Tony Amonte is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 16 seasons. He was born on August 2, 1970, in Hingham, Massachusetts, and grew up playing hockey in the Boston area. Amonte was a standout player in high school and went on to play college hockey at Boston University.
After his sophomore year at Boston University, Amonte was drafted by the New York Rangers in the fourth round of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. He played one more year of college hockey before turning pro and joining the Rangers for the 1991-92 season. Amonte quickly established himself as a top young player in the league, scoring 35 goals and 67 points in his rookie season and earning a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Amonte played three seasons with the Rangers before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1994. He spent eight seasons with the Blackhawks, becoming one of the team's most popular and productive players. Amonte scored 40 or more goals in three different seasons with the Blackhawks and was named to the NHL All-Star Game four times.
In 2002, Amonte signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2004. He played one season with the Flyers before signing with the Calgary Flames in 2005. Amonte played his final two seasons in the NHL with the Flames, retiring after the 2006-07 season.
Over the course of his NHL career, Amonte scored 416 goals and 900 points in 1,174 games. He was known for his speed, skill, and scoring ability, as well as his leadership and work ethic. Amonte was a two-time Olympian, representing the United States at the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics.
Since retiring from hockey, Amonte has stayed involved in the sport as a coach and broadcaster. He has worked as an assistant coach for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and as a color commentator for NBC Sports. Amonte was also inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019, recognizing his contributions to the sport both on and off the ice.
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