Joel Otto

Lore & Background

Otto played college hockey at Bemidji State, where he captained the team to an undefeated 31–0 season and a Division II national championship in 1983–84. He was never drafted and signed with the Flames after his agent contacted general manager Cliff Fletcher. Otto made his NHL debut on November 23, 1984, against the St. Louis Blues, and scored his first goal two nights later against the Los Angeles Kings. Coach Bob Johnson discovered Otto's niche as a shutdown forward when he neutralized Marcel Dionne of the Kings. Otto became famous for shadowing Mark Messier during the Battle of Alberta rivalry, later remarking that Messier was the reason he was in the NHL because the Flames needed a big center who could match him physically, especially in the faceoff circle. He scored the series-winning goal in overtime of Game 7 against the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the 1989 playoffs, and added 19 points in 22 playoff games as the Flames won their first Stanley Cup. After his contract expired in 1995, Otto signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he helped the team reach the 1997 Stanley Cup Final. He retired after the 1997–98 season.

Reader's Guide

Otto's significance lies in his role as an elite defensive center who thrived without being drafted. He was a two-time finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best defensive forward, and was considered one of the league's top faceoff men. His confrontations with Mark Messier defined the peak of the Flames–Oilers rivalry, and his overtime goal in the 1989 playoffs helped secure Calgary's first Stanley Cup. Internationally, Otto captained the United States to the final of the 1991 Canada Cup and was a member of the team that won the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996. He also played in the 1998 Winter Olympics. After his playing career, Otto became an assistant coach for the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League, winning a league championship in 2010. His legacy includes being the first player to have his jersey retired by Bemidji State and his induction into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.

Did You Know?

• Otto was never drafted and signed with the Flames as a free agent in 1984.
• Otto scored the series-winning overtime goal in Game 7 against the Vancouver Canucks in the 1989 playoffs.