Staten Island Advance

Rollin'

New Dorp High School alum Nick Fotiu grew up rollerblading around the streets of South Beach before going on to become one of the NHL's most brutalizing enforcers.

The 13-year NHLer wasn't known for his scoring prowess, tallying 137 points in 646 career games, but he was a respected fan favorite who was renowned for defending smaller teammates on the ice.

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Staten Island Advance

Brawler

At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, the bruising left winger garnered a well-deserved reputation around the league for his ability to take a fight.

After all, Fotiu was a former Golden Gloves boxer.

But his NHL career wasn't always a guarantee.

In fact, the Staten Islander didn't even pick up a hockey stick until the age of 15. when he traded in his roller blades for some ice skates.

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Staten Island Advance

Staying Home

After going undrafted, he entered the professional hockey world as a member of the World Hockey Association's New England Whalers from 1974-75.

Fotiu spent two years in the WHA before inking an NHL deal with his hometown New York Rangers to play at Madison Square Garden.

The deal made Fotiu the first ever NYC-born Ranger, and he remained with the team through the 1979 season, in which they reached the Stanley Cup Final.

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Staten Island Advance

Fan Favorite

Following a losing effort in the SCF, Fotiu was drafted away from the NYR by an incoming expansion team -- the Hartford Whalers.

A pair of seasons in Hartford was followed up by a return trip home after the Rangers pulled the strings on a deal to bring the fan-favorite back.

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Staten Island Advance

Puck Toss

The Garden faithful were thankful for the return of their 'goon' on the ice -- and he reciprocated the affection.

Fotiu was known for tossing pucks up into the stands during warmups -- launching them all the way up to the "blue seats", the least expensive tickets where pucks normally don't travel, and the same seats he sat in as a kid growing up in New York.

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Staten Island Advance

Recognized and Respected

In 1982, he received the Boucher Trophy, awarded to the team's most popular player.

That same year, he was named the Advance Sportsman of the Year.

In '83 he received the "Crumb Bum" Award, given to the player who demonstrated outstanding community service.

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Staten Island Advance

Hanging it Up

All in all, Fotiu spent eight seasons with the Rangers, and when he was traded to Calgary in 1986 he left with nearly 1,000 penalty minutes under his belt -- sixth on the team's all-time list.

He spent two seasons with the Flames, returning to the Cup Final in his first, before finishing his career with a pair of one-year stints in Philadelphia and Edmonton.

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Staten Island Advance

Local Legend

After retiring, he was elected to the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, and moved into the coaching world.

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Staten Island Advance

Coach Fotiu

Fotiu served as an assistant with the NYR's American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack.

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Staten Island Advance

Still a Ranger

Currently, the 66-year-old Fotiu works as a member of the team's public relations department.

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