# Nick Vitucci

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{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player and coach}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| image = 
| image_size = 230px
| caption = 
| alt = 
| position = [Goaltender](/source/Goaltender)
| played_for = [Maine Mariners](/source/Maine_Mariners_(AHL))<br />[Hershey Bears](/source/Hershey_Bears)<br />[Peoria Rivermen](/source/Peoria_Rivermen_(IHL))<br />[Binghamton Rangers](/source/Binghamton_Rangers)
| catches = Left
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 175
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|6|16}}
| birth_place = [Welland](/source/Welland), [Ontario](/source/Ontario), Canada
| career_start = 1988
| career_end = 2001
| draft = Undrafted
}}
'''Nick Vitucci''' (born June 16, 1967) is a former professional [ice hockey](/source/ice_hockey) [goaltender](/source/goaltender). He was the head coach of the [ECHL](/source/ECHL)'s [Toledo Walleye](/source/Toledo_Walleye) from 2009 to 2014. In 2008, Vitucci was inducted into the [ECHL Hall of Fame](/source/ECHL_Hall_of_Fame).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.echl.com/echl-announces-2014-hall-of-fame-inductees-p189012 |title=The ECHL - Premier 'AA' Hockey League &#124; ECHL announces 2014 Hall of Fame inductees |access-date=April 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222150138/http://www.echl.com/echl-announces-2014-hall-of-fame-inductees-p189012 |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Playing career==
Vitucci began his professional playing career with the [Carolina Thunderbirds](/source/Carolina_Thunderbirds) of the ECHL, and was invited to sign with the team by head coach [Joe Selenski](/source/Joe_Selenski), who had been impressed by the goaltender's play at the [Johnstown Chiefs](/source/Johnstown_Chiefs) training camp the prior season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Franke |first=Bernd |date=January 27, 2005 |title='Second chance': Pro coach, ECHL scout host tryout camp for free agents |work=Welland Tribune |page=B1 |id={{ProQuest|359337019}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Burkholder |first=Ed |date=January 7, 2006 |title=Second chance: Nick Vitucci turned opportunity into pro career |work=Welland Tribune |page=B3 |id={{ProQuest|359310230}}}}</ref> During his playing career, Vitucci spent most of his time in the ECHL, but had numerous call ups including stints in the [IHL](/source/International_Hockey_League_(1945%E2%80%932001)) with the [Peoria Rivermen](/source/Peoria_Rivermen_(IHL)) and in the [AHL](/source/American_Hockey_League) with the [Maine Mariners](/source/Maine_Mariners_(AHL)), [Hershey Bears](/source/Hershey_Bears), and [Binghamton Rangers](/source/Binghamton_Rangers). Vitucci also spent several summers in the [RHI](/source/Roller_Hockey_International), with the [Buffalo Stampede](/source/Buffalo_Stampede_(RHI)), [Empire State Cobras](/source/Empire_State_Cobras), [Buffalo Wings](/source/Buffalo_Wings_(roller_hockey)), and the [New Jersey Rockin' Rollers](/source/New_Jersey_Rockin'_Rollers). During his career in the ECHL, Vitucci won four [Riley Cups](/source/Kelly_Cup) in [1989](/source/1988%E2%80%9389_ECHL_season), [1990](/source/1989%E2%80%9390_ECHL_season), [1994](/source/1993%E2%80%9394_ECHL_season) and [1996](/source/1995%E2%80%9396_ECHL_season) and was named the Finals Most Valuable Player on two occasions (1989 and 1996), one of only two players in the league's history to do so, and Goaltender of the Year in [1998](/source/1997%E2%80%9398_ECHL_season). Vitucci spent at least some time in all of his 13 years of professional hockey in the ECHL and when he retired in [2001](/source/2000%E2%80%9301_ECHL_season) Vitucci left as the league's career record holder in games played, minutes played, wins, most 20 win seasons, most 30 win seasons, and most losses.<ref>[http://www.echl.com/upload_images/RegularSeasonIndividiualRecords.pdf ECHL Regular Season – Individual Records] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005152616/http://echl.com/upload_images/RegularSeasonIndividiualRecords.pdf |date=October 5, 2007 }}</ref>

