By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
To further his hockey career and reach his fullest potential, Rory Fitzpatrick needed to leave Irondequoit at 17 to play major junior hockey in Canada.
The decision proved to be wise. He became a second-round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 1993, creating a path to the National Hockey League.
But in reaching the NHL, he also had a chance to bring his career full circle by coming home to play.
Having skated for four organizations and in 51 NHL games over his first six pro seasons, Fitzpatrick signed with the Buffalo Sabres in the summer of 2001. The idea was to finish out his career wearing the red, white and blue of his hometown Rochester Americans.
“When I first signed here in 2001, I thought I would play here until I retired,” he said.
Except he used his time with the Amerks to show the best of his NHL days were still ahead of him. He wound up playing 234 more NHL games for the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers between 2001-02 and 2007-08 before coming back to the Amerks for his final two seasons, 2008-09 and 2009-10.
On Friday night he was back on the ice of Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial one more time to be inducted into the Amerks Hall of Fame.
“It’s special,” Fitzpatrick said before the pre-game ceremonies. “It’s an emotional night for us as a family. Growing up here, you want to be a Rochester American.”
Fitzpatrick played 211 games over parts of six seasons for the Amerks, producing 14 goals, 36 assists and 50 points. He won the team’s McCulloch Trophy for community service four times and was named the team’s Man of the Year twice.
“As a teenager you hope and have these wild dreams,” Fitzpatrick said.
He made those dreams come true. His career included 157 games with the Sabres, including 11 during their run to the Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals in 2005-06.
He thanked his former teammates, coaches, support staff and front office personnel, his friends and the fans, and then gave special thanks to his wife, Tracey, children and parents.
“I am honored to have been part of this incredible hockey community,” Fitzpatrick told the crowd.
While he retired from hockey in 2010, he was back in the public spotlight the previous two years as Town Supervisor for Irondequoit, where he has lived his entire life.
In 2021, as a first-time candidate for any public office, Fitzpatrick won the election for Irondequoit Town Supervisor as a Republican, ousting the Joseph Morelle Jr. He lost this past November in a re-election bid to Andre Evans.
During his two years in office, he considered himself a public servant, not a politician, however.
“I think I have as much hatred toward politicians as anyone, and I was one of them,” he said. “But I cared about the community and wanted to manage it better than it was being manage.”
One of his most vivid memories as a member of his hometown team was his first game wearing the Amerks sweater, in October of 2001.
“It was shortly after 9/11 and the flag was draped through the entire ice,” Fitzpatrick said. “The arena was full and you felt part of something special.”
On Friday night, in joining the Amerks Hall of Fame, he was again part of something very special.
As many here may recall, and by his own admission last night, his final stint with the Amerks did not end well. ‘I left angry and injured’ he said. And the fans were pretty tough on him.
That being said, he is a worthy addition to the HOF. He gave it his all wearing the Crest and should be remembered more for the good he accomplished. His induction was the highlight of an otherwise forgettable evening.
Also, I think it was the height of lack of respect when the Sens skated out on the ice during his speech. Why did they do that? Why was it allowed? Pure classless move by them.
Great job Kevin as usual!