Rory Fitzpatrick

Rory B. Fitzpatrick (born January 11, 1975) is a former American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers. 
==Playing career==
He spent his junior career in the OHL with the Sudbury Wolves, and was selected in the second round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, 47th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens.
After completing his junior eligibility, Fitzpatrick made his professional debut in the AHL, although he eventually joined the Canadiens and played 42 games. Just six games into the following season, however, Fitzpatrick was dealt to St. Louis in the blockbuster Pierre Turgeon trade, where he played a pair of games before being shipped down to the minors. After that demotion, Fitzpatrick would only play one more game in a Blues uniform, spending the bulk of his time in the minor leagues before finally being traded to the Nashville Predators.
Fitzpatrick's luck did not improve with the Predators, one of the NHL's newest expansion teams, and he was sent to Edmonton after only two games. In Edmonton, he spent time as a healthy scratch, but never actually saw NHL icetime. He was, however, a reliable offensive threat with the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Following the 2000–01 NHL season, Fitzpatrick became an unrestricted free agent. Signing with the Buffalo Sabres as a depth defenseman, Fitzpatrick spent the majority of 2001–02 with his hometown team, the Rochester Americans of the AHL, although he did play five games with the Sabres. This gave him an opportunity to be reunited with former junior teammate Jay McKee.
In 2002–03, Fitzpatrick again started the year in Rochester. However, he was recalled four times by Buffalo, and the last time, on February 12, he stayed with the team, and spent the entire 2003–04 with them. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff played him in all situations- evenstrength, on the power play and short-handed. A knee injury prematurely ended Fitzpatrick's season.
In July 2004, Fitzpatrick filed for salary arbitration, but was able to reach a deal with the Sabres before the hearing. During the NHL lockout, he spent his time doing odd jobs before signing with Rochester for the final twenty games. He also played with the Original Stars Hockey League before its collapse, and worked at a hockey clinic.
After returning with the Sabres for 2005–06, Fitzpatrick then moved on to the Vancouver Canucks the following season and secured a role as a depth defenseman playing in 58 games and appearing in the post season. A free agent, Fitzpatrick then signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on October 9, 2007, and split the 2007–08 season between the Flyers and AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms. 
In 2008, Rory's former AHL club, the Rochester Americans (also his hometown) requested that now sole parent club, the Florida Panthers, provide the Amerks with more veteran players to aide prospects, and put together a winning team. The Panthers responded by recruiting fan-favorite Fitzpatrick to a two-year deal, to have him lead the way for Rochester's defense.
==2007 All-Star Game vote==
During the 2006–07 NHL season, while playing for the Vancouver Canucks, despite having zero points in 18 games, Fitzpatrick finished third in All-Star Game voting for defensemen in the Western Conference with 550,177 votes, falling 23,000 votes shy of second place Nicklas Lidström, winner of 4 Norris Trophies and 3 Stanley Cups.NHL All-Star Vote Results, January 10, 2007, NHL.com, accessed January 10, 2007
The idea was to use the new NHL procedure, where people were encouraged to vote as often as they liked, to have an unlikely candidate chosen. Contributors to this goal sent the idea across the Internet in the hopes of having Fitzpatrick voted in as one of the two starting defensemen for the Western Conference.Mirtle, James, The 'Vote for Rory' campaign gains steam, Globe and Mail online, November 30, 2006 They also created several videos on Youtube as a way to spread news. A website, www.voteforrory.com, was created as well.Colleluori, Chris, Schmid creating a star in NHL, Auburn Citizen, November 30, 2006 Rory peaked in balloting at the number 2 position, before eventually being bumped from participation in the game to third place.
The plot was originally conceived as a humorous campaign designed to show the flaws in the NHL voting system. The logic was that if enough people voted for an unlikely player to start the game, the league would change its system. After some time, the plan metamorphosed for many into a more symbolic gesture.Wyshynski, Greg, The Rory Details, The Fourth Period, December 2, 2006 
For his part, Fitzpatrick — who never actively supported the campaign beyond donning a T-shirt at the request of photographers — stated that he had gotten a kick out of the movement and acknowledged the hard work that his supporters had put into it.Botchford, Jason, Grassroots Groundswell, Vancouver Province, December 1, 2006 Fitzpatrick's teammates were also supportive, with several voicing their intention to vote, and wearing customized "Vote for Rory" T-shirts at a team practice.Vancouver Canucks, Time to Vote, The Insider, December 1, 2006
The final voting results on January 13, 2007 saw Rory finish in third place behind Scott Niedermayer and Nicklas Lidstrom, meaning he did not start in the All-Star game. Slate found the final results suspicious due to unlikely numerical coincidences in the final week of voting, and believed that the NHL altered the vote counts.Engber, Daniel, Rorygate - The NHL's All-Star voting disaster: A Slate investigation, Slate, January 18, 2007
 Final Voting ResultsAll-Star Fan Balloting Results, , NHL.com, January 9, 2007
Player 	Team 	Votes
Scott Niedermayer	Anaheim Ducks 	591,657
Nicklas Lidstrom 	Detroit Red Wings	573,069
Rory Fitzpatrick 	Vancouver Canucks	550,177
Chris Pronger 	Anaheim Ducks 	433,972
Dion Phaneuf 	Calgary Flames 	395,168
==Transactions==
*June 26, 1993 - Fitzpatrick drafted by Montreal
*October 29, 1996 - Montreal trades Fitzpatrick, Pierre Turgeon and Craig Conroy to St. Louis for Shayne Corson, Murray Baron and a 5th round draft pick (Gennady Razin)
*October 5, 1998 - Boston claims Fitzpatrick off waivers from St. Louis
*October 7, 1998 - St. Louis claims Fitzpatrick off waivers from Boston
*February 9, 2000 - St. Louis trades Fitzpatrick to Nashville for Dan Keczmer
*January 12, 2001 - Nashville trades Fitzpatrick to Edmonton for future considerations
*August 14, 2001 - Buffalo signs Fitzpatrick
*August 17, 2006 - Vancouver signs Fitzpatrick
*September 14, 2007 - Philadelphia invites Fitzpatrick to training camp.
