Aaron Volpatti

Playing career

Aaron Volpatti grew up in Revelstoke, British Columbia, and started his junior hockey career with the Vernon Vipers in the BCHL. As a rookie in 2003-04, he put up 5 points on 1 goal and 4 assists across 55 games. The next season, his production jumped to 18 points, with 6 goals and 12 assists, over 57 games. In the 2005 BCHL playoffs, the Vipers made it to the Fred Page Cup Finals but lost to the Surrey Eagles. That summer, a team camping trip turned tragic when a bonfire accident left Volpatti with burns covering more than 35% of his body, including his abdomen and face. He spent five months in the hospital, and doctors warned he might not play for two years—if ever—with the use of his right hand especially uncertain. Defying that prognosis, he was back in the lineup for the start of the 2005-06 season, though muscle injuries held him to just 25 of the team's 60 games. After a long recovery from those setbacks, he finished with 6 goals and 14 points.

After three years in junior hockey, Volpatti moved to the college ranks with the Brown Bears in ECAC Hockey, part of the NCAA. He studied human biology at Brown and served as team captain throughout his four-year college career. In 2009-10, he posted a college-best 32 points in 37 games, which caught the attention of the Vancouver Canucks. On March 22, 2010, he signed as a free agent with the Canucks and was sent to their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, for the rest of the 2009-10 season. There, he notched 1 goal and 1 assist in 8 games.

Volpatti attended his first NHL training camp with the Canucks in September 2010 but was reassigned to the Moose to start the 2010-11 season. He got his first NHL call-up on December 16 and made his debut two nights later at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his second NHL game, on December 20, 2010, he scored his first NHL goal against St. Louis Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak. He wrapped up his rookie pro season with 1 goal and 1 assist in 15 NHL games, plus 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) in 53 AHL games. He also added 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) over 12 AHL playoff games.