Nick Abruzzese
{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 1999)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|6|4}}
| birth_place = Slate Hill, New York, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 180
| position = Center
| shoots = Left
| league = NHL
| team = Toronto Maple Leafs
| prospect_team = Toronto Marlies
| prospect_league = AHL
| former_teams =
| ntl_team = USA
| draft = 124th overall
| draft_year = 2019
| draft_team = Toronto Maple Leafs
| career_start = 2022
| career_end =
}}
Nicholas Abruzzese (born June 4, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Growing up in New York, Abruzzese played for numerous junior hockey teams before joining the Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League (USHL) from 2017 to 2019. During his time with the Steel, Abruzzese thrived under new coach Greg Moore and led the league in scoring with 80 points in 69 games. As such, he was named to the 2018–19 All-USHL First Team and was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Following the draft, Abruzzese joined the Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey team from 2020 to 2022 while majoring in psychology. His freshman season was the best under coach Ted Donato as Abruzzese accumulated 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points through 31 games. As a result of his play, Abruzzese was named the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year and Ivy League Rookie of the Year. He was also selected for ECAC First All-Star Team, First Team All-Ivy, and All-Rookie Team. In March 2020, Abruzzese was also selected for the AHCA Second Team All-American.
Early life
Abruzzese was born on June 4, 1999, in Slate Hill, New York.{{cite web |title=Nick Abruzzese |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/201476/nick-abruzzese |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=April 7, 2022}} His father played hockey in New York growing up and got his son interested in the sport.{{cite web |last1=Creech |first1=Hayes |title=Nick Abruzzese: Top things to know about Team USA's forward |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/nick-abruzzese-top-things-to-know-about-team-usa-s-forward |publisher=Olympics |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=February 9, 2022}} Beyond ice hockey, Abruzzese also played baseball, lacrosse, and soccer.{{cite web |title=Nick Abruzzese |url=https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2022olympics-nickabruzzese |publisher=Team USA |access-date=April 7, 2022}} Abruzzese graduated from Minisink Valley High School in 2017{{Cite web |last=nancy.kriz |date=2022-01-14 |title=Class of 2017 alumnus Nicholas Abruzzese named to the 2022 USA Olympic Hockey team |url=https://www.minisink.com/class-of-2017-alumnus-nicholas-abruzzese-named-to-the-2022-usa-olympic-hockey-team/ |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=Minisink Valley Central School District |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Playing career
=Amateur=
Growing up in New York, Abruzzese played with 13U AAA New Jersey Colonials, the 16U AAA New Jersey Avalanche, 16U Westchester Express teams, and the 18U AAA New Jersey Avalanche.{{cite web |title=Class of 2017 alumnus Nicholas Abruzzese named to the 2022 USA Olympic Hockey team |url=https://www.minisink.com/class-of-2017-alumnus-nicholas-abruzzese-named-to-the-2022-usa-olympic-hockey-team/ |publisher=Minisink Valley |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=January 14, 2022 |archive-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128033301/https://www.minisink.com/class-of-2017-alumnus-nicholas-abruzzese-named-to-the-2022-usa-olympic-hockey-team/ |url-status=dead }} He also played with the Mid-Fairfield Yankees in 2014 and scored one goal and three assists to help the team qualify for the Toyota-USA Hockey Tier I Youth National Championships.{{cite web |last1=Scandura |first1=Mike |title=TIER I 14U MID-FAIRFIELD YANKEES LIVE UP TO REPUTATION |url=https://nationals.usahockey.com/news_article/show/372063 |publisher=USA Hockey |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=April 1, 2014}} During the 2015–16 season, Abruzzese tallied 35 points in 24 Atlantic Youth Hockey League games and 17 goals and 30 points in 32 Tier 1 Elite Hockey League games.{{cite news |title=Forwards announce commitment to UVM |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99261635/forwards-announce-commitment-to-uvm/ |access-date=April 7, 2022 |publisher=The Burlington Free Press |date=March 11, 2016}} Following this, Abruzzese joined the North American Hockey League's New Jersey Junior Titans for the 2016–17 season. During this time, he attended Minisink Valley and committed to play Division 1 ice hockey for the University of Vermont.
