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Tom Kostopoulos

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Tom Kostopoulos
Kostopoulos with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2015
Born (1979-01-24) January 24, 1979 (age 45)
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 204 lb (93 kg; 14 st 8 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Pittsburgh Penguins
Los Angeles Kings
Montreal Canadiens
Carolina Hurricanes
Calgary Flames
New Jersey Devils
NHL draft 204th overall, 1999
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 1999–2018

Thomas George Kostopoulos (Greek: Θωμάς Κωστόπουλος; born January 24, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He most notably played in the National Hockey League (NHL) before playing his career with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL). Kostopoulos was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the seventh round (204th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, and the 2017–18 season was his 19th year as a professional hockey player.

Playing career

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In his early years, Kostopoulos graduated from Fairwind Senior Public School in 1993.[citation needed] As a youth, he played in the 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Toronto Red Wings minor ice hockey team.[1] After playing much of his minor hockey in the GTHL with the Toronto Marlboros and Mississauga Reps, Kostopoulos played one year with the Brampton Capitals of the OJHL (OHA).[citation needed] He was a 2nd round pick (18th overall) in the 1996 OHL Priority Selection by the London Knights.

Kostopoulos was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the seventh round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Before that he played junior hockey with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. He made his professional minor-league hockey debut with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. Kostopoulos made his NHL debut with the Penguins in the 2001–02 season and enjoyed his best season so far with Pittsburgh in 2003–04. During the 2005 off season, he played with the Manchester Monarchs, having signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Kings.[2] On July 3, 2007 he signed a free-agent contract with the Montreal Canadiens.[3]

On January 22, 2008, he recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick in an 8–2 victory against the Boston Bruins.[4]

On November 10, 2008, Kostopoulos was suspended for three games for a hit on Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Van Ryn during the game between the teams on November 8. He was given a boarding major penalty and ejected from the game. Kostopoulos also forfeited US-$33,000 in pay.[5] Kostopoulos responded about the incident by saying," First and foremost, I sincerely regret the injuries suffered by Mike Van Ryn...this is an unfortunate turn of events. I was just trying to get in on the forecheck and get the puck. I didn't anticipate him turning and couldn't stop. I was trying to finish my check and obviously it did not end up well. I never intend on injuring another player. I feel bad. I hope he is going to be all right and resume playing as quickly as possible."[6] NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell said in announcing the suspension that while Van Ryn was not in a defenceless position, his injuries—including a concussion—were significant enough to warrant suspending Kostopoulos.[7]

Kostopoulos was again suspended for a January 7, 2011, hit which broke Brad Stuart's jaw. Kostopoulos was assessed a minor roughing penalty during the game, but then served a six-game suspension for making primary contact with the head.[8]

On January 23, 2013, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL announced Kostopoulos had signed with the team on a Professional Try Out.[9] On March 5, 2013, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed Kostopoulos to a one-year two-way contract[10] but was claimed off waivers by the New Jersey Devils the following day.[11]

On September 3, 2013, Kostopoulos signed a one-year AHL contract to continue to play with and lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.[12]

Coaching career

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On April 4, 2018, Kostopoulos announced he planned on retiring at the conclusion of the 2017–18 season, his 19th professional year.[13] After retiring, he joined the Penguins organization as a player development coach.[14]

Personal life

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Kostopoulos was born in Mississauga, Ontario, on January 24, 1979.[15] He names his brother Chris, a coach in Texas, as his biggest influence in hockey. Kostopoulos has three nephews, Cameron, Tyler, and Josh who live in Texas with his brother Chris.[16] Kostopoulos also has one half sister, Laurie Bodley. They spend their offseasons in Oakville, Ontario.[16]

Kostopoulos and his wife Lisa have two children together.[17][18]

His mother is Cheryl Kostopoulos, who is of English heritage, and his father is George Kostopoulos, who is Greek.

