Tony Tanti

Tony Tanti (born September 7, 1963 in Toronto, Ontario) is a retired professional player. He was a left winger and played the majority of his career in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks. Originally drafted 12th overall by the Chicago Black Hawks in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, he also played briefly for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres in the latter stages of his NHL career. After twelve seasons in the NHL, Tanti began a playing career in Germany's Bundesliga. He played in Berlin for six seasons before retiring after the 1997–98 season.
==Playing career==
As a junior in the Ontario Hockey League for three seasons, Tanti played with the Oshawa Generals, breaking a league rookie record previously set by Wayne Gretzky. Tanti still holds the record for most goals by a rookie with 81 in 1980–81. He was selected by the Chicago Black Hawks as the 12th overall pick in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, but was traded after just three games over two seasons to the Vancouver Canucks for feared fighter and able scorer Curt Fraser in 1982-83.
As a proficient scorer in junior, Vancouver hoped he'd bring that scoring touch to the West Coast. In his first full season as a Canuck (1983–84), he set a new club goal scoring record with 45, passing Darcy Rota's total of 42 from the previous season. Adding 41 assists for 86 points, he finished second in team scoring to linemate Patrik Sundstrom. He followed that up with two consecutive 39-goal seasons before earning the Cyrus H. McLean Trophy as the Canucks leading points scorer in 1986–87 and 1987–88. In eight seasons with the Canucks, Tanti totaled 250 goals and 220 assists for 470 points - sixth overall in all-time franchise scoring. He is also second in all-time power play goals with 102.
At the height of his game, Tanti was one of the most feared snipers in the league. At just 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m), 180 pounds (82 kg), he had a knack for eluding opposing checkers and darting around defensemen. He earned the Canucks' Most Exciting Player Award five years in a row (1983–84 through 1987–88), leading the team in goal scoring in that same span. He was also selected to play in the 1984 and 1986 NHL All-Star Game. Although he was unable to play in 1984 due to injury, in 1986, he played on a line with Denis Savard and Mark Messier, and scored the first goal of the event. He was named Vancouver Canucks MVP for the 1987–88 season. Internationally, he played for Canada at the 1983 World Junior Championships and at the World Championships in 1985, 1986, and 1987. He was invited to the training camp for the 1987 Canada Cup, but failed to make the team.
Tanti concluded his NHL career with brief stints in Pittsburgh and Buffalo before playing for six seasons in Berlin, Germany. He has now retired from the game and resides in West Vancouver, working as an agent for a wholesale flooring business. In his spare time, he coaches youth hockey alongside another former Canuck Dave Babych.
==Awards and achievements==
*NHL All-Star Game - 1984, 1986
*Most Exciting Player Award (Vancouver Canucks) - 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
*Cyrus H. McLean Trophy (Vancouver Canucks' leading scorer) - 1987, 1988
*Cyclone Taylor Trophy (Vancouver Canucks MVP) - 1988
==Records==
*Ontario Hockey League rookie goal scoring record - 81 (1980–81)
==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
1979–80 	St. Michael's Buzzers	OHA-B 	 	37 	31 	27 	58 	67 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1980–81 	Oshawa Generals 	OHL 	 	67 	81 	69 	150 	197 	 	11 	7 	8 	15 	41
1981–82 	Oshawa Generals 	OHL 	 	57 	62 	64 	126 	138 	 	12 	14 	12 	26 	15
1981–82 	Chicago Black Hawks 	NHL 	 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1982–83 	Oshawa Generals 	OHL 	 	30 	34 	28 	62 	35 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1982–83 	Chicago Black Hawks 	NHL 	 	1 	1 	0 	1 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1982–83 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	39 	8 	8 	16 	16 	 	4 	0 	1 	1 	0
1983–84 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	79 	45 	41 	86 	50 	 	4 	1 	2 	3 	0
1984–85 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	68 	39 	20 	59 	45 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1985–86 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	77 	39 	20 	59 	45 	 	3 	0 	1 	1 	11
1986–87 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	77 	41 	38 	79 	84 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1987–88 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	73 	40 	37 	77 	90 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1988–89 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	77 	24 	25 	49 	69 	 	7 	0 	5 	5 	4
1989–90 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	41 	14 	18 	32 	50 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1989–90 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	NHL 	 	37 	14 	18 	32 	22 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1990–91 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	NHL 	 	46 	6 	12 	18 	44 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1990–91 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 	 	10 	1 	7 	8 	6 	 	5 	2 	0 	2 	8
1991–92 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 	 	70 	15 	16 	31 	100 	 	7 	0 	3 	3 	4
1992–93 	BSC Preussen Berlin 	DEL 	 	34 	14 	17 	31 	73 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1993–94 	BSC Preussen Berlin 	DEL 	 	43 	19 	24 	43 	50 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1994–95 	BSC Preussen Berlin 	DEL 	 	42 	25 	33 	58 	114 	 	9 	2 	2 	4 	8
1995–96 	BSC Preussen Berlin 	DEL 	 	43 	32 	28 	60 	56 	 	11 	9 	5 	14 	16
1996–97 	BSC Preussen Berlin 	DEL 	 	43 	14 	25 	39 	42 	 	4 	0 	2 	2 	6
1997–98 	BSC Preussen Berlin 	DEL 	 	41 	6 	24 	30 	84 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	697 	287 	273 	560 	661 	 	30 	3 	12 	15 	27
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International===
Year 	Team 	Event 	 	GP	G 	A	P 	PIM
1983 	Canada 	WJC 	 	7 	0 	4	4 	0
1985 	Canada 	WC 	 	10	5 	2	7 	12
1966 	Canada 	WC 	 	8 	5 	3	8 	22
1987 	Canada 	WC 	 	10	6 	2	8 	6
Senior Int'l Totals	Senior Int'l Totals	Senior Int'l Totals	 	28	16	7	23	40
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===All Star Games===
Year 	Location 	  	G	A	P
1984 	East Rutherford	  	-	-	-
1986 	Hartford 	  	1	0	1
All-Star Totals	All-Star Totals	All-Star Totals	1	0	1
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
==External links==
* 
* Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com
Category:Born in 1963
Category:BSC Preussen Berlin players
Category:Buffalo Sabres players
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Chicago Blackhawks players
Category:Eisbären Berlin players
Category:National Hockey League first round draft picks
Category:Oshawa Generals alumni
Category:Pittsburgh Penguins players
Category:Vancouver Canucks players
Category:Retired in 1998
Category:Berlin Capitals players