Following his commitment to the University of Vermont, Abruzzese played junior hockey with the Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League (USHL) from 2017 to 2019. In his rookie season with the Steel, Abruzzese posted 13 goals and 36 points through 56 games but remained undrafted in the National Hockey League (NHL).{{cite web |last1=Kloke |first1=Joshua |title=Mind over matter: The gift that defines Maple Leafs prospect Nick Abruzzese |url=https://theathletic.com/1826556/2020/05/25/mind-over-matter-the-gift-that-defines-maple-leafs-prospect-nick-abruzzese/ |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=May 25, 2020}} During his second USHL season, Abruzzese changed his collegiate commitment and decided to join the Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey team for the 2019–20 season.{{cite tweet|user=HockeyCommits|number=1069599264538533889|title=Nick Abruzzese (Chicago Steel) has committed to Harvard University for 2019-2020. @HarvardMHockey @abruzzesenick @ChicagoSteel @USHL|date=December 3, 2018}} He improved offensively during the 2018–19 season under new coach Greg Moore and led the league in scoring with 80 points in 69 games. As a result of his impressive season, Abruzzese was named to the All-USHL First Team.{{cite web |title=All-USHL Teams Announced |url=https://www.ushl.com/news_article/show/1014807 |publisher=United States Hockey League |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=April 23, 2019 |archive-date=April 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417095957/https://www.ushl.com/news_article/show/1014807 |url-status=dead }} He was also selected 124th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.{{cite web |last1=Proteau |first1=Adam |title=Leafs boost talent depth at 2019 NHL Entry Draft |url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/leafs-2019-nhl-draft-recap/c-308020884 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=June 22, 2019}}
=Collegiate=
Following the NHL Entry Draft, Abruzzese began his collegiate career with the Harvard Crimson in the ECAC Hockey Conference while majoring in psychology.{{cite web |title=Nick Abruzzese|url=https://gocrimson.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/nick-abruzzese/24420 |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=April 7, 2022}} He recorded his first collegiate goal and added two assists on November 1, 2019, in a 7–3 win over Dartmouth.{{cite web |title=No. 19 Men's Ice Hockey Beats Dartmouth, 7-3, in Season Opener |url=https://gocrimson.com/story.aspx?filename=11_1_2019_5950&file_date=11-1-2019 |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=November 1, 2019}} By December, he had accumulated 16 points through 14 games to lead all NCAA first-years in scoring per game with 1.14 points per contest. As such, he was recognized by the ECAC Conference with their ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Month Award for December.{{cite web |title=Nick Abruzzese Named ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Month |url=https://gocrimson.com/news/2020/1/7/1_7_2020_5979 |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=January 7, 2020}} Later in January, Abruzzese notched his first multiple-goal game and was named a nominee for the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men's ice hockey player.{{cite web |title=Abruzzese Named ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week |url=https://gocrimson.com/news/2020/1/20/1_20_2020_5986.aspx |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=January 20, 2020}} He finished the month of February tied amongst skaters and leading all freshmen with 12 points. Abruzzese also led the league in points per game with 1.34, accumulating 39 points overall. As such, he received his third ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Month honor.{{cite web |title=Abruzzese Earns Third Straight ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Month Award |url=https://gocrimson.com/news/2020/3/3/3_3_2020_543.aspx |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=March 3, 2020}}
