Joe Cirella was a professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on May 9, 1963, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Oshawa Generals in 1979.
Cirella was known for his physical style of play and his ability to move the puck up the ice. He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the first round of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, but was traded to the New Jersey Devils before he played a game for the Rockies.
Cirella played for the Devils for six seasons, from 1981 to 1987. During his time with the team, he was a key player on the blue line and helped the Devils reach the playoffs in 1987. He was also selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game in 1985.
In 1987, Cirella was traded to the Vancouver Canucks, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Quebec Nordiques for one season before being traded to the New York Rangers in 1991.
Cirella played for the Rangers for three seasons, from 1991 to 1994. During his time with the team, he was part of the Rangers' Stanley Cup-winning team in 1994. He played in 18 playoff games that year and was a key contributor to the team's success.
After his time with the Rangers, Cirella played for the Florida Panthers for one season before being traded to the Ottawa Senators in 1995. He played for the Senators for one season before retiring from the NHL in 1996.
Overall, Cirella played in 828 NHL games, scoring 64 goals and 183 assists for a total of 247 points. He was known for his physical play and his ability to move the puck up the ice, and was a key player on several NHL teams throughout his career.
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