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| Tony Amonte | |
|---|---|
| Name | Anthony Lewis Amonte |
| Caption | Amonte with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2008 |
| Birth date | 2 August 1970 |
| Birth place | Holliston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Weight lb | 200 |
| Position | Right wing |
| Shoots | Right |
| Played for | New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins |
| National team | United States |
| Draft | 68th overall, 1990 NHL Entry Draft |
| Draft team | New York Rangers |
| Career start | 1991 |
| Career end | 2008 |
Tony Amonte (born August 2, 1970) is an American former professional ice hockey right winger and coach. He played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, and Boston Bruins, and represented the United States at multiple international tournaments including the Olympic Games and IIHF World Championships. Amonte later transitioned to coaching and front-office roles at the collegiate and professional levels.
Amonte was born in Holliston, Massachusetts and raised in Winthrop, Massachusetts and Melrose, Massachusetts, where he played youth hockey against future NHLers and prep-school talents including skaters from Thayer Academy, St. Sebastian's School, and Cushing Academy. He emerged at Boston Latin School before committing to Boston University and its Terriers program under coach Jack Parker. At BU he starred in the Hockey East conference, earning recognition alongside contemporaries such as Paul Kariya, Chris Drury, Mike Modano, and Jeremy Roenick in NCAA competition and skated in the Beanpot. His performances at the 1992 NCAA Tournament and in collegiate rivalries versus University of Maine and University of Michigan elevated his draft stock after being selected in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers.
Amonte began his NHL career with the New York Rangers in the early 1990s, joining a roster that included Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, and Adam Graves. He was later traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a deal involving Luc Robitaille and Brett Hull-era movements, then signed by the Chicago Blackhawks where he had his most productive years alongside teammates such as Ed Olczyk, Doug Gilmour, Eric Daze, and Patrick Kane (later era overlap as a veteran presence). In Chicago Amonte posted multiple 30-goal and 40-goal seasons, finishing among league leaders with contemporaries like Jaromír Jágr, Pavel Bure, Teemu Selänne, and Mike Gartner. He later played for the Phoenix Coyotes and returned to New England with the Boston Bruins near the end of his career, sharing locker rooms with veterans like Ray Bourque, Zdeno Chára, Marc Savard, and Glen Wesley. Over his 1,100-plus game career he registered point totals comparable to other American stars such as Keith Tkachuk, Jeremy Roenick, Brett Hull, and Bobby Holík and earned accolades including team scoring titles and franchise records during his stint in Chicago.
Amonte represented the United States at the 1996 World Championships, 1998 Winter Olympics, and 2002 Winter Olympics cycles and appeared in multiple IIHF World Championship tournaments. He was part of American rosters featuring players like Chris Chelios, Brian Leetch, Mike Modano, Paul Kariya, and Chris Drury, often deployed in scoring roles against national teams such as Canada and Russia. His international performances included critical goals and leadership minutes in Olympic and World Championship play, contributing to the broader era of American competitiveness that included the Miracle on Ice legacy figures' influence and the growing prominence of USA Hockey development programs.
Amonte was known as a quick, goal-scoring right winger with strong positioning, accurate shooting, and a high compete level that drew comparisons to other power scorers like Brett Hull and Alexander Mogilny. He combined net-front instincts with the work ethic exemplified by American forwards such as Pat LaFontaine and Tony Granato, and his penalty-killing and forechecking efforts mirrored the two-way responsibility seen in players like Scott Stevens and Chris Pronger. His legacy includes being one of the premier American scorers of the 1990s and early 2000s, influencing younger generation pros including Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, Zach Parise, and Blake Wheeler in their development pathways. Franchise records and honors in Chicago and consistent NHL point production place him among the notable U.S.-born players in league history.
After retiring in 2008, Amonte moved into coaching and development roles at levels ranging from youth hockey to collegiate programs. He served on staffs and in advisory capacities linked to institutions and organizations such as USA Hockey, Boston University, Chicago Blackhawks alumni initiatives, and regional academies that have produced NHL prospects who later joined clubs like the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, and Los Angeles Kings. Amonte was involved in player development clinics alongside figures like Mike Sullivan, Joel Quenneville, Todd McLellan, and John Tortorella, and he later accepted coaching responsibilities that connected him with the Boston College and other New England programs. His post-playing career has emphasized skills development, scouting, and mentorship for American and international prospects.
Category:1970 births Category:American ice hockey right wingers Category:National Hockey League players