BLOG: Former Devil Gionta is 2019 U.S. Hockey HOF Inductee
Gionta spent 7 of his 16 NHL seasons with the New Jersey Devils
by Amanda Stein amandacstein / NewJerseyDevils.com
Former New Jersey Devils forward Brian Gionta will be honored this coming December when he is inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
Gionta spent 7 of his 16 NHL seasons with the New Jersey Devils, after he was chosen in the third round of the 1998 NHL Draft.
The 43-year-old was part of the 2003 Stanley Cup Champions with New Jersey, where he played in 473 games, scored 152 goals and assisted on 160 others for 312 points over his seven seasons with the club. In that time, Gionta also had 30 game-winning goals. Gionta also played seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins.
In 2005-06 Gionta scored 48 goals for the Devils, which remains the most goals in a season in Devils franchise history.
Among U.S.A. born NHL players, Gionta ranks 43rd all-time in scoring history with 595 points (291 goals, 304) in 1,026 NHL games. Brian Gionta captained Team USA at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games.
Gionta joins a class which will induct four others. Former Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas will be inducted, as will two-time U.S. Olympian Krissy Wendel. Co-Founder of the Ford Dupont Ice Hockey Club in Washington, Neal Henderson is also part of the class, while NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman rounds out the 2019 inductees.
Congratulations to Brian for this great honor!