Zellio Toppazzini Explained

Position:Right wing
Played For:Boston Bruins
New York Rangers
Chicago Black Hawks
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:180
Birth Date:5 January 1930
Birth Place:Copper Cliff, Ontario, Canada
Death Place:Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Career Start:1947
Career End:1964
Coach Years1:1964–1968
Coach Team1:Providence
Overall Record:31–60–1

Zellio Louis Peter Toppazzini (January 5, 1930[1] – April 1, 2001) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 123 games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, and Chicago Black Hawks between 1949 and 1956. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1948 to 1964, was mainly spent with the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League. After He was the brother of Jerry Toppazzini, who played in the NHL from 1952 to 1964, and the great-uncle of Justin Williams, who played in the NHL from 2000 to 2020.

Playing career

Toppazzini spent most of his career with the American Hockey League's Providence Reds. Nicknamed "Topper", Toppazzini is the all-time leading scorer in Reds history. During his 12 years with the Reds, from 1951 to 1964, he amassed 279 goals, 448 assists and 727 points in 650 regular season games, and another 16–28–44 in playoff action. All are team records.

In 1955–56 the line of Toppazzini, Paul Larivee and Camille Henry spearheaded the Reds to both regular season and Calder Cup championships. Toppazzini earned career highs of 42 goals, 71 assists and 113 points in leading the AHL in scoring and in the playoffs he also added 7–13–20.

Post-playing career

In 2000, The Rhode Island Reds Heritage Society named Toppazzini its "Player of the Century"; it presents an annual award in his honor. In 2012, Zellio was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame.

Toppazzini coached the Providence College hockey team for four seasons from 1964–65 through 1967–68 compiling a 31–60–1 (0.342) record. His best and only winning season behind the PC bench was his first year (1964–65) when the Friars went 14–11–1 (0.558). Toppazzini was replaced by Lou Lamoriello.

Toppazzini was inducted as a charter member of the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1946–47Copper Cliff Jr. RedmenNOJHA9 10 3 13 65 4 4 8 5
1947–48St. Catharines TeepeesOHA33 27 18 45 533 4 4 8 2
1948–49Boston BruinsNHL5 1 1 2 02 0 0 0 0
1948–49Hershey BearsAHL49 9 14 23 15
1949–50Boston BruinsNHL36 5 5 10 18
1949–50Hershey BearsAHL34 16 9 25 6
1950–51Boston BruinsNHL4 0 1 1 0
1950–51Hershey BearsAHL12 6 5 11 2
1950–51New York RangersNHL55 14 14 28 27
1951–52New York RangersNHL16 1 1 2 4
1951–52Cincinnati MohawksAHL7 2 4 6 0
1951–52Providence RedsAHL33 20 25 45 611 3 7 10 2
1952–53Providence RedsAHL64 35 32 67 23
1953–54Providence RedsAHL70 33 43 76 18
1954–55Providence RedsAHL62 21 53 74 12
1955–56Providence RedsAHL64 42 71 113 449 7 13 20 2
1956–57Chicago Black HawksNHL7 0 0 0 0
1956–57Providence RedsAHL44 13 40 53 165 0 1 1 4
1957–58Providence RedsAHL70 27 42 69 145 1 1 2 0
1958–59Providence RedsAHL67 17 38 55 14
1960–61Providence RedsAHL68 31 34 65 2
1961–62Providence RedsAHL66 21 36 57 23 1 2 3 0
1962–63Providence RedsAHL61 16 24 40 106 4 4 8 0
1963–64Providence RedsAHL14 1 6 7 01 0 0 0 0
AHL totals785 310 476 786 18440 16 28 44 8
NHL totals123 21 22 43 492 0 0 0 0

Notes and References

  1. https://www.nhl.com/player/zellio-toppazzini-8449245