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Alexander PietrangeloCanadian professional ice hockey player
Date of Birth: 18.01.1990
Country:  Canada |
Content:
Biography of Alex Pietrangelo
Alex Pietrangelo is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is considered one of the best defensemen in the country. He has also gained international recognition, as evidenced by his gold medal at the Olympic Games. Currently, Pietrangelo plays for the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League.
Early Career
Alex Pietrangelo began playing hockey at a young age while living in Toronto. He gained his first experience playing for various teams in the Minor League, such as the Richmond Hill Stars and the Vaughan Kings. One of his most significant achievements during this period was winning the Ontario Championship as part of the Toronto Junior Canadiens.
Professional Career
In 2006, Pietrangelo was selected as the third pick in the OHL draft and joined the Mississauga IceDogs. He showcased impressive skills, averaging almost a point per game and finished the season with 52 points in 59 games. After his second season in the OHL, where he recorded 53 points in 60 games, Pietrangelo was drafted fourth overall in the NHL draft.
He began playing for the St. Louis Blues after spending some time in their training camp. On October 10, 2008, Pietrangelo made his debut for the Blues in a game against the Nashville Predators. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury just three days later in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs but quickly recovered. He played a total of eight games for the Blues before being returned to the Niagara IceDogs.
In 2009, Pietrangelo was assigned to the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen. The 2009-2010 season marked his second season with the Blues, although he spent some time on loan to the Canadian national under-20 team. He later joined the Barrie Colts. The following season, 2010-2011, was Pietrangelo's first full season with the Blues, and he excelled as one of the team's top defensemen, recording 43 points (11 goals and 32 assists).
Pietrangelo's consistent performance earned him a spot on the NHL All-Star second team. In 2013, he signed a new seven-year, $45 million contract with the Blues, solidifying his position as a key player on the team.
International Career
Pietrangelo represented Canada in several international tournaments. In 2007, he played as the alternate captain for the Canadian national junior team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. The team finished fourth in the tournament. In 2008, Pietrangelo helped Canada win the World Junior Championship.
In 2010, he once again participated in the World Junior Championship, where he was recognized as one of the top three players for his country. Pietrangelo also represented Canada at the IIHF World Championship in 2011, where he led the team in points among defensemen and ranked second overall. Although Canada reached the quarterfinals, they were unable to defeat the Russian team.
In 2014, Pietrangelo was selected to play for the Canadian Olympic team in Sochi. He contributed to the team's success, winning a gold medal. Despite only recording one assist in six games, Pietrangelo played a crucial role in the team's victory.
