| Stephen Gionta | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Gionta with theNew Jersey Devils in 2013 | |||
| Born | (1983-10-09)October 9, 1983 (age 42) Rochester, New York, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | ||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | New Jersey Devils New York Islanders | ||
| National team |  United States | ||
| NHL draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2006–2019 | ||
Stephen Michael Gionta (born October 9, 1983) is anAmerican former professionalice hockeycentre. He played in theNational Hockey League (NHL) with theNew Jersey Devils andNew York Islanders. Gionta is the younger brother ofBrian Gionta, who played for the Devils from 2001 to 2009.
As a youth, Gionta played in the 1997Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with aminor ice hockey team fromRochester, New York.[1]
Gionta was not drafted by any team. However, after graduating fromBoston College he signed an amateur tryout agreement with theAlbany River Rats. The River Rats were theAmerican Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of theNew Jersey Devils, the team in which his older brotherBrian was a member of.[2] Gionta made his professional debut at the end of the2005-06 season with the River Rats. Gionta's first ever AHL game was on April 13, 2006 against theSpringfield Falcons. Gionta led his team to a 5–3 victory by scoring 3 goals and adding 1 assist. He was named the first star of the game.[3]
After spending the next few seasons in the minor leagues, Gionta was called up by the Devils during the2010-11 season. He made his debut on November 5, 2010 in a 3–0 loss to theNew York Rangers. Gionta went scoreless in 12 games for the Devils that season.[citation needed]
On April 12, 2012, Gionta scored his first career NHL goal. The goal, which was the game-winning goal, was scored againstCraig Anderson of theOttawa Senators. The Devils won the game 4–2, while Gionta received first star honors of the game. During the2012 postseason, Gionta skated in 24 games with the Devils, recording three goals and four assists. The Devils advanced to the2012 Stanley Cup Finals, but fell to theLos Angeles Kings.[4]
On June 29, 2012, Gionta re-signed with theNew Jersey Devils on a two-year contract.[5] On July 1, 2014, Gionta re-signed for another two years.[6]
After 11 seasons with the Devils, Gionta's association with the club ended as he was out of contract to become a free agent. Unsigned over the following summer, Gionta accepted a professional try-out contract to attend theNew York Islanders' training camp on September 12, 2016.[7] At the end of training camp, he signed a one-year deal with the Islanders' AHL affiliate, theBridgeport Sound Tigers. On December 21, 2016, Gionta agreed to a one-year, two-way deal with the Islanders.[8] On August 8, 2017, Gionta re-signed with the Islanders to another one-year deal.[9] On October 2, 2017, Gionta was placed on waivers so he can be assigned to the AHL affiliateBridgeport Sound Tigers.[citation needed]
On October 13, 2018, Gionta returned to the Islanders, signing a one-year, two-way contract.[10] He featured in five games with the Islanders, going scoreless before he was assigned to play out the remainder of his contract in a return to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
On August 1, 2019, Gionta announced his retirement from professional hockey after a 13-year playing career, accepting work as a professional scout for theTampa Bay Lightning.[11]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1999–00 | Rochester Jr. Americans | NAHL | 41 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | U.S. National Development Team | USDP | 17 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | U.S. National Development Team | USDP | 25 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Boston College | HE | 33 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Boston College | HE | 41 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Boston College | HE | 38 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Boston College | HE | 39 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Lowell Devils | AHL | 67 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Lowell Devils | AHL | 63 | 16 | 13 | 29 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Lowell Devils | AHL | 52 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Lowell Devils | AHL | 68 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | Albany Devils | AHL | 54 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Albany Devils | AHL | 56 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 2012–13 | Albany Devils | AHL | 11 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 48 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 66 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 61 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 82 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | New York Islanders | NHL | 26 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 30 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | New York Islanders | NHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 26 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 301 | 16 | 40 | 56 | 95 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | ||||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representingthe United States | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| Ice Hockey World Championships | ||
 | 2013 Sweden/Finland | |
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | United States | WJC18 | 6th | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2013 | United States | WC |  | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | ||||
| Senior totals | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | ||||