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Aaron Volpatti

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Aaron Volpatti
Volpatti with the Vancouver Canucks in 2011
Born (1985-05-30) May 30, 1985 (age 39)
Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Vancouver Canucks
Washington Capitals
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2010–2015

Anthony Aaron Volpatti (born May 30, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played with the Vancouver Canucks and the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

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A native of Revelstoke, British Columbia, Volpatti played Junior A hockey for the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). After recording 5 points (1 goal and 4 assists) over 55 games as a rookie in 2003–04, he improved to 18 points (6 goals and 12 assists) over 57 games the following season. In the 2005 BCHL playoffs, the Vipers advanced to the Fred Page Cup Finals, where they were defeated by the Surrey Eagles. During a team camping trip that summer, Volpatti received burns to over 35% of his body (including his abdomen and face) in a bonfire accident. Hospitalized for five months, doctors told him he would not play again for two years, if at all. The use of his right hand was in particular jeopardy. Despite the prognosis, Volpatti returned to the lineup for the start of the 2005–06 season, although injuries to his muscles limited him to 25 of the team's 60 games.[1] Upon his lengthy recovery from those injuries he recorded 6 goals and 14 points.

Following his three-year junior career, Volpatti moved on to the college level, joining the Brown Bears of the ECAC Hockey Conference (within the National Collegiate Athletics Association; NCAA circuit). Vopatti majored in human biology at the university and captained the team during his four-year college tenure. After recording a college career-high 32 points over 37 games with Brown in 2009–10, Volpatti was signed as a free agent by the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) on March 22, 2010. He was subsequently assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, for the remainder of their 2009–10 season.[2] He recorded one goal and one assist over eight games.

After attending his first NHL training camp with the team in September 2010, Volpatti was reassigned to the Moose for the start of the 2010–11 season. He received his first NHL call-up on December 16,[3] and made his NHL debut two nights later in a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored his first NHL goal in his second game against Jaroslav Halak of the St. Louis Blues on December 20, 2010.[4] Volpatti finished his rookie professional season with a goal and an assist over 15 NHL games and 11 points (2 goals and 9 assists) over 53 AHL games. He added 3 points (1 goal and 2 assists) over 12 AHL playoff games.

The following season, Volpatti made the Canucks' roster out of training camp, playing on the fourth line with Maxim Lapierre and Dale Weise. During a game against the Los Angeles Kings in November 2011, Volpatti hurt his shoulder after receiving a hit from opposing defenceman Matt Greene.[5] Playing through the injury, he re-aggravated his shoulder the following month. Diagnosed with a torn left labrum, the injury required surgery that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.[6]

In the off-season Volpatti re-signed with the Canucks, signing a one-year two-way contract. The deal was a slight pay cut for Volpatti's NHL salary and much larger cut at the minor league level. His NHL salary went from $625,000 to $600,000, while his minor league contract went from $200,000 to $105,000. The minor league salary represented the maximum amount allowed to avoid being subject to re-entry or recall waivers.[7] He began the 2012–13 season with the Canucks, playing in 16 games, and scoring 1 goal.[8] After Vancouver had players return from injury Volpatti became the team's thirteenth forward and a regular healthy scratch.[9] Needing a roster spot to activate forward Steve Pinizzotto from the injured reserve list, the Canucks put Volpatti on waivers.[10] Vancouver's plan was to assign him to their minor league affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, in order to give him increased playing time and work on the penalty kill.[9] However, before that could happen he was claimed off waivers by the Washington Capitals.[8]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2003–04 Vernon Vipers BCHL 55 1 4 5 134 — — — — —
2004–05 Vernon Vipers BCHL 57 6 12 18 106 — — — — —
2005–06 Vernon Vipers BCHL 25 6 8 14 39 — — — — —
2006–07 Brown University ECAC 23 5 2 7 39 — — — — —
2007–08 Brown University ECAC 31 4 6 10 28 — — — — —
2008–09 Brown University ECAC 32 6 7 13 54 — — — — —
2009–10 Brown University ECAC 37 17 15 32 115 — — — — —
2009–10 Manitoba Moose AHL 8 1 1 2 17 5 1 0 1 21
2010–11 Manitoba Moose AHL 53 2 9 11 74 12 1 2 3 36
2010–11 Vancouver Canucks NHL 15 1 1 2 16 — — — — —
2011–12 Vancouver Canucks NHL 23 1 0 1 37 — — — — —
2012–13 Vancouver Canucks NHL 16 1 0 1 28 — — — — —
2012–13 Washington Capitals NHL 17 0 1 1 7 — — — — —
2013–14 Washington Capitals NHL 41 2 0 2 49 — — — — —
NHL totals 112 5 2 7 137 — — — — —

Awards and honors

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College
Award Year
All-ECAC Hockey Third Team 2009–10[11]

References

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  1. ^ Kuzma, Ben (2011-10-04). "Teenage hijinks almost cost Canucks' Volpatti his career". Montreal Gazette. Postmedia News. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
  2. ^ National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 341. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.
  3. ^ Campbell, Tim (16 December 2010). "Moose lose Volpatti to Canucks". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  4. ^ "Kesler's pair leads Canucks past Blues". NHL.com. Associated Press. 2010-12-20. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
  5. ^ "Red-hot Canuck Higgins out vs Avalanche with Staph infection". The Sports Network. Canadian Press. 2011-12-05. Archived from the original on 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  6. ^ "Canucks winger Volpatti done for season with shoulder injury". The Sports Network. 2011-12-03. Archived from the original on 2011-12-04. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
  7. ^ Ziemer, Brad (2012-06-15). "Volpatti takes slight pay cut to remain with Canucks". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  8. ^ a b Carrera, Katie (2013-02-28). "Capitals claim forward Aaron Volpatti off waivers (updated)". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  9. ^ a b Pap, Elliott (2013-02-27). "Canucks waive fourth-liner Volpatti". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 2015-02-08. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  10. ^ Mooney, Harrison (2013-02-27). "Canucks waive Aaron Volpatti, remind everyone they have a guy named Steve Pinizzotto". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 2013-03-03. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  11. ^ Player Bio - Aaron Volpatti
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