Carlo Colaiacovo
Colaiacovo with the St. Louis Blues in 2014
Born (1983-01-27) January 27, 1983 (age 41)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
St. Louis Blues
Detroit Red Wings
Philadelphia Flyers
Buffalo Sabres
Adler Mannheim
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 17th overall, 2001
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2002–2018

Carlo Colaiacovo (/ˌkoʊleɪˈækəvoʊ/ koh-lay-AH-kə-voh; born January 27, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently co-hosting a show on Canada’s TSN 1050 radio station, First Up with Korolnek and Colaiacovo. He most recently played for Adler Mannheim in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Colaiacovo has an identical twin brother, Paulo Colaiacovo, who has also played professional ice hockey, as a goaltender.

Playing career

Junior hockey

Colaiacovo played his major junior hockey with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).[1] He played with the team from 1999 to 2003 collecting 43 goals, 136 points in 209 games. He was an integral member of the Otters 2002 OHL Championship team.[2] The Erie Otters went on to represent the OHL in the Memorial Cup that year.[3] He was a member of Canada's junior team at the 2002[4] and 2003 World Junior Championships.[5] Canada won silver at both tournaments.[6] He was named a Second-Team OHL All-Star following the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons.[7]

Professional

Colaiacovo was drafted in the first round, 17th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three-year contract with the Maple Leafs on October 8, 2002, after winning a position on the team's defence out of training camp.[1] He made his debut with the Maple Leafs on October 23, 2002, versus the Florida Panthers. He was paired with Bryan McCabe and picked up his first NHL point assisting on the only Maple Leafs goal in the game.[8] He was returned to the OHL after playing in two games, registering just the one point.[9] The following season Colaiacovo did not make the Maple Leafs, and was re-assigned to Toronto's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the St. John's Maple Leafs. That season, he was saw extended playing time (up to 30 minutes a night) and saw opportunities on the power-play and penalty-kill units.[10] Colaiacovo was named to the 2004 AHL All-Star Team, but could not play in the game. He finished the season with 6 goals and 31 points.[11] At the onset of the 2005–06 season, Colaiacovo did not play well enough to warrant a place on the team and was sent to the new AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.[12]

On November 8, 2005, Colaiacovo was recalled due to an injury to Aki Berg[13] and he scored his first career NHL goal against the Washington Capitals.[14] On January 23, 2006, Colaiacovo missed a hip check on Václav Varaďa in a game against the Ottawa Senators, smashing head-first into the boards. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher.[15] The injury was a major concussion, and he missed the end of the 2005–06 season. At the start of the following season he was then sent to the Marlies on a conditioning assignment.[16] Colaiacovo recovered fully from his concussion, but later injured his hand in his first game back into the Marlies lineup.[17] On December 4, 2006, the Maple Leafs recalled Colaiacovo from the Marlies[18] and on December 16, he scored his first goal of the season against the New York Rangers.[19] Colaiacovo underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on April 29, 2007.[20] On June 21, 2007, Colaiacovo re-signed with the Maple Leafs to a three-year contract.[21]

On November 24, 2008, Colaiacovo was traded by the Maple Leafs, along with Alexander Steen, to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Lee Stempniak.[22][23] Colaiacovo finished the 2008–09 season with 30 points between Toronto and St. Louis. In the 2009–10 season, he registered a career-high 32 points,[24] finishing second among Blues defencemen.[25] The off-season, Colaiacovo signed a two-year extension with the Blues.[26] After the 2010–11 season, he joined Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship in Slovakia.[27] The 2011–12 season was the last Colaiacovo played with the Blues, registering 2 goals and 19 points in 64 games.[28] He was normally paired with Alex Pietrangelo on the top pairing. That off-season he became an unrestricted free agent.[28][29]

On September 12, 2012, Colaiacovo signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings.[28] In his second game of the season, Colaiacovo suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out for 33 games. He made his home debut for the Red Wings on April 1, 2013, against the Colorado Avalanche. When asked about his feelings over his home debut, Colaiacovo replied, "I'm really looking forward to it. When I first signed here I said the Joe is one of my favorite rinks to play in. I haven't had that chance to do it in a Wings uniform. That's something that's going to keep the adrenaline going for me tonight."[30] With the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, again largely affected by injury, Colaiacovo was bought out on a compliance from the final year of his contract with the Red Wings on July 3, 2013.[31][32]

On November 13, 2013, Colaiacovo agreed to a one-year, $550,000 deal to return to the St. Louis Blues as a free agent.[33] The Blues added Colaiacovo after learning that defenceman Jordan Leopold would be out eight weeks due to hand surgery.[34] He was used for spot duty with the Blues, commonly pairing with Roman Polak and Kevin Shattenkirk.[35]

