Docs Menu

Joel Otto

Born:Oct. 29, 1961Draft:Undrafted
Hometown:