Max Pacioretty grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut, with his parents and two sisters. Before him, no one played hockey in the Pacioretty family. Little Max started skating when his mom took him to a free practice. One day, they saw a poster on the wall from a hockey team looking for players. “I had no business being there, I had no talent”, recalls Max. In fact, he was so bad that he got called for a penalty on his first shift and the referee had to escort him over to the box; he couldn’t even skate by himself. Thankfully, things have changed!
The Hockey Years
At the age of 16, Max Pacioretty joined the Taft High School Rhinos, in Watertown, Connecticut.
After playing two years with the Rhinos, the young American joined the Sioux City Musketeers, a United States Hockey League team. He played 60 games during the 2006-2007 season and registered 63 points, earning him the Rookie of the year title, and a spot on the All Star Rookie Team.
After being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 2007, Pacioretty attended Michigan University. It’s while playing with the Wolverines that the forward entered the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. His performances earned him recognition: The Rookie of the year title, and a chance to participate in the All Star Game with the rookies, as he did in the USHL.
In summer 2008, Pacioretty inked his first professional contract with the Montreal Canadiens. He started the 2008-2009 campaign with the Hamilton Bulldogs. A few months later, January 2nd 2009, Max played his first NHL game, against the New Jersey Devils. He scored the lone goal for the Canadiens that night. He played about 30 games with the Habs before being sent back down to the AHL.
Number 67 started the 2009-2010 season in Montreal, where he scored three goals and 11 assists. After 54 games, he was sent back down to Hamilton where he played his first playoff games in the AHL.
In September 2011, the forward showed up for Habs training camp but didn’t make the cut so he started the year with the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Canadiens called him up in mid-December. He racked up 32 points in 27 games before the “Chara Hit.” Pacioretty suffered a severe concussion and fractured neck after Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara rammed his head into a stanchion. Max was out of the lineup for the rest of the season.
In June 2011, the American signed a two-year contract worth 3.25M$ with the Montreal Canadiens. Many questioned whether Pacioretty’s injuries would slow down his hockey career, but he silenced the critics with his best season in 2011-2012 with 33 goals, 65 points, in 79 matches. He also became the first American-born Hab to score 30 goals in one season. His great comeback was capped off with the Bill Masterton trophy, awarded to the player that best exemplifies qualities of perseverance, team spirit and dedication to the sport of hockey.
In August 2012, Pacioretty inked a six year contract extension worth 27,5M$.
Hockey Firsts
First Game: January 2nd 2009 against the New Jersey Devils
First Goal: January 2nd 2009 against the New Jersey Devils
First Assist: January 2nd against the New Jersey Devils
Canadiens First Game: January 2nd against the New Jersey Devils
Canadiens First Goal: January 2nd against the New Jersey Devils
Canadiens First Assist: January 2nd against the New Jersey Devils
Personal Life
Pacioretty married professional tennis player Katia Afinogenov in July 2011. That name might ring a bell; Katia is Maxim Afinogenov’s sister. Maxim played 10 NHL seasons, nine of them with the Buffalo Sabres.
Random/Fun Facts
When he was younger, Max didn’t have very good eating habits. The fact that his dorm room was steps away from a Wendy’s didn’t help either. Lucky for him, Katia, who was his girlfriend at the time, kept a watchful eye on him and prepared healthy meals. Max doesn’t eat any gluten, and he avoids pasta and bread.
Max Pacioretty was always the smallest guy on the teams he played for as a child. At 13 years old, he was 5’5”. Fortunately he had a growth spurt sprouting up six inches in two years.
He says Erik Cole is the type of player he wants to resemble and wants to emulate his career to his.
Max Pacioretty and wife Katia (Photo Montreal General Hospital)
After his injury, Max initiated the Max Pacioretty Foundation with the goal of raising funds to help provide the Montreal General Hospital with an Advanced Functional MRI for their Traumatic Brain Injury Centre.
How involved was Montreal Canadiens Max Pacioretty in the planning of his wedding day? “I did absolutely nothing. I just showed up and made sure I was wearing the right tux. That was about it.”
