Zack Stortini Explained

Played For:Edmonton Oilers
Nashville Predators
Position:Right Wing
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:225
Birth Date:11 September 1985
Birth Place:Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada
Draft:94th overall
Draft Year:2003
Draft Team:Edmonton Oilers
Career Start:2005
Career End:2019

Zachery Stortini (born September 11, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger and current assistant coach with the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League (AHL). He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators. Stortini was chosen in the third round, 94th overall, by the Oilers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He plays a physical game and is known as an enforcer.

Playing career

Stortini is the former captain of the Sudbury Wolves, where he spent his entire Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career.

He made his professional debut in 2004 with the Toronto Roadrunners of the American Hockey League (AHL), playing in two games. After another year with Sudbury, Stortini graduated full-time joining the Iowa Stars of the AHL. Stortini scored the first goal in Iowa Stars franchise history. He was later loaned to the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) to finish the season.He made his NHL debut on January 20, 2007, against the Calgary Flames. Stortini was a –1 and received a ten-minute misconduct penalty in the third period of his first game. Stortini was leading the AHL in penalty minutes at the time of his call-up. He was brought up to add some toughness to the Oilers after they had been banged around in the previous few games. The Oilers also wanted a "heavyweight" in their line up to go against Calgary tough-guy Eric Godard. He was sent back to the Hamilton Bulldogs after the game, but later was recalled. Stortini appeared in 29 regular season games for the Oilers during the 2006–07 season. He went on to win the Calder Cup that season as a member of the Bulldogs.

Stortini scored his first NHL goal with the Oilers against the Vancouver Canucks on February 6, 2007, during the second period against goaltender Roberto Luongo.

He recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick against the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 9, 2009.[1]

Stortini was placed on waivers by the Oilers on February 1, 2011, and subsequently cleared them on February 2. As a result, he was assigned to the Oklahoma City Barons in the AHL.

Stortini signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators on July 5, 2011.[2] Shortly after the beginning of the 2011–12 season, Stortini was placed on waivers by the Predators on October 11, before he was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.

With limited NHL interest, Stortini signed a one-year deal as a free agent to return for a second tenure with the Hamilton Bulldogs on September 21, 2012.[3] In 73 games with the Bulldogs, Stortini added six points while leading the club with 241 penalty minutes.

On July 7, 2013, Stortini regained NHL interest and was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Anaheim Ducks.[4] He was familiarly assigned to continue in the AHL with the Norfolk Admirals for the duration of the year.

On July 2, 2014, Stortini signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.[5]

On July 1, 2015, Stortini was signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators.[6] With the intention of adding a veteran presence to AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, Stortini was announced as team captain to begin the 2015–16 season.

In the midst of the last year of his contract with the Senators in 2016–17, Stortini was included in a trade to the San Jose Sharks, along with Buddy Robinson and a seventh-round draft pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, in exchange for Tommy Wingels on January 24, 2017.[7] He played out the remainder of the season with the Sharks' AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.

As a free agent from the Sharks, Stortini opted to continue in the AHL, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Charlotte Checkers on July 5, 2017.[8] As a veteran presence, Stortini helped contribute to the Checkers best season in franchise history in 2018–19, appearing in 24 regular season games. Stortini concluded his 14-year professional career claiming the Calder Cup championship with the Checkers, his second AHL championship.

Coaching career

On August 2, 2019, he returned to junior club, the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL, as an assistant coach to Cory Stillman.[9]

On August 17, 2022, Stortini joined the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL as an assistant coach.[10]

Personal

Stortini's sister Samantha played in the Brown Bears women's ice hockey program from 2007 to 2011.[11]

Career statistics

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2000–01Newmarket HurricanesOPJHL343101368
2001–02Sudbury WolvesOHL658614187510124
2002–03Sudbury WolvesOHL62131629222
2003–04Sudbury WolvesOHL62211637151711214
2003–04Toronto RoadrunnersAHL2000730004
2004–05Sudbury WolvesOHL581327401861225727
2005–06Iowa StarsAHL27213108
2005–06Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL370771531720219
2006–07Hamilton BulldogsAHL4796151952230356
2006–07Edmonton OilersNHL29101105
2007–08Springfield FalconsAHL432521
2007–08Edmonton OilersNHL663912201
2008–09Edmonton OilersNHL526511181
2009–10Edmonton OilersNHL774913155
2010–11Edmonton OilersNHL3204476
2010–11Oklahoma City BaronsAHL291235351016
2011–12Nashville PredatorsNHL10007
2011–12Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL74961514630112
2012–13Hamilton BulldogsAHL73246241
2013–14Norfolk AdmiralsAHL7345929990224
2014–15Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL76131225184
2015–16Binghamton SenatorsAHL668816182
2016–17Binghamton SenatorsAHL2221320
2016–17San Jose BarracudaAHL2610196601114
2017–18Charlotte CheckersAHL2310171
2018–19Charlotte CheckersAHL2400049
AHL totals60355541091825656410105
NHL totals257142741725

Awards and honours

AwardYear
AHL
Calder Cup (Hamilton Bulldogs)2007
Calder Cup (Charlotte Checkers)2019[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zack Stortini has goal and two fights, Oilers beat Lightning 3-2. NHL.com. December 9, 2009.
  2. Web site: Predators sign F Stortini. The Sports Network. July 5, 2011.
  3. Web site: Bulldogs sign Zach Stortini to AHL contract . . September 21, 2012 . September 21, 2012.
  4. Web site: Ducks sign Zach Stortini and Nolan Yonkman . thehockeyhouse.net . July 7, 2013 . July 7, 2013.
  5. Web site: Flyers agree to terms with Zack Stortini . . July 2, 2014 . July 2, 2014.
  6. Web site: News Release: Senators agree to terms with forward Zack Stortini on a two-year, two-way contract . Ottawa Senators . July 1, 2015 . July 1, 2015.
  7. Web site: Sharks acquire two forwards in trade with Senators . . 2017-01-24 . 2017-01-24.
  8. Web site: Checkers sign Stortini, Schilkey and Ouellette to AHL contracts . . 2017-07-05 . 2017-07-05.
  9. Web site: Stortini joins Wolves as assistant coach . . August 2, 2019 . August 2, 2019.
  10. Web site: ZACK STORTINI NAMED ROADRUNNERS ASSISTANT COACH . Tucson Roadrunners . 31 December 2023.
  11. Web site: Samantha Stortini profile . Brown Bears Athletics . January 2, 2011 . January 2, 2011.
  12. Web site: Check and Mate! Charlotte wins Calder Cup . . June 8, 2019 . June 8, 2019.