CHICAGO — Tony Esposito made an instantaneous mark on the Chicago Blackhawks and a long-lasting impression on the NHL.
Esposito, the pioneering Hall of Famer who spent nearly his whole 16-year occupation with the Blackhawks, died following a bout with pancreatic most cancers, the group launched Tuesday. He was 78.
Esposito debuted with Montreal by way of the 1968-69 season and appeared in 13 video video games. He was then left unprotected with the Canadiens deep in goalies and introduced by the Blackhawks in an intraleague draft for $25,000, an funding that paid prompt dividends for a gaggle that was coming off a last-place finish in its division.
Esposito helped lead the Blackhawks to first place, showcasing his butterfly trend to submit a 2.17 goals-against widespread and 15 shutouts, nonetheless a recent file for an NHL goalie. He gained the Calder Trophy as a result of the NHL’s rookie of the yr along with the Vezina Trophy given to the best goaltender. He moreover gained the Vezina in 1972 and 1974.
“Tony was most likely essentially the most important and widespread figures throughout the historic previous of the franchise as we near its one centesimal anniversary,” Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz talked about. “4 generations of our family — my grandfather Arthur, my father, Bill, my son Danny and I — had been blessed by his work ethic as a Hall of Fame goalie, nonetheless further importantly, by his mere presence and spirit.”
The Esposito family often known as him a “Hall of Fame husband, father, and grandfather.”
“Chicago felt like dwelling from the time Tony first arrived in 1969, because of the Wirtz family and other people 18,000 Blackhawks followers who dealt with him like family every night time time on the Stadium, win or lose or tie,” the family talked about in an announcement.
Esposito was from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, merely all through the St. Mary’s River from Michigan’s Larger Peninsula, and he helped Michigan Tech to an NCAA championship in 1965. His older brother, Phil, was a star in his private correct, a Hall of Fame coronary heart who carried out 18 seasons throughout the NHL.
The youthful Esposito’s first NHL start was Dec. 5, 1968, in the direction of Boston — and his brother. Phil Esposito scored twice on his youthful brother, nonetheless Tony made 33 saves and the game ended 2-2.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman often known as him “a beloved member of the hockey family.”
“It was Esposito’s trend, charisma and coronary coronary heart that endeared him most to hockey followers not solely in Chicago nonetheless all through the NHL,” Bettman talked about. “The hockey world will miss him tremendously.”
Esposito helped lead Chicago to the playoffs in 14 seasons. The Blackhawks reached the Stanley Cup Remaining in 1971 and 1973, shedding each time to his former group, Montreal.
He is Chicago’s occupation chief with 418 wins and 74 shutouts. His whole file of 423-306-151 ranks tenth in league historic previous. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988, turning into a member of his brother. And in 2017, he was chosen by the league as one in every of many “100 Greatest Avid gamers in NHL Historic previous.”
The Blackhawks retired Esposito’s No. 35 on Nov. 20, 1988, and paid tribute to him as soon as extra on March 19, 2008. He was named a gaggle ambassador in a pregame ceremony attended by franchise icons and former teammates Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Denis Savard along with his brother.
“It is a wonderful feeling to be on this ice as soon as extra. Really miss it, I’m going to tell you that,” Esposito talked about because the group chanted “Tony! Tony!” “It’s a pleasure and an honor to be once more with the Hawks.”
Esposito moreover served as fundamental supervisor of the Pittsburgh Penguins and as chief scout in Tampa Bay, the place he was employed by his brother. Phil is 79 and does radio work for the Lightning, a gaggle he helped found.
“Tony was a founding, cornerstone member of the Lightning family who was a fixture at video video games and, alongside collectively along with his brother Phil, carried out in integral place in laying the groundwork for a worthwhile franchise throughout the Sunshine State when many thought it was unattainable,” the Lightning talked about in an announcement. “His place cannot be understated. Tony was an actual legend on the ice and off of it.”
Former Blackhawks defenseman Doug Wilson often known as the details about his pal and mentor “heartbreaking.”
“He exuded administration and class, whereas being most likely essentially the most dominant players ever seen at his place,” Wilson, the San Jose Sharks‘ fundamental supervisor, talked about.
Esposito is survived by his partner, Marilyn, sons Mark and Jason, Mark’s partner, Kim, and their children, Lauren and Kamryn.