Louis Frederick Angotti (January 16, 1938 – September 15, 2021) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues from 1964 to 1974.

Lou Angotti
Angotti at St. Michaels, c. 1957
Born (1938-01-16)January 16, 1938
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died September 15, 2021(2021-09-15) (aged 83)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for New York Rangers
Chicago Black Hawks
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
St. Louis Blues
Chicago Cougars
Playing career 1962–1975

Early life

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Angotti was born in Toronto on January 16, 1938.[1][2] He played his junior hockey for the Toronto St. Michael's Majors. He then enrolled in Michigan Tech University where he earned an engineering degree while skating for powerful college clubs.[3][4] He appeared in two NCAA championship games, losing the 1960 game while winning in 1962. He was MVP of both tournaments and was All-WCHA First Team for 1961–62.[5]

Professional career

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Angotti signed with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL), playing two seasons with the minor league Rochester Americans before being called up to the big league club in 1964-65. Angotti quickly became known for his high-energy, speedy play. Over the next nine seasons, he played with the Chicago Black Hawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues.[6] He had his best offensive season in 1967–68 with the Flyers, when he scored 49 points while serving as the club's first captain.[1][2] During his second stint with Chicago (from 1969 through 1973), he served as a key defensive component on a team that narrowly lost two Stanley Cup Finals series.[6]

During his final season with the Blues in 1973–74, Angotti was hired as coach after Jean-Guy Talbot was fired with 23 games remaining in the season. He retired to serve as head coach on a full-time basis, but was fired just nine games into the next year. He returned to play hockey with the Chicago Cougars of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Angotti again served as head coach during the 1983-84 season, this time with the Pittsburgh Penguins.[6]

Angotti also coached the New Brunswick Hawks, Erie Blades, and Baltimore Skipjacks of the American Hockey League (AHL) for one season each.[3]

Later life

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Following his playing career, Angotti was a color commentator for Chicago Blackhawks games on WSNS-TV and WCFL radio.[7] He was first inducted into the Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 as an individual player. He was enshrined again in 2012 together with the 1962 team on the 50th anniversary of the school's first NCAA title.[4][8] He periodically participated in community activities by the Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association.[9]

Angotti died on September 15, 2021, at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was 83 years old.[8][10]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Sources: [1][3]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1955–56 St. Michael's Majors OHA 6 6 12 29 8 4 0 4 20
1956–57 St. Michael's Majors OHA 52 12 19 31 28 4 1 2 3 4
1957–58 St. Michael's Majors OHA 52 23 19 42 72 9 7 8 15 10
1958–59 Michigan Tech University NCAA Ind 5 10 9 19
1959–60 Michigan Tech University NCAA Ind 30 18 21 39 30
1960–61 Michigan Tech University NCAA Ind 28 25 17 42 52
1961–62 Michigan Tech University NCAA Ind 31 28 23 51 50
1962–63 Kitchener-Waterloo Tigers OHA Sr 16 19 7 26 26
1962–63 Rochester Americans AHL 39 16 15 31 19 1 0 0 0 0
1963–64 Rochester Americans AHL 60 15 30 45 28 2 1 1 2 0
1964–65 New York Rangers NHL 70 9 8 17 20
1965–66 New York Rangers NHL 21 2 2 4 2
1965–66 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 30 4 10 14 12 6 0 0 0 2
1965–66 St. Louis Braves CHL 8 10 8 18 4
1966–67 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 63 6 12 18 4 6 2 1 3 2
1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 70 12 37 49 35 7 0 0 0 2
1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 71 17 20 37 36
1969–70 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 70 12 26 38 25 8 0 0 0 0
1970–71 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 65 9 16 25 19 16 3 3 6 9
1971–72 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 65 5 10 15 23 6 0 0 0 0
1972–73 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 77 15 22 37 26 16 3 4 7 2
1973–74 St. Louis Blues NHL 51 12 23 35 9
1974–75 Chicago Cougars WHA 26 2 5 7 9
WHA totals 26 2 5 7 9
NHL totals 653 103 186 289 228 65 8 8 16 17

Coaching record

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Source: [11]

Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L T Pts Division rank Result
St. Louis Blues 1973–74 23 4 15 4 64 6th in West Missed playoffs
St. Louis Blues 1974–75 9 2 5 2 84 2nd in Smythe Fired
Pittsburgh Penguins 1983–84 80 16 58 6 38 6th in Patrick Missed playoffs
NHL Totals 112 22 78 12

Awards and honors

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Award Year
All-NCAA All-Tournament First Team 1960, 1962 [12]
All-WCHA Second Team 1960–61 [13]
All-WCHA First Team 1961–62 [13]
AHCA West All-American 1961–62 [14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Lou Angotti Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Meltzer, Bill (September 16, 2021). "Flyers Family Mourns Lou Angotti". Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Lou Angotti Hockey Stats and Profile". HockeyDB. The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Peterson, Paul (December 26, 2020). "Legends: Angotti never forgot his C.C. roots". The Daily Mining Gazette. Houghton, Michigan. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Lamphier, Blaise M. (September 17, 2004). Hockey in Rochester: The Americans' Tradition. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738536941 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ a b c "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Lou Angotti". www.hhof.com. NHLPA. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  7. ^ Reiner, Olivia (September 16, 2021). "Flyers' first-ever captain Lou Angotti dies at 83". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Ludlum, Mike (September 17, 2021). "Michigan Tech Hockey Great Lou Angotti dies". WLUC-TV. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  9. ^ Verdi, Bob (September 6, 1988). "Hawks of Past to Play for Future". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  10. ^ "Louis Angotti Obituary". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  11. ^ "Lou Angotti NHL & WHA Hockey Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  13. ^ a b "WCHA Top 50 Players in 50 Years" (PDF). Western Collegiate Hockey Association. p. 84. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  14. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 5. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Award Created
WCHA Sophomore of the Year
1959–60 With George Kirkwood
Succeeded by
Preceded by NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
1960 With Bob Marquis & Barry Urbanski
1962
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Position created
Philadelphia Flyers captain
1967–68
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the St. Louis Blues
1974
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins
1983–84
Succeeded by