Drew Fata

Drew Richard Fata (born July 28, 1983) is a Canadian former professional hockey defenceman. He is the younger brother of Rico Fata, who has played for several NHL teams over the course of his career.

Drew Fata
Fata with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2006
Born (1983-07-28) July 28, 1983
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for New York Islanders
Sparta Sarpsborg
Sheffield Steelers
NHL Draft 86th overall, 2001
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 2003–2014

Playing career

As a youth, Fata played in the 1997 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.[1]

Fata was drafted 86th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Without playing a game for the Penguins, Fata signed as a free agent with the New York Islanders on February 4, 2007. When Islanders defenceman Sean Hill received a 20-game suspension on April 20, 2007 after testing positive performance-enhancing drugs, Drew Fata was called upon to take his place in the lineup. He then made his playoff debut against the Buffalo Sabres on April 20, though the Islanders lost the game and were eliminated from the postseason.

On July 2, 2008, Fata signed with the Phoenix Coyotes. Fata started the 2008–09 season with the Coyotes affiliate, San Antonio Rampage, before he was traded by the Coyotes to the Ottawa Senators for Alexander Nikulin on November 3, 2008.[2]

On July 7, 2009, Fata signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Boston Bruins.[3]

After coming off a season that involved ankle surgery, Fata did not receive any offers for four months. Eventually Fata was invited to return to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the team where he started his professional career.[4] After one game with the Penguins, Fata was released from his professional tryout contract on November 1, 2010.[5]

On November 1, 2010 Fata signed with Sparta Sarpsborg of the Norwegian GET-ligaen[6]

After a further three seasons abroad with HC Asiago and the Sheffield Steelers, Fata returned to North America to sign a one-year free agent contract with the Arizona Sundogs of the CHL on August 5, 2014.[7] Upon the merge of the CHL into the ECHL, Fata opted to retire from professional hockey and accepted a General Manager role with the Batchewana Attack in the Canadian International Hockey League.

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 St. Thomas Stars WOHL 44 6 14 20 55 5 0 0 0 2
1999–2000 St. Michael's Buzzers OPJHL 49 9 18 27 144 — — — — —
2000–01 Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHL 58 5 15 20 134 18 1 3 4 26
2001–02 Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHL 67 7 21 28 175 15 1 9 10 38
2002–03 Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHL 35 6 13 19 66 — — — — —
2002–03 Kingston Frontenacs OHL 34 2 17 19 64 — — — — —
2003–04 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 23 1 2 3 26 — — — — —
2003–04 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 28 6 10 16 61 4 0 0 0 8
2004–05 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 22 0 1 1 55 — — — — —
2004–05 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 32 1 1 2 88 5 0 1 1 37
2005–06 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 34 10 8 18 145 — — — — —
2005–06 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 28 1 12 13 98 11 0 0 0 16
2006–07 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 64 3 7 10 185 — — — — —
2006–07 New York Islanders NHL 3 1 0 1 5 1 0 0 0 0
2007–08 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 71 3 11 14 197 — — — — —
2007–08 New York Islanders NHL 5 0 1 1 4 — — — — —
2008–09 San Antonio Rampage AHL 7 0 0 0 6 — — — — —
2008–09 Binghamton Senators AHL 68 7 9 16 135 — — — — —
2009–10 Providence Bruins AHL 27 1 3 4 47 — — — — —
2010–11 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2010–11 Sparta Warriors NOR 24 2 7 9 47 14 0 2 2 38
2011–12 HC Asiago ITA 42 3 11 14 58 4 0 0 0 8
2012–13 Sheffield Steelers EIHL 51 8 19 27 121 2 1 0 1 2
2013–14 Sheffield Steelers EIHL 50 9 14 23 95 4 1 0 1 8
AHL totals 321 17 45 62 784 16 0 1 1 53
NHL totals 8 1 1 2 9 1 0 0 0 0

References
  1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  2. "Coyotes acquire Nikulin from Senators". Coyotes.nhl.com. 2008-11-03. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  3. Bruins sign Drew Fata and Dany Sabourin
  4. Jonathan Bombulie (2006-09-26). "Fata looking to rekindle career with Penguins". Citizensvoice.com. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  5. "PETERSEN REASSIGNED TO WHEELING; FATA RELEASED". wbspenguins.com. 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  6. "Sparta signerer NHL-back" (in Norwegian). Sparta.no. 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  7. "Sundogs add veteran experience with Drew Fata". Arizona Sundogs. 2014-08-05. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
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