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.

Zack Stortini
Stortini in 2010 with the Oklahoma City Barons
Born (1985-09-11) September 11, 1985 (age 39)
Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Edmonton Oilers
Nashville Predators
NHL draft 94th overall, 2003
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 2005–2019

Playing career

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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.

 
Stortini during his tenure with the Phantoms in 2015.

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

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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

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

Career statistics

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2000–01 Newmarket Hurricanes OPJHL 34 3 10 13 68
2001–02 Sudbury Wolves OHL 65 8 6 14 187 5 1 0 1 24
2002–03 Sudbury Wolves OHL 62 13 16 29 222
2003–04 Sudbury Wolves OHL 62 21 16 37 151 7 1 1 2 14
2003–04 Toronto Roadrunners AHL 2 0 0 0 7 3 0 0 0 4
2004–05 Sudbury Wolves OHL 58 13 27 40 186 12 2 5 7 27
2005–06 Iowa Stars AHL 27 2 1 3 108
2005–06 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 37 0 7 7 153 17 2 0 2 19
2006–07 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 47 9 6 15 195 22 3 0 3 56
2006–07 Edmonton Oilers NHL 29 1 0 1 105
2007–08 Springfield Falcons AHL 4 3 2 5 21
2007–08 Edmonton Oilers NHL 66 3 9 12 201
2008–09 Edmonton Oilers NHL 52 6 5 11 181
2009–10 Edmonton Oilers NHL 77 4 9 13 155
2010–11 Edmonton Oilers NHL 32 0 4 4 76
2010–11 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 29 1 2 3 53 5 1 0 1 6
2011–12 Nashville Predators NHL 1 0 0 0 7
2011–12 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 74 9 6 15 146 3 0 1 1 2
2012–13 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 73 2 4 6 241
2013–14 Norfolk Admirals AHL 73 4 5 9 299 9 0 2 2 4
2014–15 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 76 13 12 25 184
2015–16 Binghamton Senators AHL 66 8 8 16 182
2016–17 Binghamton Senators AHL 22 2 1 3 20
2016–17 San Jose Barracuda AHL 26 1 0 1 96 6 0 1 1 14
2017–18 Charlotte Checkers AHL 23 1 0 1 71
2018–19 Charlotte Checkers AHL 24 0 0 0 49
AHL totals 603 55 54 109 1825 65 6 4 10 105
NHL totals 257 14 27 41 725

Awards and honours

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

References

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