John Tavares

John Tavares may refer to:

John Tavares (ice hockey)

John Tavares (born September 20, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently serves as the captain of the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected first overall by the Islanders in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Previously, Tavares competed at the major junior level as a member of the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) before being traded to the London Knights at the 2009 OHL trading deadline along with Michael Del Zotto. Tavares broke into the OHL after gaining "exceptional player" status at the age of 14, allowing the Generals to select him in the OHL Priority Draft as an underage player in 2005. Tavares was named the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Rookie of the Year in 2006 and CHL Player of the Year in 2007. In 2009, he finished the season with a career total of 215 goals, breaking Peter Lee's OHL record by two.

Tavares was the focus of an unsuccessful push to have the NHL's draft rules changed to allow him to participate in the 2008 Entry Draft, as well as an attempt to allow him to play in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a 17-year-old in 2007. Tavares was ranked as the top prospect for the 2009 Draft by both the NHL Central Scouting Bureau and International Scouting Services.

John Tavares (lacrosse)

John Tavares (born September 4, 1968 in Toronto, Ontario) is a retired professional box lacrosse player. He is the National Lacrosse League's all-time leading scorer and also a mathematics teacher at Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. He attended D'Youville College in Buffalo, NY.

Tavares played his entire National Lacrosse League career with the Buffalo Bandits since their inaugural season in 1992. He was acquired from the Detroit Turbos in exchange for Brian Nikula in October 1991. John was also the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association Representative for the Bandits.

Personal life

Tavares was born on September 4, 1968 in Toronto, Ontario to Dorotea and Manuel Tavares who are Portuguese immigrants to Toronto. Tavares is an uncle of ice hockey player John Tavares, the first overall pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and a forward with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

NLL Career

Tavares is first in NLL career points, goals and assists. On Saturday February 18, 2006, the Buffalo Bandits defeated the Minnesota Swarm by a score of 14–9 in front of 12,458 fans at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. In that game, John Tavares tied the NLL Career Points (goals + assists) record at 1,091 points held by Gary Gait, who had retired after the 2005 season.