An unrestricted free agent again, Colaiacovo went unsigned until October 30, 2014, when he signed a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers.[36] He was signed to a one-year, two-way contract for $625,000, brought in to replace the injured Braydon Coburn and Andrew MacDonald.[37][38] After signing, Colaiacovo played in five of the next six games. However, the return of MacDonald forced Colaiacovo out of the lineup and remained out until January when he replaced the injured Coburn again.[38] He appeared in 33 games with the Flyers before becoming an unrestricted free agent again.[39]

On July 3, 2015, Colaiacovo signed a one-year deal as a free agent with the Buffalo Sabres.[39] Colaiacovo scored his first goal with the Sabres on March 23 against Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes.[40] He made 36 appearances for the Sabres in the 2015–16 season from the blueline, contributing with one goal and five points.[41] On November 26, 2016, he belatedly signed as a free agent with Adler Mannheim of the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga for the remainder of the 2016–17 season.[42] He finished his career after his second season with Mannheim.[43][44]

Broadcasting career

Since September 10, 2018, Colaiacovo has been a sports broadcaster on Toronto's TSN Radio 1050 radio station serving as co-host for their morning show First Up, originally alongside veteran sportscaster Michael Landsberg.[45] In 2021, Aaron Korolnek became the new co-host of First Up alongside Colaiacovo after Landsberg retired from broadcasting. He also appears occasionally on TSN television programming as an analyst.[46]

Personal

Colaiacovo's twin brother Paulo is a former professional hockey player, and his cousin, Matt Finn (born February 24, 1994), was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round, 35th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.[47] Coliaicovo himself names the Maple Leafs as his favourite team, having supported the club since childhood.[46]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1999–2000 Erie Otters OHL 52 4 18 22 12 13 2 4 6 9
2000–01 Erie Otters OHL 62 12 27 39 59 14 4 7 11 16
2001–02 Erie Otters OHL 60 13 27 40 49 21 7 10 17 20
2002–03 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 2 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2002–03 Erie Otters OHL 35 14 21 35 12 — — — — —
2003–04 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 2 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2003–04 St. John's Maple Leafs AHL 62 6 25 31 50 — — — — —
2004–05 St. John's Maple Leafs AHL 49 4 20 24 59 5 0 1 1 2
2005–06 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 21 2 5 7 17 — — — — —
2005–06 Toronto Marlies AHL 14 5 6 11 14 — — — — —
2006–07 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 48 8 9 17 22 — — — — —
2006–07 Toronto Marlies AHL 5 1 5 6 4 — — — — —
2007–08 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 28 2 4 6 10 — — — — —
2007–08 Toronto Marlies AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2008–09 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 10 0 1 1 6 — — — — —
2008–09 St. Louis Blues NHL 63 3 26 29 29 4 0 0 0 2
2009–10 St. Louis Blues NHL 67 7 25 32 60 — — — — —
2010–11 St. Louis Blues NHL 65 6 20 26 23 — — — — —
2011–12 St. Louis Blues NHL 64 2 17 19 22 7 0 3 3 16
2012–13 Detroit Red Wings NHL 6 0 1 1 2 9 0 1 1 2
2012–13 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2013–14 St. Louis Blues NHL 25 1 3 4 18 — — — — —
2014–15 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 33 2 6 8 10 — — — — —
2015–16 Buffalo Sabres NHL 36 1 4 5 10 — — — — —
2016–17 Adler Mannheim DEL 27 8 16 24 28 6 1 2 3 2
2017–18 Adler Mannheim DEL 30 2 8 10 14 6 0 1 1 0
NHL totals 470 34 123 157 231 20 0 4 4 20
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Canada
Spengler Cup
Gold medal – first place 2012 Davos
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2002 Czech Republic
Silver medal – second place 2003 Canada

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2000 Canada Ontario U17 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 0 1 1 0
2002 Canada WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 0 3 3 2
2003 Canada WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 1 9 10 2
2011 Canada WC 5th 5 0 0 0 0
Junior totals 18 1 13 14 4
Senior totals 5 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours

Award Year
OHL
CHL Top Prospects Game 2001
West Best Defensive Defenceman 2001
Second All-Star Team 2002, 2003
International
WJC First All-Star Team 2003

