Attack Alumni Simmonds & Giordano Play 1,000th NHL Game
The Owen Sound Attack would like to congratulate Alumni Wayne Simmonds and Mark Giordano on playing their 1,000 National Hockey League games this past Saturday night. Simmonds played in front of the Toronto faithful against the Vancouver Canucks while Giordano was on the road with the Kraken facing the Washington Capitals.
“Having Wayne and Mark play game number 1,000 on the same night is hockey karma at its finest and one of the proudest moments of my career having played a role in opening a door for you and watching you simply tear it off the hinges” said former Attack General Manager Mike Futa. “Players like Simmer and Gio – they’re easy to cast your faith in because of the quality of their parents, their character and their indescribable work ethic – they simply never cheat the game – and they never forget where they came from – I’m proud beyond words.”
Wayne Simmonds (Scarborough, Ont.)
Currently in his 14th NHL season, Simmonds was selected second overall by the Los Angeles Kings at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and has played for six different NHL clubs. He spent his first four NHL season with the Los Angeles Kings from 2008 to 2011. He then signed with Philadelphia Flyers prior to the 2011-12 season, playing six-plus seasons with the club, five as an assistant captain, before being traded to the Nashville Predators at the end of the 2018-19 season. He then joined the New Jersey Devils in the off-season, before being traded to the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline. He joined his current and hometown club the Toronto Maple Leafs prior to the 2020-21 season.
In 1,000 NHL regular season games Simmonds has register 262 goals, 259 assists for 521 points and 1,219 penalty minutes. His best seasons coming in 2013-14 and 2015-16 when he registered 60 points as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. Over his career he has also added eight goals and 14 assists in the playoffs.
“Reaching 1,000 games played in the NHL is an incredible milestone. It’s one nobody thinks of when they start their career” said current Attack General Manager Dale DeGray. “With the way Wayne has played every day it is an incredible accomplishment to reach. But I don’t think anyone in Owen Sound would be surprised Because of his determined effort night-in and night out as an Owen Sound Attacker. Congratulations Wayne on this accomplishment.”
Simmonds was selected by the Attack in the 6th round, 114th overall in the 2006 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, Simmonds was a point per game player in the OHL. In one and a half seasons with the Attack, Simmonds played in 95 games registering 40 goals, 48 assists for 88 points and 112 penalty minutes before being traded to the SOO Greyhounds at the trade deadline during the 2007-08 season. Simmonds went onto add another 16 goals and 20 assists in 31 games with the Greyhounds. In 18 OHL playoff games Wayne, had 6 goals and 10 assists.
“I remember meeting Simmer on the first morning of his first training camp with the Attack. Here was this enthusiastic, skinny kid, so full of confidence and energy” said Attack President Dr. Bob Severs. “When he was having his fitness test, I remarked that I found it hard to believe that anyone could skate on legs as thin as those! He came right back at me, telling me to just wait to see what he could do. I loved it!”
“Everyone immediately liked him. We just knew that Futes had selected a winner and that he would be successful. Who would believe that his success would lead to 1,000 NHL games and a place amongst the very best ever to play in Owen Sound. Congratulations, Wayne. We could not be prouder” added Dr. Severs.
Simmonds has also represented Canada on the international stage winning a gold medal at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, then at the IIHF Men’s World Hockey Championships in 2013 and 2017, taking home a silver medal in 2017.
Mark Giordano (Toronto, Ont.)
Currently in his 16th NHL season, Giordano went undrafted by the NHL eventually signing with the Calgary Flames as a free agent and spending 15 seasons from 2005 to 2021 with the organizations. Mark was an assistant captain for two seasons and then served as the team’s captain for eight seasons beginning in 2013-14. This past off-season he was picked by the expansion Seattle Kraken in the NHL Expansion Draft and quickly named the team’s first-ever captain.
In 1,000 NHL regular season games Gio has accumulated 149 goals, 383 assists for 532 points and 796 penalty minutes. His best season coming in 2018-19 when he was named the James Norris Trophy winner for the NHL’s top defenceman. He finished the season with 17 goals, 57 assists for 74 points and a very impressive plus-39 rating. The following season Mark was named the Mark Messier Leadership award winner at the 2020 NHL Awards. In the playoffs he has one goal and six assists in 23 playoff games.
Giordano played two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League after being signed as an 18-year-old free agent by the Attack prior to the 2002-03 season. In 133 regular season games, Giordano registered 32 goals and 65 assists for 97 points. In 11 playoff games he added two goals and six assists. In his rookie season. While with the Attack he was named the winner of the 2002-03 Harry Lumley Memorial Award as the team’s rookie of the year. At the 2003-04 annual Attack Awards Giordano took home Red Leckie Memorial Award as the member of the team that makes the largest contribution to the organization and shared the Dave McComb Memorial Award for leadership and perseverance with Patrick Jarrett.
“Mark Giordano, George to his teammates, was a once-in-a-franchise acquisition, coming to the Attack as an un-drafted 19-year-old and going on to be one of the best defensemen in the league at the time and in the history of the franchise” said Dr. Severs. “Mark never asked for anything to be given to him and has earned everything he has achieved. The franchise is more than proud of his incredible career and all of his achievements off the ice, in his community. He really epitomizes what our franchise is all about, high performance, competitiveness, self-motivation and good citizenship.”
Giordano has also represented Canada on the international stage, playing at the 2007 Spengler Cup and helping Canada win its 11th tournament title.
