# Michael Pezzetta

Michael Pezzetta (born March 13, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the sixth round, 160th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2016 NHL entry draft.

## Playing career
### Early years

As a youth, Pezzetta played with both the Toronto Nationals and Mississauga Senators of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) and participated with the latter at the annual OHL Cup during his midget year.

### Junior

Originally selected 11th overall by the Sudbury Wolves in the 2014 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection draft, Pezzetta made his OHL debut during the 2014–15 season. During his overage season with Sudbury, he would be named as team captain prior to being traded to the Sarnia Sting on January 9, 2018.

### Professional

Following his OHL career, Pezzetta signed a three-year, entry-level contract in March 2018 with the Montreal Canadiens, the team that selected him during the sixth round (160th overall) of the 2016 NHL entry draft. Thereafter, he would make his professional debut during the 2018–19 season with the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket.
During the 2021–22 season, Pezzetta was recalled by the Canadiens and made his NHL debut versus the Detroit Red Wings on November 2, 2021. In his rookie season with the Canadiens, he collected five goals and six assists across 51 games played, and led the team in penalty minutes (PIM) with 81. In the midst of a terrible season for the team overall, Pezzetta endeared himself to many fans with his passionate style of play.
In advance of the 2022–23 season, he signed a one-year, $750,000 deal to remain with the Canadiens organization. Initially seeing limited ice time as the team's thirteenth forward, a spate of injuries eventually moved him regularly into the lineup. Appearing in 63 games, Pezzetta managed seven goals and eight assists, while leading the team in hits (239) and total PIM amongst team forwards. In a March 27, 2023 game against the Buffalo Sabres, he drew headlines for scoring the shootout-winning goal and then celebrating in the style made famous by notable NHL enforcer, Tiger Williams.
On June 2, 2023, Pezzetta was signed to a two-year extension with the Canadiens. He expressed enthusiasm for the organization, saying "there's so much history and the fans are wild and it's such a loud and just fun atmosphere to be a part of. You want to stick around in this atmosphere for as long as you can."

## International play

Internationally, Pezzetta represented Hockey Canada as part of team Canada White at the 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where his team ultimately finished in fifth place.

## Personal life

Pezzetta was born to parents Laurie and Lino, the latter whom worked as a fire captain for Toronto Fire Services. He has one sibling, a brother named Stefano. The family is of Italian ancestry.
He is an avid collector of cowboy hats.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2013–14 | Mississauga Senators | GTHL | 29 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 32 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 18 |
| 2014–15 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 61 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015–16 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 64 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 98 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 54 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 88 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 17 |
| 2017–18 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 35 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017–18 | Sarnia Sting | OHL | 27 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 26 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| 2018–19 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 55 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 77 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018–19 | Maine Mariners | ECHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 32 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 63 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 20 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 8 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 51 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 63 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 77 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 61 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 175 | 15 | 23 | 38 | 217 | — | — | — | — | — |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2014 | Canada White | U17 | 5th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |

## Awards and honours

| Award | Year |
| GTHL |||
| Top Prospects Game | 2014 |
| OHL |||
| OHL Scholastic Team | 2015, 2016 |