Vitucci is the only goaltender in the history of professional hockey to be credited with a goal against a guarded net. In the 1996 season, while playing for the [Charlotte Checkers](/source/Charlotte_Checkers_(ECHL)), Vitucci shot the puck up the ice toward opposing goaltender [Alain Morissette](/source/Alain_Morissette) of the [Louisville RiverFrogs](/source/Louisville_RiverFrogs). Morissette stopped the puck outside the goal, but spun and shot it into his own net while attempting a pass. As the most recent Checkers player to touch the puck, Vitucci was awarded a point scored against an opposing goalie—a unique feat in hockey history for any goaltender.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0002671996.html |title=Charlotte Checkers 1995-96 roster and statistics |website=hockeydb.com}}</ref>

In [2008](/source/2007%E2%80%9308_ECHL_season), Vitucci was inducted into the [ECHL Hall of Fame](/source/ECHL). Vitucci was joined by ECHL founder [Henry Brabham](/source/Henry_Brabham), the league's first commissioner [Patrick J. Kelly](/source/Patrick_J._Kelly_(ice_hockey)), and [defenceman](/source/defenceman) [Chris Valicevic](/source/Chris_Valicevic) as members of the Hall of Fame's inaugural class.<ref>{{cite web | last = Monroe | first = Mark | title = Vitucci named to ECHL Hall of Fame | publisher=Toledo Blade | date = January 23, 2008 | url = http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080123/SPORTS10/801230437| accessdate =July 15, 2008}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:55%; text-align:center;"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! [Season](/source/Season_(sports))
! Team
! League
! GP !! W !! L !! T !! MIN !! GA !! [SO](/source/Shutout) !! [GAA](/source/Goals_against_average) !! [SV%](/source/save_percentage)
|- ALIGN="center"
| [1985–86](/source/1985%E2%80%9386_OHL_season)
| [Toronto Marlboros](/source/Toronto_Marlboros)
| [OHL](/source/Ontario_Hockey_League)
| 20
| –
| –
| –
| 1203
| 108
| 0
| 5.39
| –
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1986–87](/source/1986%E2%80%9387_OHL_season)
| Toronto Marlboros
| OHL
| 40
| –
| –
| –
| 2456
| 213
| 0
| 5.20
| –
|- ALIGN="center"
| [1988–89](/source/1988%E2%80%9389_ECHL_season)
| [Carolina Thunderbirds](/source/Carolina_Thunderbirds)
| [ECHL](/source/ECHL)
| 22
| 11
| 9
| 0
| 1238
| 96
| 1
| 4.65
| .873
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1989–90](/source/1989%E2%80%9390_ECHL_season)
| [Winston-Salem Thunderbirds](/source/Winston-Salem_Thunderbirds)
| ECHL
| 6
| 4
| 2
| 0
| 360
| 28
| 0
| 4.67
| .856
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1989–90
| [Greensboro Monarchs](/source/Greensboro_Monarchs)
| ECHL
| 28
| 10
| 9
| 5
| 1496
| 114
| 0
| 4.57
| .891
|- ALIGN="center"
| [1990–91](/source/1990%E2%80%9391_ECHL_season)
| Greensboro Monarchs
| ECHL
| 41
| 22
| 16
| 2
| 2225
| 142
| 1
| 3.83
| .898
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1991–92](/source/1991%E2%80%9392_ECHL_season)
| Greensboro Monarchs
| ECHL
| 42
| 28
| 8
| 2
| 2358
| 136
| 0
| 3.46
| .903
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1991–92](/source/1991%E2%80%9392_AHL_season)
| [Maine Mariners](/source/Maine_Mariners_(AHL))
