hockey nations. Tournament games were held in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa. The Soviet Union defeated Canada in a single game final to win its first title, while Soviet... |
USA | Can-Cup Canada Cup The Canada Cup refers to several types of professional sporting events held in Canada: It is also the previous name of the World Cup of Golf and the World Cup of Hockey.* Canada Cup for men's professional ice hockey* Canada Cup... |
5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 300 | 20 | 0 | 4.00 | |
| Senior int'l totals | 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 1050 | 60 | 1 | 3.43 | |||
In popular culture
- Garth Algar (Dana CarveyDana CarveyDana Thomas Carvey is an American actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for playing the role of Garth in the Wayne's World movies.-Early life:...
) wears Esposito's jersey while playing road hockeyRoad hockeyStreet hockey is a variation of the sport of ice hockey where the game is played on foot or with inline skates or roller skates. The object of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team by shooting a ball or puck into the opposing team's net...
in Wayne's WorldWayne's World (film)Wayne's World is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Penelope Spheeris and starring Mike Myers in his film debut as Wayne Campbell and Dana Carvey as Garth Algar, hosts of the Aurora, Illinois-based Public-access television cable TV show Wayne's World...
and Wayne's World 2Wayne's World 2Wayne's World 2 is a 1993 comedy film starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey as hosts of a Public-access television cable TV show from Aurora, Illinois. The film was adapted from a sketch on NBC's Saturday Night Live and is the sequel to Wayne's World....
. - He made an appearance in the second season of Rent-a-GoalieRent-a-GoalieRent-a-Goalie is a half-hour comedy television series from Canada that aired on Showcase from 2006 - 2008. Its third season premiered 20 October 2008. The first season was nominated for three Gemini Awards, including Best Comedy Series...
playing poker alongside his brother PhilPhil EspositoPhilip Anthony Esposito, OC is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and is considered to be one of the best to have...
.