After his freshman season, Abruzzese had accumulated 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points through 31 games which was the best freshman season under coach Ted Donato. As a result of his overall play, Abruzzese was named the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year and Ivy League Rookie of the Year{{cite web |title=Abruzzese Named ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year |url=https://gocrimson.com/news/2020/3/19/3_19_2020_549 |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=March 19, 2020}} and was selected for ECAC First All-Star Team,{{cite journal |title=ECAC Hockey Announces 2019-20 All-League Selections |url=https://www.ecachockey.com/men/2019-20/News/20200317_-_Men-s_All-League_Teams |website=ecachockey.com |publisher=ECAC Hockey |accessdate=March 19, 2020 |date=March 17, 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} First Team All-Ivy, and All-Rookie Team. In March 2020, Abruzzese was also selected for the AHCA Second Team All-American.{{cite web |title=Rathbone, Abruzzese Named CCM/AHCA Hockey All-Americans |url=https://gocrimson.com/news/2020/4/11/4_11_2020_551 |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=March 11, 2020}} However, following his successful freshman season, Harvard — along with the rest of the ECAC's Ivy League schools and Union — did not play during the 2020-21 NCAA season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, Abruzzese returned home to New York to complete online classes and underwent hip surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery.{{cite web |title=Leafs prospect Abruzzese on the mend following surgery, looks forward to next season |url=https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/leafs-prospect-abruzzese-on-the-mend-following-surgery-looks-forward-to-next-season |publisher=Toronto Sun |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=November 24, 2020}}
Once collegiate hockey resumed for the 2021–22 season, Abruzzese returned to Harvard as their team co-captain alongside Casey Dornbach.{{cite web |title=Dornbach, Abruzzese Named 2021-22 Men's Ice Hockey Captains |url=https://gocrimson.com/news/2021/8/5/dornbach-abruzzese-named-2021-22-mens-ice-hockey-captains.aspx |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=August 5, 2021}} In this role, he contributed 33 points through 28 games. Before leaving for the 2022 Winter Olympics, Abruzzese was one of Harvard's top point producers with 21 points through 17 games. He also ranked tenth in the country with an average of 1.24 points per game.{{cite web |title=Abruzzese, Farrell and U.S. Men's Ice Hockey Team Set to Begin Competition at Beijing Olympics |url=https://gocrimson.com/news/2022/2/9/abruzzese-farrell-and-us-mens-ice-hockey-team-set-to-begin-competition-at-beijing-olympics.aspx |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=February 9, 2022}} After returning from the Olympics, Abruzzese helped guide the team to the NCAA regional semifinal by scoring the game-tying goal in an eventual win over the Clarkson Golden Knights men's ice hockey team in the ECAC Semi-Finals.{{cite web |title=No. 15/15 Men's Ice Hockey Heads to Albany For Thursday NCAA Opener Against No. 1/1 Minnesota State |url=https://gocrimson.com/news/2022/3/22/no-15-15-mens-ice-hockey-heads-to-albany-for-thursday-ncaa-opener-against-no-1-1-minnesota-state.aspx |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=March 22, 2022}} Upon reaching the NCAA Albany Regional semifinals against Minnesota State, the Crimson fell 4–3 and were subsequently eliminated.{{cite web |title=No. 15/15 Men's Ice Hockey Sees Comeback Effort Fall Short, 4-3, Against No. 1/1 Minnesota State in NCAA regional semifinal |url=https://gocrimson.com/news/2022/3/24/no-15-15-mens-ice-hockey-sees-comeback-effort-fall-short-4-3-against-no-1-1-minnesota-state-in-ncaa-regional-semifinal.aspx |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=March 24, 2022}} Following the elimination, Abruzzese was named to the 2021–22 NCAA ECAC First All-Star Team.{{cite web |title=ECAC Hockey Announces 2022 First-Team All-League |date=March 10, 2022 |url=https://www.ecachockey.com/men/2021-22/News/20220310_-_First-Team |publisher=ECAC |access-date=April 7, 2022 |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034337/https://www.ecachockey.com/men/2021-22/News/20220310_-_First-Team |url-status=dead }}
=Professional=
Abruzzese ended his collegiate career by signing a two-year, entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 26, 2022.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-sign-nicholas-abruzzese-to-a-two-year-entry-level-contract/c-332283428 | title = Maple Leafs sign Nicholas Abruzzese | publisher = Toronto Maple Leafs | date = March 26, 2022 | access-date = March 26, 2022}} He made his NHL debut on April 4, 2022, in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers where he skated for nine minutes through 15 shifts.{{cite web |last1=McMillan |first1=Ken |title=Ice hockey: Minisink's Nick Abruzzese makes NHL debut with Leafs |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ice-hockey-minisinks-nick-abruzzese-193753710.html |publisher=Yahoo! |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=April 4, 2022}} Abruzzese scored his first career NHL goal, a game winner, against the Boston Bruins on April 29, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-30 |title=Maple Leafs' Nick Abruzzese: First NHL goal stands as winner |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/maple-leafs-nick-abruzzese-first-nhl-goal-stands-as-winner/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=CBSSports.com}}
