CIAVAGLIA CALLS IT A CAREER

AUBURN HILLS, MICH.-The Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League had to say good-bye to one of their own today, when Peter Ciavaglia announced his retirement. Ciavaglia will remain within the organization as an advance scout and coaching consultant. With Ciavaglia's retirement, no member of the inaugural season team remains.

Ciavaglia, 31, finds himself atop of virtually all of the offensive categories for the Vipers. The Buffalo, NY native, played a total of 355 games with the Vipers, scoring 357 points (108G-249A). Ciavaglia's career in Detroit spanned over six seasons, beginning with the expansion 1994-95 team. He holds the team record with 59 assists during the first season and led the team in the same category the following season with 56 helpers, while leading the Vipers in scoring in the playoffs during the 1995-96 year.

He tied for team point and assist highs during the championship season of 1996-97, with 72 points (21G-51A). Ciavaglia was the leading scorer during the postseason of 1997 and was awarded the Turner Cup Most Valuable Player Award. He ranks in Vipers team history in the following categories:

Regular Season:

Games played (355), Ranks 1st

Points (357), Ranks 1st

Goals (108), Ranks 1st

Assists (249), Ranks 1st

Plus/Minus (+66), Ranks 4th

Power-Play goals (38), Ranks 2nd

Most Assists in a season (59) 1994-95, Ranks 1st

Game-winning goals (15), Ranks 1st

Most Points in a season (81) 1994-95, Ranks 2nd

Consecutive games scoring a goal (nine) 9/29-11/12/95, Tied for 3rd

Shots (718), Ranks 1st

Most Assists in a game (five) 10/9/97, Tied for 1st

Most Points in a game (five) 10/9/97, Tied for 2nd

Playoffs:

Games played (72), Tied for 1st Goals (30), Ranks 1st

Assists (50), Ranks 1st Points (80), Ranks 1st

Plus/Minus (+12), Ranks 3rd Short-handed goals (two), Tied for 2nd

Game-winning goals (5), Ranks 1st Shots (181), Ranks 1st

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Ciavaglia was drafted by the Calgary Flames (8th pick, 7th round) in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his college years at Harvard University, majoring in economics. He was a member of the 1989 NCAA Championship team, while being a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award during his senior season. He led the ECAC in scoring during the 1990-91 season with 62 points (24G-38A). He closed out his college career playing in 93 games and scoring 194 points (66G-128A) for the Crimson, before signing as a free agent with the Buffalo Sabres. Ciavaglia split the next two seasons (1991-92 - 1992-93) between Buffalo and their American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester, NY. While with Rochester, he was selected by the team as the Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year and the Sportsmanship Award. During the 1993-94 season, Ciavaglia represented the United States at the Olympics and at the National Championships, before finishing out the season in Sweden.

Ciavaglia has been one of, if the not the most-recognized Viper in team history. His commitment to The Organization and to the community has been immeasurable. He has been active in many charitable functions, giving up much of his time to brighten another's day.

"The success the Detroit Vipers have had is a direct result of Peter Ciavaglia," said Senior VP of Hockey Operations for Palace Sports and Entertainment and Lightning GM Rick Dudley. "He has always represented what we wanted to have in a Vipers uniform - work ethic, grit and a high-character kind-of-guy. He will be successful in whatever he chooses to do. That is why we wanted to, and are excited about being able to keep him, within the organization."

While Ciavaglia is going to miss lacing up the skates come game time, he looks forward to this new step in his career and being able to remain within the Detroit Organization. "This is a bittersweet feeling," Ciavaglia noted.

"I have loved playing here at The Palace and for such a first class operation like the Vipers. I would like to thank the organization, my teammates, the fans, the staff, and the media for making my career here in Detroit a very enjoyable one. I'm happy to remain part of the organization and look forward to assisting the development of young talent.

"We are very fortunate to keep Peter on with us on a consulting and scouting basis," Vipers GM Grant Sonier added. "He has been an intricate part of the Vipers organization and we feel he has a lot to lend in the development of players. Having coached against Peter, it is fair to say that he is one of the smartest and most dangerous players that I've ever coached against."

- Detroit Vipers. Pure Hockey. Your Hockey. -

(This article has been edited from its original posting)

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES PETE

January 16, 2001

As I sit on a flight from Detroit to Houston, the first leg of my travels to Los Angeles, I can't help but think back to January 6 when the Detroit Vipers honored Peter Ciavaglia's contribution to their club, and the Detroit community, by retiring his jersey in a fitting, and touching, on-ice ceremony.

