Rick DiPietro
Rick DiPietro ( born September 19, 1981 in Winthrop, Massachusetts) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender, who was most recently with the New York Islanders in the National Hockey League contract.
- 2.1 International
Career
Rick DiPietro played since 1997 in the junior program of the U18 national team of the United States. In his second year he brought outstanding performance and won 22 of his 30 games. In 1999 he went to Boston University and played for their hockey team. There, too, he brought very good performances and became the wage as a rookie of the year, as well as to the Second All-Star Team of the Hockey East Conference of the NCAA selected. In his last game, he set a NCAA record when he could hold over 123 minutes 77 shots in a playoff game and so that as many parades showed in a game like no other goalkeeper. Nevertheless, his team lost at the end with 2:3.
Only three months later, Rick DiPietro was the first player selected at the NHL Entry Draft in 2000 and was regarded as one of the biggest goalkeeping talents, which is underlined by the fact that he is the first goalkeeper ever, at position one in the NHL Entry Draft has been selected. It was the New York Islanders, who decided to pod judge him.
He was taken immediately to the NHL roster of the team and graduated at age 19 20 games in his first season. Besides, he was also used in the International Hockey League. After the season, he was allowed to go to the U.S. team for the World Cup.
In the 2001 /02 season he was only in the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the AHL for use, as the Islanders with Garth Snow and Chris Osgood had two experienced and established goalkeeper in the squad. In the next season, DiPietro was playing in the NHL, came to a total of ten missions, but remained still in the AHL squad of Bridgeport, where he played his best season with a Gegentorschnitt of 2.14 and a catch rate of 92.4 percent. After Chris Osgood had left the team, DiPietro was used in the 2003/04 season as first-choice goalkeeper and his team reached the playoffs, but failed already in the first round. In 2006, he missed the round of the last eight teams in the Eastern Conference.
In September 2006, DiPietro signed with the Islanders an NHL - record contract until, 2021. During the 15 years he will earn a total of 67.5 million U.S. dollars.
During the 2006/07 season, he established himself permanently among the best goalkeepers in the NHL and was always an important support of the team in the battle for playoff spots. After some minor injuries, however, he fell during the hot part of the season in March 2007 for multiple games from, after he had collided with an opponent and suffered a concussion. Substitute goalkeeper Mike Dunham could not compensate for the loss of DiPietro and the Islanders lost the connection to the playoff ranks. Without DiPietro, but with Wade Dubielewicz in goal, the Islanders still achieved a playoff berth. DiPietro was still represented in the first playoff game against the Buffalo Sabres by Dubielewicz, could in the second game but again be used.
In the 2007 /08 season, DiPietro was initially build on its good performance and was invited to the NHL All-Star Game. In the second half of the season but his services were no longer constant; In March 2008, he had to end early due to a hip injury the season.
On January 8, 2010 DiPietro gave in over a year injury break his NHL comeback with the 3:4 defeat in the game against the Dallas Stars. Previously, he had already gained match practice in the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League.
Since the players' union and team owners could not agree on a renewal of the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement from 2005 to the beginning of season 2012/13, it came on 15 September lockout of the players from their team owner and thus the lockout. On October 10, 2012, he joined as a second NHL professional by Matt D' Agostini to SC Riessersee to the 2nd Bundesliga, arrived there, however, only in one game to use. After the end of the lockout in January 2013, he returned to the Islanders, but also could not convince with twelve goals conceded in three missions there. He was then sent to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the AHL and completed during the season a total of 18 games.
In July 2013 his contract by the New York Islanders was paid early (buy out).
Internationally
DiPietro was appointed in 2004 for the World Cup of Hockey goaltender in the U.S. ice hockey team. He also played at the Ice Hockey World Championship in 2005 as well as at the Olympic Games 2006. Early 2000, he stood at the Junior World Cup in goal.
Awards and achievements
- 2000 Hockey East Rookie of the Year
- 2000 Hockey East Second All-Star Team
- 2000 Hockey East All- Rookie Team
- 2002 AHL All- Star Classic
- 2008 NHL All-Star Game
Internationally
- 2000 All- Star Team of the World Youth Championship
- 2000 Best Goalkeeper of the World Youth Championship