SHEFFIELD, U.K. – Many heads turned when the Sheffield Steelers announced the signing of Braehead Clan defenceman Zack Fitzgerald over the summer of 2015. With a staggering 344 penalty minutes in 52 games, and just 14 points to his name, fans were shocked and many were disappointed when the 6’1” inch 214-lb blueliner put pen to paper.
Fitzgerald also sat out 7 games through suspension for the Clan in three separate incidents, one of which was against the Steelers in November 2014 where he concussed tough guy Danny Bois in an altercation at the end of the first period.
Zack Fitzgerald playing for Peoria in 2006 (Image courtesy of Peoria Rivermen)
Despite Fitzgerald’s previous history, Steelers Head Coach Paul Thompson was keen to add Minnesota native Fitzgerald to his line-up, a move which would pay dividends down the line and see Fitzgerald become a fan favourite and rewarded with a 2-year contract extension after just 30 games in a Steelers uniform.
I recently caught up with Zack to talk about the route he took into hockey, being drafted to the St. Louis Blues, his game in the NHL and playing alongside NHL superstars the Sedin twins, Roberto Luongo and Markus Naslund.
SA- I guess the obvious place to start is, how did you get into playing hockey?
I guess where I grew up in Minnesota, hockey is the sport. Everyone is playing it, and we have the outdoor rinks there. Here in the UK, you grab the football and go out and play, but in Minnesota we would get 4-6 feet of snow, mum would drop us off, she would be the babysitter and that’s how we learnt.
SA- Who were your hockey idols growing up? Any particular player you wanted to be like?
I guess first and foremost my brother Rusty. He’s 13 years older than me. In a sense, he was way ahead of me, and a guy I looked up to. Obviously being young, he didn’t want to hang out with his younger brother, but I looked up to him in the hockey sense. I would go watch his high school games, and college games as he played for the local team the UMD Bulldogs, and that was the thing to do when we were younger, hang out at the games, chase the girls and eat the ice cream!
I was actually born on the way to my brother’s hockey tournament, my old man dropped my mum off at the hospital and I was born, and a few days later I was at the rink watching him play.
SA- Your older brother Rusty played in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, did he influence your career at all?
To see someone in your family make it to the NHL, and your sitting there in fifth grade with a Pittsburgh Penguins Jersey on watching your brother play on TV in the greatest league in the world, it was kind of surreal. We watched him, rooted him on, would then go on to play junior hockey, and we would speak on the phone where he would give me advice.
You are obviously quite adept to dropping the gloves. How and when did this first start?
It came about in junior, because before that it was more about the hitting, where we learnt how to hit, which I always loved doing, and it was always a big part of my game. I loved running into people. I guess I’ve always had a bit of a temper, and when I was that young I was harder to control. I ended up going to junior and a bunch of the older guys were saying “You should try fighting. You play a physical game so it’s probably going to happen regardless.” So I took that as an OK, I guess I’ll see what it’s about.
SA- Do you remember your first hockey fight? Who was it against and how did it go?
I remember it well, the guy’s name escapes me though. My teammates were telling me to just grab someone that’s playing physical. So I started to chase this guy around who was a good player, and playing physical and I was telling him to drop the gloves, and at first he didn’t want to. At this time, it was training camp where everyone was kind of intertwined and I just grabbed him and started to throw some punches. I felt bad, because later on, we were eating lunch and he had a black eye. So I went and apologised to him! So after that I realised it was something I could use to my advantage, give myself space on the ice, and stand up for my teammates. It’s always been something that I’ve been proud to do, and willing to do.
A preseason fight with Oilers Zack Stortini (Image courtesy of Vancouver Canucks)
SA- I know a lot of players get pigeon holed into fighting. Did you see fighting as a way to make it into the NHL?
Yeah, I guess after a couple of years it was definitely a way to help me and a trait that not everybody had, I did it fairly well and it became part of my game. So I guess, in a way I figured having the toughness with the ability to play the game that it could help me in the long run.
SA- You were drafted in the third round of the 2003 NHL entry draft by the St. Louis Blues, could you describe that day and how it felt?
It was a crazy day. My agent flew us down to the draft, he didn’t know exactly which round I was going to go in but he said I would probably go in the top three rounds, as that’s when they would normally fly players down to the draft.
The first day was full of interviews, you are talking to all the teams so that they can get a feel for you, and it’s nerve-wracking as you are sitting in a room full of ex NHL’ers, GM’s and owners.
