Esposito, Tony (1943-2021), a Canadian hockey player, was a standout goalkeeper in the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed “Tony O,” Esposito played almost his entire career for the Chicago Black Hawks (later Blackhawks). Tony was the younger brother of Phil Esposito, one of the greatest scorers in NHL history.
Tony Esposito popularized the “butterfly” style of ice hockey goalkeeping. Esposito dropped to the ice when facing a low shot, splaying (spreading) his padded lower legs away from his body to protect a larger portion of the goal. Nearly all professional goalies now use some version of this technique.
Anthony James Esposito was born April 23, 1943, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. He attended Michigan Technological University, where he led the hockey team to a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship during the 1964-1965 season. At the time, it was uncommon for hockey players to attend college before playing professionally.
Esposito began his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens. He appeared in 13 games during the 1968-1969 season, in which the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup. During the offseason, the Black Hawks claimed him in the intraleague draft (a special draft once held among NHL teams). Esposito put together a phenomenal rookie season with Chicago, featuring 15 shutouts, the most in a single season since the 1920’s. He earned the Calder Memorial Trophy for best rookie of the 1969-1970 season. Esposito won the Vezina Trophy for best goalkeeper during the 1971-1972 and 1973-1974 seasons. He retired after the 1983-1984 season.
In 1988, Esposito was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and became the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He worked as a scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1990’s. Esposito was named a Blackhawks ambassador in 2008. He died on Aug. 10, 2021.
