Zack Fitzgerald

Zackary Fitzgerald
Born	(1985-06-16) June 16, 1985 Two Harbors, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Ice hockey player, coach
Years active	2005–2020
Known for	Professional ice hockey player and head coach/director of hockey operations for Glasgow Clan

Zackary John Fitzgerald (born June 16, 1985) is a former American professional ice hockey player who most recently held the roles of head coach and director of hockey operations for the Glasgow Clan in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).

He played major junior hockey with the Seattle Thunderbirds in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and was selected 88th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Fitzgerald launched his professional career within the Blues organization before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks, where he appeared in a single NHL game during the 2007–08 season. Primarily recognized as an enforcer, he was born in Two Harbors, Minnesota and raised in Duluth, Minnesota. He is also the brother of Rusty Fitzgerald.

Junior career

While with the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL, Fitzgerald established a physical playing style, leading his team twice in penalty minutes and topping the league with 244 PIMs during the 2004–05 season. After ranking fourth in league penalty minutes in 2002–03, he was drafted by St. Louis in the third round.

Professional career

Fitzgerald began his professional journey in 2005–06 with the Peoria Rivermen, splitting time between them and the Alaska Aces. He continued competing across both leagues until August 2007, when he was traded to Vancouver in exchange for Francois-Pierre Guenette.

With increased ice time at Vancouver's AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, Fitzgerald was able to develop aspects of his game beyond fighting. Coach Scott Arniel praised his enhanced defensive responsibility and confidence. He made one NHL appearance for Vancouver during the 2007–08 season.

Following the 2008–09 campaign, despite leading Manitoba in penalty minutes and demonstrating solid defensive play, Vancouver chose not to re-sign him. Fitzgerald then signed as a free agent with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 15, 2009. Although attending their training camp, he was assigned to their AHL affiliates: initially the Albany River Rats, then from 2010 to 2011, the Charlotte Checkers. During this period, he achieved personal bests in games played, assists, points, and penalty minutes, leading the AHL with 311 PIMs in 2009–10. While with Charlotte, he led his team with 229 penalty minutes, placing ninth across the league.

Subsequently, Fitzgerald signed a one-year contract with the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs.

On July 3, 2012, he committed to play for the Adirondack Phantoms.

On July 14, 2014, Fitzgerald transitioned overseas by signing a one-year player/coach contract with Scotland’s EIHL franchise, the Braehead Clan.

After completing one season there, he joined the Sheffield Steelers, serving as assistant captain for three years before returning to Glasgow for the 2018–19 season as team captain.

On May 30, 2019, Fitzgerald was named head coach and director of hockey operations for Glasgow Clan, officially retiring from playing but occasionally stepping onto the ice as injury cover. He departed from this role following the conclusion of the 2019–20 EIHL season.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2000–01	East High School	HSMN		26	1	5	6	44		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL		61	3	7	10	214		10	0	2	2	19
2002–03	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL		64	8	14	22	232		15	0	4	4	33
2003–04	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL		58	4	15	19	163		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL		65	7	18	25	244		9	0	3	3	24
2005–06	Alaska Aces	ECHL		12	1	1	2	108		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Peoria Rivermen	AHL		13	1	1	2	47		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Peoria Rivermen	AHL		29	0	2	2	86		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Alaska Aces	ECHL		10	0	1	1	48		14	2	3	5	82
2007–08	Manitoba Moose	AHL		48	5	3	8	158		3	0	0	0	14
2007–08	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Manitoba Moose	AHL		56	0	8	8	209		16	0	1	1	14
2009–10	Albany River Rats	AHL		77	2	12	14	311		2	0	0	0	0
2010–11	Charlotte Checkers	AHL		76	0	8	8	229		10	0	1	1	32
2011–12	Hamilton Bulldogs	AHL		74	2	3	5	268		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Adirondack Phantoms	AHL		36	1	0	1	202		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Adirondack Phantoms	AHL		38	0	1	1	231		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Braehead Clan	Elite Ice Hockey League		44	2	12	14	304		2	00	00	08
2015–16	Sheffield Steelers	EIHL		48	03	08	11	197
2016–17	Sheffield Steelers	EIHL		47	02	12	14	197		4	00	00	02
2017–18	Sheffield Steelers	EIHL		37	00	08	08	181		4	01	11	10
2018–19	Glasgow Clan	EIHL		56	04	13	17	178		2	00	00	04
2019-20	Glasgow Clan	EIHL		4	00	00	00	00
Career totals in AHL				447	11	38	49	1741		31	00	02	02	60
Career totals in NHL				1	00	00	00	00		—	—	—	—	—
Career totals in EIHL				236	11	53	64	1057		12	00	01	01	24

See also

• List of NHL players with a single game appearance