My parents were unable to make it, but they sent my grandparents with me, so that was special to have my ‘nanny’ and ‘bumpa’ which we call them. They had a great time, we had a meal the night before. The day of the draft we were sitting there, taking it all in. Then my name got called by the Blues, and it was such a relief, I gave my grandparents a big hug and kiss and thanked them for coming. It was such a surreal moment, and then there was more interviews and pictures. It was a really special day. The St. Louis Blues had a part that evening and we went out on the town even though I was under age, and I was taking shots with guys who I was punching in the face previously!
Drafted 88th overall by the St. Louis Blues in 2003 (Image courtesy of Getty Images)
SA- You featured in a game with the Vancouver Canucks in 2007. How did it feel? Do you remember much about that game?
It was quite a story. I was with St. Louis but they then traded me to Vancouver, and I ended up going to training camp there, but they sent me back down to the minors, and we were travelling to go and play against Peoria. I was a little nervous, and wanted to show them what they were missing. We landed at Chicago airport, and were about to get a bus when the coach calls me over with a straight face, and I was like “Oh boy, what did I do?!” He congratulated me and said that I was going up to play for Vancouver against Dallas tomorrow. I was taken aback, I couldn’t sleep that night at all. We got to the airport and flew to Dallas and I’m waiting for my bags, but the hockey gear never showed up, just my sticks. I called any contact that I had, asking for hockey gear. I went to the rink, met a few guys, and missed the pre-game skate because of my gear.
At the time I was the seventh defenceman because there was an injury, so I wasn’t sure if I was going to play. They managed to put a kit together for me. I went out for warmup, and thought this could never happen again, so just make the most of it. They guy who was injured skated by me and said “Make sure you are ready kid, because I can’t go” Then it really set in, we had a D and goalie meeting before the game and Roberto Luongo looks at me and says, “Hey kid, if I get the puck, get the hell away from me, I’ll get it to you.”
I ended up playing 13 minutes. The coach kept tapping me on the shoulder and I was like, “Really? Are you sure?” I tried to fight a couple of guys, but it was a close game so they didn’t need to fight. We lost the game in a shootout. The best part was speaking to my parents after the game and telling them all about it.
SA- How did you feel when you looked around the locker room and saw the likes of the Sedin twins, Markus Naslund and Trevor Linden sat there?
You have a tonne of respect for the guys after seeing them on TV, hearing their interviews and seeing them on highlights. My brother actually played with Markus Naslund in Pittsburgh so we had a little bit of a connection. He remembered my brother and spoke to me about him, Naslund was a great guy. I had a tonne of respect for them all as they were really welcoming, they came over and shook my hand, and congratulated me. Previously, other camps that I had gone to, it didn’t feel that way at all, but everyone in Vancouver was really good to me.
First game as a Canuck in 2007 (Image courtesy of the Vancouver Canucks)
SA- What do you feel has stopped you from gaining further games in the NHL?
That’s a god question. It’s a very small window of opportunity that you get. Sometime sit comes down to injuries and getting my chance how I did. I ended up breaking my jaw a couple of weeks after I got called up, and they ended up having some more injuries, so I guess I missed my window, I could have gotten called up in that time, but obviously with a broken jaw you can’t do much. I was out 6-8 weeks with that.
After that they get the younger guys coming through. You probably have 2-3 years to showcase yourself. I ended up going to the Carolina Hurricanes organisation, they were great. Training camp was a really nervous time for me, I was highly nervous. I think the players who can overcome nerves, and perform how they should they are the guys that make it.
SA- How about opponents – was there a guy on the ice that you ever didn’t want to go up against or that could be considered the toughest guy you had to play against?
There was definitely a few of those guys. Steve Macintyre was one, he was a massive man, and I ended up fighting him although I really didn’t want to. He took a liberty on my teammate, so I had to show the teammates that he couldn’t do that and get away with it. He was respectful about it.
Another guy was Brian McGratton. He’s a tough looking guy, an intimidating man. There were a load of guys I had a tonne of respect for. Many guys who had played in the NHL, but had been sent down to the minors. They were really good around the locker room and great to play against too.
Part two of the interview will see Zack talk about his time in the UK, fighting former teammate Leigh Salters, off-ice fight preparation, and the mental health aspects of fighting and the toll it takes on the body.
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
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Follow the author on Twitter – @cliffy94
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