Tony Granato is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 13 seasons. He was born on July 25, 1964, in Downers Grove, Illinois, and grew up playing hockey with his brothers. Granato played college hockey at the University of Wisconsin, where he was a two-time All-American and helped lead the Badgers to a national championship in 1983.
Granato was drafted by the New York Rangers in the sixth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Rangers in the 1988-89 season and played for the team for three seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings. Granato played for the Kings for six seasons and was a key player on the team that reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1993. He then played for the San Jose Sharks for two seasons before returning to the Kings for one more season. Granato finished his NHL career with the expansion team, the San Jose Sharks, in 2001.
Throughout his NHL career, Granato was known for his speed, tenacity, and scoring ability. He was a skilled forward who could play both center and wing positions. Granato was also a physical player who was not afraid to throw his body around and get into fights when necessary. He was a fan favorite in Los Angeles and was known for his leadership both on and off the ice.
After retiring from playing, Granato became a coach and worked as an assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings. He also served as the head coach of the AHL's Worcester Sharks and the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team. In 2016, Granato was named the head coach of the United States men's hockey team for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Granato's hockey career was not without its challenges. In 1996, he suffered a serious head injury during a game that required emergency surgery and forced him to miss the remainder of the season. He also battled cancer in 2008 and underwent successful surgery to remove a tumor from his liver.
Despite these setbacks, Granato remained a beloved figure in the hockey world and was known for his dedication to the sport and his players. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008 and remains an active member of the hockey community.
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