Fitzpatrick On Bob Matthews Show Thursday

[Ripper]

Rochester, July 8 -- Newest Florida Panthers’ signee Rory Fitzpatrick will be a guest on the Bob Matthews Show on Thursday, July 10th. He will talk hockey at 7:15 p.m. on WHAM 1180 AM and wham1180.com.

Fitzpatrick signed with the National Hockey League team on July 3rd. The 34-year-old defenseman joins the Panthers’ organization after splitting the 2007-08 season with the Philadelphia Flyers and Phantoms. In 19 games at the NHL level, Fitzpatrick recorded one assist and 11 PIM while picking up five points (1+4) and 24 penalty minutes in 19 American Hockey League contests.

Prior to his one-year stint in Philadelphia, Fitzpatrick spent the 2006-07 season with the Vancouver Canucks, collecting seven points (1+6) and 46 PIM in 58 games. Fitzpatrick finished third in All-Star Game voting for defensemen in the Western Conference with 550,177 votes, falling 23,000 votes shy of second place Nicklas Lidström, winner of five Norris Trophies and four Stanley Cups.

The Rochester native is likely to return to play in his hometown after spending parts of three seasons (2001-03, 2004-05) registering 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points in 121 games in the red, white and blue.

During the 2001-02 season, Fitzpatrick made history as he became the first Rochester native to score a goal for the Amerks. In the playoffs, he led all Amerk defensemen in postseason points and was tied for third on the team. Fitzpatrick finished his first season with the Amerks with 12 points (4+ in 60 games and was named the co-winner of the McCulloch Trophy for his service to the Rochester community.

The veteran defenseman recorded his best season in Rochester the following year, notching 16 points (5+11) in 41 games while skating in 36 games with Buffalo. After playing the entire 2003-04 season with the Sabres, Fitzpatrick completed his third stint in Rochester in 2004-05, registering two points (1+1) in 20 games.

Originally drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second-round (47th overall) in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, Fitzpatrick made his professional debut with Fredericton in the postseason and helped lead the Baby Habs to the Calder Cup Finals. Before turning pro, Fitzpatrick served as a member of Team USA at the 1995 World Junior Championships.

In 287 career NHL games with Montreal, St. Louis, Nashville, Buffalo, Vancouver and Philadelphia, “Fitzie” has compiled 35 points (10+25) and six points (1+5) in 20 postseason contests. At the AHL level, Fitzpatrick has picked up 138 points (35+103) in 384 career games with Fredericton, Worcester, Hamilton, Rochester and Philadelphia.