He is of Greek descent, and in 2008 was the grand marshal of the Hellenic Community of Montreal's Greek Independence Day parade.[19] Kostopoulos is involved with the Canadian Cancer Society as well as Garth Brooks' Teammates For Kids Foundation.[16]

Career statistics

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1995–96 Brampton Capitals OPJHL 24 9 9 18 28 — — — — —
1996–97 London Knights OHL 64 13 12 25 67 — — — — —
1997–98 London Knights OHL 66 24 26 50 108 16 6 4 10 26
1998–99 London Knights OHL 66 27 60 87 114 25 19 16 35 32
1999–00 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 76 26 32 58 121 — — — — —
2000–01 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 80 16 36 52 120 21 3 9 12 6
2001–02 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 11 1 2 3 9 — — — — —
2001–02 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 70 27 26 53 112 — — — — —
2002–03 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 71 21 42 63 131 6 1 2 3 7
2002–03 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 8 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2003–04 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 21 7 13 20 43 24 7 16 23 3
2003–04 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 60 9 13 22 67 — — — — —
2004–05 Manchester Monarchs AHL 64 25 46 71 99 6 0 7 7 10
2005–06 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 8 14 22 100 — — — — —
2006–07 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 7 15 22 73 — — — — —
2007–08 Montreal Canadiens NHL 67 7 6 13 113 12 3 1 4 6
2008–09 Montreal Canadiens NHL 78 8 14 22 106 4 0 1 1 4
2009–10 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 82 8 13 21 106 — — — — —
2010–11 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 17 1 3 4 30 — — — — —
2010–11 Calgary Flames NHL 59 7 7 14 44 — — — — —
2011–12 Calgary Flames NHL 81 4 8 12 57 — — — — —
2012–13 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 17 3 4 7 43 — — — — —
2012–13 New Jersey Devils NHL 15 1 0 1 18 — — — — —
2013–14 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 71 22 25 47 72 17 4 6 10 20
2014–15 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 72 16 28 44 62 8 3 2 5 12
2015–16 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 75 19 33 52 97 10 5 7 12 4
2016–17 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 74 24 30 54 49 5 0 2 2 4
2017–18 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 31 5 14 19 31 3 0 0 0 6
AHL totals 722 211 329 540 980 100 23 51 74 101
NHL totals 630 61 96 157 723 16 3 2 5 10

References

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  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  2. ^ Bresnahan, Mike (July 10, 2004). "Kings Sign Visnovsky to a Four-Year Contract". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  3. ^ "Montreal signs forward Tom Kostopoulos to US$1.8-million, two-year deal". The Hockey News. The Canadian Press. July 4, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "Kostopoulos by numbers". NHL.com. May 22, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  5. ^ "Canadiens forward Tom Kostopoulos suspended three games by NHL". NHL.com. Toronto. November 10, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  6. ^ "NHL suspends Canadiens' Kostopoulos for hit on Van Ryn". The Sports Network.ca. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
  7. ^ Zwolinski, Mark (November 8, 2008). "Van Ryn hit puts more heat on NHL". The Toronto Star. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
  8. ^ Brehm, Mike (January 10, 2011). "Kostopoulos will sit six games for hit that broke Stuart's jaw". USA Today. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  9. ^ "Tom Kostopoulos signs PTO with Penguins". Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. January 23, 2013. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  10. ^ "Penguins sign Tom Kostopoulos to one-year deal". Pittsburgh Penguins. March 5, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  11. ^ Anderson, Shelly (March 6, 2013). "No reunion: Kostopoulos claimed from Penguins by New Jersey". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  12. ^ "Wilkes-Barre/Scranton sign Kostopoulos to AHL deal". Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. September 3, 2013. Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  13. ^ Coe, Brian (April 4, 2018). "TOM KOSTOPOULOS TO RETIRE FOLLOWING 2017-18 SEASON". wbspenguins.com. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  14. ^ Werner, Sam (July 3, 2018). "Tom Kostopoulos is still teaching young Penguins. But now he's doing it as a coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  15. ^ "Tom Kostopoulos player profile". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  16. ^ a b c Sundheim, Mark; Hanlin, Kyle, eds. (2010). 2010–11 Carolina Hurricanes Media Guide. Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Club. p. 36.
  17. ^ Stubbs, Dave (January 18, 2011). ""Tough watching your team play," Tom Kostopoulos says". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on January 19, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  18. ^ Hart, Nick (May 8, 2017). "KOSTOPOULOS HAS BLESSING FROM BOTH FAMILIES FOR RETURN". wbspenguins.com. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  19. ^ "Greek community honours past and celebrates its future". Montreal Gazette. March 31, 2008. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Captain of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
2002–04
(shared with)
Kris Beech (2003–04)
Patrick Boileau (2003–04)

2013–2018 		Succeeded by
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