Louis Frederick Angotti (January 16, 1938 – September 15, 2021) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues from 1964 to 1974.

Lou Angotti
Angotti at St. Michaels, c. 1957
Born(1938-01-16)January 16, 1938
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedSeptember 15, 2021(2021-09-15) (aged 83)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
PositionRight Wing
ShotRight
Played forNew York Rangers
Chicago Black Hawks
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
St. Louis Blues
Chicago Cougars
Playing career1962–1975

Early life

edit

Angotti was born in Toronto on January 16, 1938.[1][2] He played his junior hockey for the Toronto St. Michael's Majors. He then enrolled in Michigan Tech University where he earned an engineering degree while skating for powerful college clubs.[3][4] He appeared in two NCAA championship games, losing the 1960 game while winning in 1962. He was MVP of both tournaments and was All-WCHA First Team for 1961–62.[5]

Professional career

edit

Angotti signed with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL), playing two seasons with the minor league Rochester Americans before being called up to the big league club in 1964-65. Angotti quickly became known for his high-energy, speedy play. Over the next nine seasons, he played with the Chicago Black Hawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues.[6] He had his best offensive season in 1967–68 with the Flyers, when he scored 49 points while serving as the club's first captain.[1][2] During his second stint with Chicago (from 1969 through 1973), he served as a key defensive component on a team that narrowly lost two Stanley Cup Finals series.[6]

During his final season with the Blues in 1973–74, Angotti was hired as coach after Jean-Guy Talbot was fired with 23 games remaining in the season. He retired to serve as head coach on a full-time basis, but was fired just nine games into the next year. He returned to play hockey with the Chicago Cougars of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Angotti again served as head coach during the 1983-84 season, this time with the Pittsburgh Penguins.[6]

Angotti also coached the New Brunswick Hawks, Erie Blades, and Baltimore Skipjacks of the American Hockey League (AHL) for one season each.[3]

Later life

edit

Following his playing career, Angotti was a color commentator for Chicago Blackhawks games on WSNS-TV and WCFL radio.[7] He was first inducted into the Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 as an individual player. He was enshrined again in 2012 together with the 1962 team on the 50th anniversary of the school's first NCAA title.[4][8] He periodically participated in community activities by the Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association.[9]

Angotti died on September 15, 2021, at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was 83 years old.[8][10]

Career statistics

edit

Regular season and playoffs

edit

Sources: [1][3]

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1955–56St. Michael's MajorsOHA661229840420
1956–57St. Michael's MajorsOHA521219312841234
1957–58St. Michael's MajorsOHA52231942729781510
1958–59Michigan Tech UniversityNCAA Ind510919
1959–60Michigan Tech UniversityNCAA Ind3018213930
1960–61Michigan Tech UniversityNCAA Ind2825174252
1961–62Michigan Tech UniversityNCAA Ind3128235150
1962–63Kitchener-Waterloo TigersOHA Sr161972626
1962–63Rochester AmericansAHL391615311910000
1963–64Rochester AmericansAHL601530452821120
1964–65New York RangersNHL70981720
1965–66New York RangersNHL212242
1965–66Chicago Black HawksNHL30410141260002
1965–66St. Louis BravesCHL8108184
1966–67Chicago Black HawksNHL6361218462132
1967–68Philadelphia FlyersNHL701237493570002
1968–69Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL7117203736
1969–70Chicago Black HawksNHL701226382580000
1970–71Chicago Black HawksNHL659162519163369
1971–72Chicago Black HawksNHL65510152360000
1972–73Chicago Black HawksNHL7715223726163472
1973–74St. Louis BluesNHL511223359
1974–75Chicago CougarsWHA262579
WHA totals262579
NHL totals65310318628922865881617

Coaching record

edit

Source: [11]

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsDivision rankResult
St. Louis Blues1973–74234154646th in WestMissed playoffs
St. Louis Blues1974–759252842nd in SmytheFired
Pittsburgh Penguins1983–848016586386th in PatrickMissed playoffs
NHL Totals112227812

Awards and honors

edit
AwardYear
All-NCAA All-Tournament First Team1960, 1962[12]
All-WCHA Second Team1960–61[13]
All-WCHA First Team1961–62[13]
AHCA West All-American1961–62[14]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Lou Angotti Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Meltzer, Bill (September 16, 2021). "Flyers Family Mourns Lou Angotti". Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Lou Angotti Hockey Stats and Profile". HockeyDB. The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Peterson, Paul (December 26, 2020). "Legends: Angotti never forgot his C.C. roots". The Daily Mining Gazette. Houghton, Michigan. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Lamphier, Blaise M. (September 17, 2004). Hockey in Rochester: The Americans' Tradition. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738536941 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ a b c "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Lou Angotti". www.hhof.com. NHLPA. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  7. ^ Reiner, Olivia (September 16, 2021). "Flyers' first-ever captain Lou Angotti dies at 83". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Ludlum, Mike (September 17, 2021). "Michigan Tech Hockey Great Lou Angotti dies". WLUC-TV. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  9. ^ Verdi, Bob (September 6, 1988). "Hawks of Past to Play for Future". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  10. ^ "Louis Angotti Obituary". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  11. ^ "Lou Angotti NHL & WHA Hockey Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  13. ^ a b "WCHA Top 50 Players in 50 Years" (PDF). Western Collegiate Hockey Association. p. 84. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  14. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 5. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
edit
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Award Created
WCHA Sophomore of the Year
1959–60 With George Kirkwood
Succeeded by
Preceded by NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
1960 With Bob Marquis & Barry Urbanski
1962
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Position created
Philadelphia Flyers captain
1967–68
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the St. Louis Blues
1974
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins
1983–84
Succeeded by