References

  1. ^ a b "Maple Leafs ink Carlo Colaiacovo". CBC Sports. October 8, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  2. ^ Fernandes, Victor (February 13, 2016). "Erie Otters' 20th Anniversary Team: No. 6 -- Carlo Colaiacovo". Erie Times-News. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via Goerie.com.
  3. ^ Coulter, Barry (August 9, 2022). "20 years later: Kootenay Ice back in the news". Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  4. ^ "Canadian junior roster unveiled". CBC Sports. December 15, 2001. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Chidley-Hill, John (July 22, 2022). "Police in Halifax, London open investigations into 2003 & 2018 Canadian world jr. teams". CityNews. The Canadian Press. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  6. ^ "World junior championship: How Canada has fared". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. December 23, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  7. ^ "Wings Sign New Defenseman, Carlo Colaiacovo". CBS News. September 14, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  8. ^ "Leafs lose in Colaiacovo debut". Toronto Maple Leafs. October 23, 2002. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  9. ^ "Maple Leafs Return Colaiacovo to Erie". Ontario Hockey League. November 11, 2002. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  10. ^ Short, Robin (December 10, 2003). "Wellwood, Colaiacovo Making An Impact". Toronto Maple Leafs. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  11. ^ "St. John's Maple Leafs Announce Year End Award Winners" (Press release). Toronto Marlies. April 11, 2004. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via oursportscentral.com.
  12. ^ Shoalts, David (October 25, 2005). "Leafs can't escape the ghosts of the past". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  13. ^ "Veterans Honoured In Toronto". Toronto Maple Leafs. November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  14. ^ "Leafs blow past Caps". Sun Journal. November 9, 2005. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  15. ^ "Leafs' defenseman Colaiacovo suffers concussion". ESPN. Associated Press. January 24, 2006. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  16. ^ "Marlies Edge Rivermen 4-3 at Ricoh". Toronto Marlies. October 22, 2006. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  17. ^ "Bad breaks continue for Colaiacovo". CBC Sports. October 23, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  18. ^ "2006 Maple Leafs Transactions". Toronto Maple Leafs. Retrieved November 5, 2014 – via NHL.com.
  19. ^ "Toronto Scores Nine Goals to Halt Rangers' Win Streak". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 17, 2006. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  20. ^ "Leafs' Colaiacovo undergoes knee surgery". TSN. April 30, 2007. Archived from the original on May 3, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2007.
  21. ^ "Leafs re-sign defenceman Colaiacovo". CBC Sports. June 21, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  22. ^ "Leafs acquire winger Stempniak from Blues". TSN. November 24, 2008. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  23. ^ "Leafs trade Steen, Colaiacovo". Sportsnet. November 24, 2008. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
  24. ^ Khan, Ansar (September 12, 2012). "Red Wings continue talking to defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo about two-year deal". Michigan Live. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  25. ^ "2009–2010 Regular Season Stats". St. Louis Blues. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014 – via NHL.com.
  26. ^ Rutherforld, Jeremy (July 6, 2010). "Blues re-sign Colaiacovo". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  27. ^ "Team Canada adds 5 players for hockey worlds". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. April 29, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  28. ^ a b c "Red Wings sign Defenseman Colaiacovo". National Hockey League. September 12, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  29. ^ Gretz, Adam (September 14, 2012). "Carlo Colaiacovo signs two-year deal with Detroit Red Wings". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  30. ^ Roose, Bill (April 1, 2013). "Colaiacovo's excited for home debut". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved November 5, 2014 – via NHL.com.
  31. ^ St. James, Helene (July 3, 2013). "Red Wings to buy out Carlo Colaiacovo". USA Today. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  32. ^ Roose, Bill (July 3, 2013). "Wings to use buyout on Colaiacovo". Detroit Red Wings. Archived from the original on July 6, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2014 – via NHL.com.
  33. ^ Halford, Mike (November 14, 2013). "Blues make Colaiacovo deal official: one year, $550,000". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  34. ^ "Blues reach deal to bring back Carlo Colaiacovo". USA Today. November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  35. ^ Rutherford, Jeremy P. (March 25, 2014). "Colaiacovo has made strides in second stint with Blues". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  36. ^ "Flyers sign D Carlo Colaiacovo". Philadelphia Flyers. October 30, 2014. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014 – via NHL.com.
  37. ^ "Signing with Flyers 'a great opportunity' for Colaiacovo". CSN Philadelphia. October 31, 2014. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  38. ^ a b "Colaiacovo (remember him?) finally cracks Flyers lineup". NBC Sports. January 14, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  39. ^ a b "Colaiacovo signs one-year contract with Sabres". Buffalo Sabres. July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015 – via NHL.com.
  40. ^ Moritz, Amy (March 23, 2016). "Quick hits: Sabres 3, Carolina 2 (with VIDEO highlights)". The Buffalo News. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  41. ^ Halford, Mike (November 26, 2016). "Report: Veteran d-man Colaiacovo signs in Germany". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  42. ^ "Eagles sign Carlo Colaiacovo". Adler Mannheim. Archived from the original on November 26, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  43. ^ Schmidt, Nicole (February 16, 2018). "Defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo finds a welcoming home, out by the lake, in Germany". The Athletic. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  44. ^ Fitz-Gerald, Sean (December 6, 2019). "With former Leafs defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo aboard, TSN 1050 sees radio ratings gains in Toronto". The Athletic. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  45. ^ "Former Leaf Carlo Colaiacovo Joins Michael Landsberg on TSN 1050 Toronto as the New Co-Host of FIRST UP WITH LANDSBERG AND COLAIACOVO, Beginning Today". BellMedia.ca. September 10, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  46. ^ a b "Which team did the best job addressing its crease concerns?". TSN. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  47. ^ "Matt Finn Profile - Elite Prospects". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved November 5, 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carlo Colaiacovo.
Awards and achievements Preceded byBrad Boyes Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick 2001 Succeeded byAlexander Steen
Categories