*January 3, 2008 - Philadelphia places Fitzpatrick on waivers
==Career statistics==
  	  	  	 	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
1992–93 	Sudbury Wolves 	OHL 	 	58 	4 	20 	24 	68 	 	14 	0 	0 	0 	17
1993–94 	Sudbury Wolves 	OHL 	 	65 	12 	34 	46 	112 	 	10 	2 	5 	7 	10
1994–95 	Sudbury Wolves 	OHL 	 	56 	12 	36 	48 	72 	 	18 	3 	5 	18 	21
1994–95 	Fredericton Canadiens	AHL 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	 	10 	1 	2 	3 	5
1995–96 	Fredericton Canadiens	AHL 	 	18 	4 	6 	10 	36 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1995–96 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	42 	0 	2 	2 	18 	 	6 	1 	1 	2 	0
1996–97 	Worcester IceCats 	AHL 	 	49 	4 	13 	17 	78 	 	5 	1 	2 	3 	0
1996–97 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	6 	0 	1 	1 	6 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1996–97 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 	 	2 	0 	0 	0 	2 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1997–98 	Worcester IceCats 	AHL 	 	62 	8 	22 	30 	111 	 	11 	0 	3 	3 	26
1998–99 	Worcester IceCats 	AHL 	 	53 	5 	16 	21 	82 	 	4 	0 	1 	1 	17
1998–99 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 	 	1 	0 	0 	0 	2 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1999–00 	Worcester IceCats 	AHL 	 	28 	0 	5 	5 	48 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1999–00 	Milwaukee Admirals 	IHL 	 	27 	2 	1 	3 	27 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2000–01 	Milwaukee Admirals 	IHL 	 	22 	0 	2 	2 	32 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2000–01 	Hamilton Bulldogs 	AHL 	 	34 	3 	17 	20 	29 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2000–01 	Nashville Predators 	NHL 	 	2 	0 	0 	0 	2 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2001–02 	Rochester Americans 	AHL 	 	60 	4 	8 	12 	83 	 	2 	0 	1 	1 	0
2001–02 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 	 	5 	0 	0 	0 	4 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2002–03 	Rochester Americans 	AHL 	 	41 	5 	11 	16 	65 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2002–03 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 	 	36 	1 	3 	4 	16 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2003–04 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 	 	60 	4 	7 	11 	44 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2004–05 	Rochester Americans 	AHL 	 	20 	1 	1 	2 	18 	 	9 	0 	1 	1 	12
2005–06 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 	 	56 	4 	5 	9 	50 	 	11 	0 	4 	4 	16
2006–07 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	58 	1 	6 	7 	46 	 	3 	0 	0 	0 	6
2007–08 	Philadelphia Flyers 	NHL 	 	19 	0 	1 	1 	11 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2007–08 	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL 	 	19 	1 	4 	5 	24 	 	12 	0 	2 	2 	11
2008–09 	Rochester Americans 	AHL 	 	46 	4 	10 	14 	37 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2009–10 	Rochester Americans 	AHL 	 	44 	0 	6 	6 	37 	 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	287 	10 	25 	35 	201 	 	20 	1 	5 	6 	22
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==References==
==External links==
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*NHL.com article on Fitzpatrick
Category:Born in 1975
Category:American ice hockey players
Category:Buffalo Sabres players
Category:Fredericton Canadiens players
Category:Hamilton Bulldogs players
Category:Milwaukee Admirals (IHL) players
Category:Montreal Canadiens draft picks
Category:Montreal Canadiens players
Category:Nashville Predators players
Category:Philadelphia Flyers players
Category:Philadelphia Phantoms players
Category:Rochester Americans players
Category:St. Louis Blues players
Category:Sudbury Wolves alumni
Category:Vancouver Canucks players
Category:Worcester IceCats players
Category:Retired in 2010]