Brian Gionta Brian Gionta ( born January 18 , 1979 ) is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . He goes by the nickname " Gio " from his teammates and The Rochester Rocket , dubbed by the media . Although small in stature , he is known for his tenacious play . Playing career . Gionta was drafted 82nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft . The diminutive but fiery forward attended high school at the Aquinas Institute in Rochester , NY , then skated for Boston College from 1997 to 2001 , winning a National Championship as Eagles captain in the 2000 – 2001 season . He was mentored by current Atlanta Thrashers forward Marty Reasoner ; also a Rochester , NY native ; and enjoyed his best statistical season in his freshman year on a line with Reasoner , posting 30 goals and 62 points in 40 games as the Eagles fell to the University of Michigan in the National Championship game in Boston . Gionta followed up with a 60 point season his sophomore year as BC was eliminated by Hockey East rival , the University of Maine in the Frozen Four semifinals , then a 33 goal , 56 point season in his junior year as the Eagles fell to North Dakota in that year ' s National Championship game . In his senior season as captain , Gionta ' s point total dipped again to 54 points , however , a roster stocked with future NHL talent produced a National Championship as Boston College defeated North Dakota , 3 – 2 in overtime in Albany , New York . His brother , Stephen , played for Boston College and helped distinguish the Eagles as one of the best college hockey teams in the nation ; Stephen signed an amateur tryout contract with the Albany River Rats , the Devils ' farm team , in April 2006 . Stephen is still playing for the Devil ' s affiliate , now the Lowell Devils . Brian has played 310 games for New Jersey , plus 50 playoff games . He was a member of the 2002 – 03 Stanley Cup championship team . He played for their affiliate , the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League ( AHL ) during the 2004 – 2005 lockout . He was part of the 2006 U . S . Men ' s Olympic Hockey team that competed in Turin , Italy . Listed at 5 ' 7 " Brian Gionta is the smallest player currently playing in the National Hockey League with the exception of Nathan Gerbe of the Buffalo Sabres , who is listed at 5 ' 5 " . He has enjoyed great success from the second half of the 2003 – 2004 season up until present day . He was one third of the Devil ' s " EGG " line , playing right wing for linemates Patrik Eliáš and Scott Gomez . Gionta was one of the Devils ' most effective offensive players , despite his small stature . Gionta is effective because he " crashes the net " . On March 28 , 2006 , Gionta became the first Devils player to reach 40 goals in a season since Patrik Eliáš and Alexander Mogilny each reached the mark in the 2000 – 01 season . On the last game of the season , he broke Pat Verbeek ' s franchise record for goals in a season , finishing with 48 . He also currently holds the franchise all - time power play goal scoring record in a season with 24 . On October 27th , 2007 Gionta scored the first Devils ' goal in the history of the Prudential Center in the 2nd period of a 4 – 1 loss to Ottawa . On July 1st , 2009 Gionta signed a 5 - year contract for $ 25 Million with the Montreal Canadiens . This has reunited him with former Devils ' teammate Scott Gomez . Personal . He is the middle child of Sam and Penny Gionta ; his younger brother is Stephen Gionta , a forward for the Devil ' s AHL affiliate , the Lowell Devils . Brian Gionta and his wife , Harvest , have a son , Adam and daughter Leah .