On July 21, 2023, Abruzzese signed a two-year, $1,550,000 contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a restricted free agent.{{Cite web |title=Maple Leafs Re-sign Nicholas Abruzzese to A Two-year, Two-way Contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-re-sign-nicholas-abruzzese-to-a-two-year-two-way-contract/c-345477572 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=NHL.com}}
International play
During his junior year at Harvard, Abruzzese and teammate Sean Farrell were named to Team USA's men's national ice hockey team for the 2022 Winter Olympics.{{cite web |title=Nick Abruzzese and Sean Farrell Named to 2022 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team |url=https://gocrimson.com/news/2022/1/13/mens-ice-hockey-nick-abruzzese-and-sean-farrell-named-to-2022-us-olympic-hockey-team.aspx |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=January 13, 2022}} He scored the game-tying goal in an eventual 3–2 loss to Slovakia that eliminated Team USA from the tournament.{{cite web |last1=Browne |first1=Ken |title=Slovakia stun USA and progress to semi-final after penalty shootout thriller at Beijing 2022 Olympics |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/slovakia-stun-usa-and-progress-to-semi-final-after-penalty-shootout-thriller-at- |publisher=Olympics |access-date=April 7, 2022 |date=February 16, 2022}} Abruzzese ended the tournament with one goal and three assists for four points through four games.
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" | ||||||||||
| style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3" style="background:#fff;"| ! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||||
| style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! Season !! Team !! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||||
| 2016–17 | New Jersey Junior Titans | NAHL
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0
| — | — | — | — | — |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2017–18 | Chicago Steel | USHL
| 56 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 12
| 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 2018–19 | Chicago Steel | USHL
| 62 | 29 | 51 | 80 | 20
| 11 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2019–20 | Harvard University | ECAC
| 31 | 14 | 30 | 44 | 4
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | Harvard University | ECAC
| 28 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 8
| — | — | — | — | — |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2021–22 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL
| 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | Toronto Marlies | AHL
| 69 | 16 | 32 | 48 | 18
| 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"
| 2022–23 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | Toronto Marlies | AHL
| 71 | 16 | 36 | 52 | 24
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3"|NHL totals ! 11 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 2 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! — |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="98" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |
| 2022
| OG | 5th | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4" | Senior totals ! 4 ! 1 ! 3 ! 4 ! 0 |
Awards and honors
| class="wikitable" |
| Award
! Year ! Ref |
|---|
| colspan="3"|USHL |
| All-USHL First Team
| 2018–19 |
| colspan="3"|College |
| AHCA Second Team All-American
| 2019–20 |
| ECAC All-Rookie Team
| 2019–20 |
| ECAC Rookie of the Year
| 2019–20 |
| Ivy League Rookie of the Year
|2019-20 |
| ECAC First All-Star Team
| 2019–20 |
| ECAC First All-Star Team
| 2021–22 |
| AHCA East First Team All-American
| 2021–22 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{icehockeystats}}
- {{USOPC|new_id=nick-abruzzese-1238037|old_id=AB/Nick-Abruzzese|archive=20230529103137}}
- {{Olympedia}}
- {{Olympics.com profile|nick-abruzzese}}
- [https://gocrimson.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/nick-abruzzese/24420 Harvard bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abruzzese, Nick}}
Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans
Category:American men's ice hockey centers
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:Chicago Steel players
Category:Harvard Crimson men's ice hockey players
Category:Ice hockey players from New York (state)
Category:Ice hockey players at the 2022 Winter Olympics
Category:Olympic ice hockey players for the United States
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs draft picks
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players