| [AHL](/source/American_Hockey_League)
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 65
| 3
| 0
| 2.77
| .880
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1991–92
| [Hershey Bears](/source/Hershey_Bears)
| AHL
| 4
| 2
| 1
| 0
| 191
| 15
| 0
| 4.71
| .848
|- ALIGN="center"
| [1992–93](/source/1992%E2%80%9393_ECHL_season)
| [Hampton Roads Admirals](/source/Hampton_Roads_Admirals)
| ECHL
| 29
| 17
| 7
| 3
| 1669
| 85
| 1
| 3.06
| .911
|- ALIGN="center"
| 1992–93
| [Peoria Rivermen](/source/Peoria_Rivermen_(IHL))
| [IHL](/source/International_Hockey_League_(1945-2001))
| 8
| 3
| 4
| 1
| 279
| 27
| 0
| 3.38
| .895
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1993–94](/source/1993%E2%80%9394_ECHL_season)
| [Toledo Storm](/source/Toledo_Storm)
| ECHL
| 27
| 15
| 6
| 4
| 1532
| 93
| 0
| 3.64
| .892
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1993–94
| Peoria Rivermen
| IHL
| 11
| 3
| 4
| 1
| 422
| 35
| 0
| 4.98
| .850
|- ALIGN="center"
| [1994–95](/source/1994%E2%80%9395_ECHL_season)
| Toledo Storm
| ECHL
| 56
| 35
| 16
| 3
| 3273
| 176
| 3
| 3.23
| .906
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1995–96](/source/1995%E2%80%9396_ECHL_season)
| [Charlotte Checkers](/source/Charlotte_Checkers_(ECHL))
| ECHL
| 48
| 32
| 13
| 3
| 2793
| 164
| 0
| 3.52
| .891
|- ALIGN="center"
| [1996–97](/source/1996%E2%80%9397_ECHL_season)
| Charlotte Checkers
| ECHL
| 36
| 20
| 10
| 4
| 2028
| 117
| 0
| 3.46
| .902
|- ALIGN="center"
| [1996–97](/source/1996%E2%80%9397_AHL_season)
| [Binghamton Rangers](/source/Binghamton_Rangers)
| AHL
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 129
| 9
| 0
| 4.18
| .875
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1997–98](/source/1997%E2%80%9398_ECHL_season)
| Toledo Storm
| ECHL
| 49
| 27
| 16
| 5
| 2826
| 130
| 2
| 2.76
| .918
|- ALIGN="center"
| [1998–99](/source/1998%E2%80%9399_ECHL_season)
| [Greenville Grrrowl](/source/Greenville_Grrrowl)
| ECHL
| 32
| 9
| 17
| 4
| 1855
| 103
| 0
| 3.33
| .896
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1999–00](/source/1999%E2%80%932000_ECHL_season)
| Greenville Grrrowl
| ECHL
| 34
| 21
| 9
| 2
| 1916
| 79
| 1
| 2.47
| .915
|- ALIGN="center"
| [2000–01](/source/2000%E2%80%9301_ECHL_season)
| Greenville Grrrowl
| ECHL
| 29
| 14
| 12
| 2
| 1719
| 91
| 1
| 3.18
| .895
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" align="center" | AHL totals 
! 6
! 2
! 1
! 3
! 385
! 27
! 0
! 4.21
! –
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" align="center" | IHL totals 
! 19
! 6
! 8
! 2
! 701
! 62
! 0
! 5.31
! –
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" align="center" | ECHL totals 
! 479
! 265
! 150
! 41
! 27288
! 1554
! 10
! 3.42
! –
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" align="center" | OHL totals 
! 60
! –
! –
! –
! 3659
! 321
! 0
! 5.26
! –
|}

==Coaching career==
Vitucci began his career as a coach during the [1994–95 season](/source/1994%E2%80%9395_ECHL_season) when he took up assistant coaching duties while playing for the [Toledo Storm](/source/Toledo_Storm). Vitucci would have a second stint as a player/assistant coach during his final year as a player with the [Greenville Grrrowl](/source/Greenville_Grrrowl).