In addition to his family's presence (parents, sister and brother-in-law), the original Detroit Viper was honored in words by ex-teammates, including current assistant coach Bobby Jay, ex-Detroit and Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Steve Ludzik as well as other persons involved in the organization both in person and via video message.

“They left me in the dark, they wanted me to be surprised,” Ciavaglia said about the evening's events. “They went through a lot, taking the time to do all those videos. It was a special evening but that just made it a little more special.”

Ciavaglia's decision to retire at the start of the 2000-01 season was not an easy one but, given his lingering injuries, it was in his best interest, as well as the best interest for his family. Following his initial injury in the 1997 Turner Cup playoffs, Ciavaglia saw action in only 35 games the following season, 59 games in 1998-99 and 41 games last year.

“Unfortunately, sometimes your body lets you know when you've had enough. The last three years of my career were really battles. Ever since we won that championship (1996-97) and I injured myself, it was always a struggle to stay healthy. Also, when I was playing I wasn't playing at the level I wanted to be at. So the decision was difficult, but I just knew it was the right thing to do at the right time.”

Yet, despite his reduced play, his natural abilities as a playmaker allowed him to become the franchise's all-time leader in numerous categories including games played (355), total points (357), goals (108) and assists (249).

“One of the things that come to mind when people talk about Peter Ciavaglia is how smart of a hockey player he was,” Vipers GM Grant Sonier remarked. “He was obviously a student of the game. We are sorry to see him leave (the game). It's never easy to retire but certainly we are very fortunate to keep him on.”

Since his retirement, Ciavaglia has been keeping himself busy in his new career as a financial investment councilor as well as offensive consultant for the Vipers. In his new financial career, he has been helping other professional athletes secure their future. It's his way of giving back to the game that gave him so much.

“It’s a subject matter I have always enjoyed for two reasons,” Ciavaglia remarked. “One, I wanted to work with athletes and give something back to the game. I felt there was a need to help athletes. Secondly, I just wanted to jump right in and create that new challenge in my life.”

In addition to his stellar career with the IHL’s Vipers, Ciavaglia takes with him numerous accolades including being a member of Harvard University’s 1989 NCAA championship team; leading the ECAC in scoring for the 1990-91 season with 63 points (24g-39a); being named finalist for the NCAA’s Hobey Baker Award in his senior year at Harvard; being selected in the 7th round of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft with the Calgary Flame’s 8th pick; being signed as a free agent by the Buffalo Sabres and becoming the first local player to see action in a Sabres uniform (August 1991); winning the Rochester American's MVP, Rookie of the Year and Sportsman of the Year awards in his first season pro (91-92); and of course, being a part of the Detroit Vipers 1997 Turner Cup Championship team during which he earned the league’s Most Valuable Player for his postseason play.

During his college and professional career, Ciavaglia was not only a leader on the ice, earning the respect of teammates and opponents alike, but his life off the ice was above reproach as well. Spending countless hours of his personal time giving back to the community, Ciavaglia always looked at it as his duty to the fans.

“I think it's important for any athletic team to do community work. The fans want to be part of the game and they want to feel like they are important. I think (the fans) want to have some rapport with the players and if you can provide a positive effect with the charity work, that is very important. If you can give something back to the community you should do that. I think it is a responsibility.”

There is no more fitting Vipers player to have his jersey hung in the rafters of The Palace of Auburn Hills than Pete Ciavaglia. His number 12 sweater will hang for future seasons as a constant reminder of what each and every Vipers player can accomplish with hard work, determination and selfless giving of their time. It will forever remain aloft the arena's cold floor with other banners commemorating the early success of the Vipers franchise, the Detroit Pistons' glory years in the NBA, as well as ex-basketball greats to wear the Pistons jersey.

He might not have played as long as another Detroit hockey great, Steve Yzerman, but to Vipers fans and Palace rinkrats his contributions meant just as much. That is not to take anything away from Yzerman's accomplishments, as he has given so much of his time and energy to Detroit as well. But as far as this organization goes, Pete was their franchise player.

You may be gone from the game Pete, but you are hardly forgotten. Thanks for the memories.

(This article was originally posted on the Vipers web site. It has been slightly modified from its original posting)