Phil Roberto

Phillip Joseph Roberto
Born	(1949-01-01) 1 January 1949 Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Died	30 April 2025(2025-04-30) (aged 76)
Occupation(s)	Professional ice hockey forward, coach, general manager
Years active	1969–1978 (NHL), coaching 1993–1996, 2002–2003
Known for	NHL player for multiple teams; Stanley Cup champion (1971)

Phillip Joseph Roberto (January 1, 1949 – April 30, 2025) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA). His NHL tenure spanned from 1969 to 1978, during which he played for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, Kansas City Scouts, Colorado Rockies, and Cleveland Barons. Additionally, Roberto took to the ice with the Birmingham Bulls in the WHA.

NHL career

Roberto earned a Stanley Cup championship with the Montreal Canadiens in 1971 and notably contributed an assist on Jean Béliveau’s milestone 500th goal that same year. Over 385 NHL contests, he accumulated 75 goals and 106 assists, reaching a total of 181 points.

His 1973-74 hockey card is recognized for featuring an image of him engaged in a fight with New York Islanders goaltender Billy Smith, marking the first time an on-card fight was depicted.

Coaching career

Between 1993 and 1996, Roberto held the head coach position for the ECHL’s Birmingham Bulls. He later assumed the role of general manager for the Columbus Cottonmouths in the CHL/ECHL and stepped behind the bench as coach during the latter portion of the 2002-03 season.

Death

Roberto passed away on April 30, 2025, at the age of 76.

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1965–66	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA		2	2	0	2	0		6	1	1	2	6
1966–67	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA		14	1	0	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
1967–68	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA		53	19	20	39	92		19	13	14	27	71
1968–69	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA		52	29	65	94	152		14	7	15	22	38
1969–70	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		8	0	1	1	8		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Montreal Voyageurs	AHL		54	20	19	39	160		8	3	1	4	19
1970–71	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		39	14	7	21	76		15	0	1	1	36
1970–71	Montreal Voyageurs	AHL		32	19	22	41	127		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		27	3	2	5	22		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	St. Louis Blues	NHL		49	12	13	25	76		11	7	6	13	29
1972–73	St. Louis Blues	NHL		77	20	22	42	99		5	2	1	3	4
1973–74	St. Louis Blues	NHL		15	1	1	2	10
1973–74	Denver Spurs	WHL		8	5	4	9	40
1974–75	St. Louis Blues	NHL		7	0	2	2	2
1974–75	Denver Spurs	CHL		8	3	2	5	12
1974–75	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		46	13	27	40	30
1975–76	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		37	1	7	8	68
1975–76	Kansas City Scouts	NHL		37	7	15	22	42
1976–77	Colorado Rockies	NHL		22	1	5	6	23
1976–77	Cleveland Barons	NHL		21	3	4	7	8
1977–78	Birmingham Bulls	WHA		53	8	20	28	91		4	1	0	1	20
WHA totals				53	8	20	28	91		4	1	0	1	20
NHL totals				385	75	106	181	464		31	9	8	17	69

External links

• 1973-74 Hockey Card of Roberto