Angelo Esposito (born February 20, 1989) is a Canadian-Italian former professional ice hockey player. Primarily playing as a center, Esposito was a highly touted prospect during his junior career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and was selected in the first round of the 2007 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft.
Early Career and Draft Born in Montreal, Quebec, Esposito began his major junior career with the Quebec Remparts. In his rookie season (2005–06), he recorded 98 points in 57 games, earning the Michel Bergeron Trophy as the QMJHL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was a key contributor to the Remparts' 2006 Memorial Cup championship. Due to his early success, he was initially projected as a top pick for the 2007 NHL Entry Draft; however, he was eventually selected 20th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Professional Career Esposito's professional career was significantly hindered by a series of major knee injuries, including multiple ACL tears. His NHL rights were traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in 2008 as part of the transaction for Marian Hossa. He spent several seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Chicago Wolves, San Antonio Rampage, and Texas Stars, but he never appeared in a regular-season NHL game.
In 2012, Esposito moved to Europe to continue his career. He played for various clubs across several countries, including the Pelicans in Finland's Liiga, the Milano Rossoblu and Cortina in Italy, and HC České Budějovice in the Czech Republic.
International Play Internationally, Esposito represented Canada at the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he scored the game-winning goal in the semi-finals and helped the team secure a gold medal. Later in his career, utilizing his dual citizenship, he represented the Italian national team in international competitions, including the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
Other Notable Figures The name Angelo Esposito is also shared by a prominent Italian rugby union player (born June 14, 1993). This Esposito plays as a wing and has represented the Italian national team in numerous international tests, including the Six Nations Championship, and has had a long-standing career with Benetton Rugby.
