Angelo Esposito
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Angelo Esposito (born February 20, 1989, in Montréal, Canada) is an ice hockey player who currently plays for the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. He is considered as a top prospect for the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Junior career
Angelo's QMJHL career started in controversy. Being considered as a possible first overall draft choice in the QMJHL, he told all general managers that he would never play in the QMJHL, but instead for the NCAA. Just minutes before the Val d'Or Foreurs draft choice, Québec announced that they had traded several players and drafts choices to get the Foreurs draft pick, which was slated at 11th overall. Despite his overwhelming talent and potential, Angelo was passed over by QMJHL general managers because of his previous annoncement that he would play in the collegiate system. He was subsequently drafted by the Remparts. A couple weeks later, Angelo and the Remparts agreed to an arrangement, allowing him to play for Québec the next year. Seeing how Angelo has developed this year, this draft is considered a steal.
After showing impressive numbers in the pre-season, Angelo was granted to a place on the team, centering the first line. Esposito scored in his first regular season game on his very first shift against the Rimouski Oceanic. In first half of the season, Angelo has been selected QMJHL top rookie of the month two times and the offensive player of the week once.
After playing at the U18 WJHC, in which he played sick and injured, Angelo's offensive production slowed. Angelo got assigned to the third line where he could play without getting the pressure which he had on the first line.
He finally finished the 2005-2006 season with 98 points, the second-best total for rookie. Claude Giroux, 17, from the Gatineau Olympiques claimed the rookie scoring title late in the season. Along with wings Mathieu Melanson (86 points) and Alexander Radulov (152 points), the Remparts first line was the most productive scoring line in the entire QMJHL. That year, Esposito and the Remparts have won the Memorial Cup.
International play
Played for Team Quebec in:- 2006 World U-17 hockey challenge (won gold medal)
Award
Player of the week
- Week 2: 2005-09-26 to 2005-10-02
- October 2005
- November 2005
- Michel Bergeron Trophy (offensive rookie): 2006
- QMJHL Rookie All-Star Team - 2006
Statistics
| Regular season | Playoff | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2005-06 | Quebec | QMJHL | 57 | 39 | 59 | 98 | 45 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 4 | ||
Trivia
Angelo Esposito is not related to former NHL players Phil and Tony Esposito. He does however have uncles named Phil and Tony Esposito, and wears number 7 on his playing sweater, the same number as former NHLer Phil Esposito.[link]
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