Professional Hockey Player. For twelve seasons (1952 to 1964), he played at the right-wing position in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Red Wings. The younger brother of Zellio Zoppazzini who also became an accomplished NHL player, he began his lengthy association with the sport in 1948 playing for the St. Catharines Teepees of the OHA. Over the next four years, he enjoyed a successful period with both the Barrie Flyers (OHA) and the Hershey Bears (AHL). He was promoted to the NHL with Boston during the 1952-1953 season and scored 10 goals with 13 assists in his rookie year. After stints with Chicago and Detroit, he was reacquired by the Bruins during the 1955-1956 season and put together a seven-year streak in which he topped the 10 goal mark (1956 to 1963). Acknowledged as a tough-minded player throughout the league, he was especially effective on penalty-killing which included being a short-handed scoring threat. In 783 regular season NHL games, he compiled 163 goals with 244 assists and earned All-Star status three-times (1955, 1958 and 1959). He extended his playing career an additional four years (1964 to 1968) with the Pittsburgh Hornets (AHL), Los Angeles Blades (WHL) and Port Huron Flags (IHL), before moving onto coaching in the Minor Leagues. He received Coach of the Year honors during the 1975-1976 season, when he guided the Sudbury Wolves to a 47 win 11 loss 8 tie record. In addition, Toppazzini was the proprietor of a sports bar and restaurant.
Professional Hockey Player. For twelve seasons (1952 to 1964), he played at the right-wing position in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Red Wings. The younger brother of Zellio Zoppazzini who also became an accomplished NHL player, he began his lengthy association with the sport in 1948 playing for the St. Catharines Teepees of the OHA. Over the next four years, he enjoyed a successful period with both the Barrie Flyers (OHA) and the Hershey Bears (AHL). He was promoted to the NHL with Boston during the 1952-1953 season and scored 10 goals with 13 assists in his rookie year. After stints with Chicago and Detroit, he was reacquired by the Bruins during the 1955-1956 season and put together a seven-year streak in which he topped the 10 goal mark (1956 to 1963). Acknowledged as a tough-minded player throughout the league, he was especially effective on penalty-killing which included being a short-handed scoring threat. In 783 regular season NHL games, he compiled 163 goals with 244 assists and earned All-Star status three-times (1955, 1958 and 1959). He extended his playing career an additional four years (1964 to 1968) with the Pittsburgh Hornets (AHL), Los Angeles Blades (WHL) and Port Huron Flags (IHL), before moving onto coaching in the Minor Leagues. He received Coach of the Year honors during the 1975-1976 season, when he guided the Sudbury Wolves to a 47 win 11 loss 8 tie record. In addition, Toppazzini was the proprietor of a sports bar and restaurant.
Bio by: C.S.
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