In [2002](/source/2002%E2%80%9303_ECHL_season), Vitucci returned to Greenville to be their assistant coach and would leave to fill the assistant coach vacancy in Toledo after the season. Two months into the [2003–04 season](/source/2003%E2%80%9304_ECHL_season), Toledo Storm head coach Steve Harrison was fired and Vitucci, who was his assistant at the time, was tabbed to be the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. At the end of the season, the Storm signed Vitucci to be their permanent replacement for Harrison and has remained the team's coach through the team suspending operations in [2007](/source/2006%E2%80%9307_ECHL_season) in order to construct the new arena.

In February 2008 it was announced he would be retained as the head coach for the Walleye, which will be his fifth season in Toledo. The Storm saw success under Vitucci's tenure as the team made the playoffs in all three years with Vitucci, including a division title in [2006](/source/2005%E2%80%9306_ECHL_season) and reaching the American Conference Finals in the same year. Vitucci would go on to coach the team through the middle of 2014, where he then stepped down to focus on his role as the Director of Hockey Operations. In February 2016, Vitucci left the Walleye organization and returned to the bench as an assistant coach for the Portland Pirates. Since the start of the 2016/2017 season, Vitucci has been a professional scout for the [New Jersey Devils](/source/New_Jersey_Devils).<ref>{{cite web | last = Vardon | first = Joe | title = Ex-Storm coach Vitucci is first hire of next hockey team | publisher=Toledo Blade | date = February 13, 2008 | url = http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080213/SPORTS10/802130393| accessdate =July 15, 2008}}</ref>

==Coaching record==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:centre;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="6"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
! G !! W !! L !! T !! Pts !!Finish !! W !! L !! Win % !! Result
|-
!rowspan="5"|[Toledo Storm](/source/Toledo_Storm)
|-
||[2003–04](/source/2003%E2%80%9304_ECHL_season)
|49||14||27||8||36||7th in Northern|| – || – || – || Missed Playoffs
|-
||[2004–05](/source/2004%E2%80%9305_ECHL_season)
|72||41||26||5||87||4th in North|| 1 || 3 || .200 || Lost in Division Semifinals
|-
||[2005–06](/source/2005%E2%80%9306_ECHL_season)
|72||46||21||5||97||1st in North|| 7 || 6 || .539 || Lost in Conference Finals
|-
||[2006–07](/source/2006%E2%80%9307_ECHL_season)
|72||39||30||3||81||2nd in North|| 0 || 3 || .000 || Lost in Division Semifinals
|-
![Toledo Walleye](/source/Toledo_Walleye)
||[2009–10](/source/2009-10_ECHL_season)
|72||35||30||7||77||3rd in North|| 1 || 3 || .250 || Lost in Conference Quarterfinals
|-
! colspan="2"|Total || 335 || 175 || 132 || 28 || .564 || || 9 || 15 || .375 ||
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{icehockeystats}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vitucci, Nick}}
Category:1967 births
Category:Living people
Category:Binghamton Rangers players
Category:Buffalo Stampede players
Category:Buffalo Wings (inline hockey) players
Category:Canadian ice hockey goaltenders
Category:Carolina Hurricanes scouts
Category:Carolina Thunderbirds players
Category:Charlotte Checkers (1993–2010) players
Category:ECHL coaches
Category:Empire State Cobras players
Category:Greensboro Monarchs players
Category:Greenville Grrrowl players
Category:Hampton Roads Admirals players
Category:Hershey Bears players
Category:Maine Mariners (AHL) players
Category:New Jersey Rockin' Rollers players
Category:Peoria Rivermen (IHL) players
Category:Ice hockey people from Welland
Category:Toledo Storm players
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Category:Toledo Walleye
Category:Toronto Marlboros players
Category:Winston-Salem Thunderbirds players
Category:New Jersey Devils scouts
Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches
Category:Canadian inline hockey players
Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nick Vitucci](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Vitucci) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Vitucci?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.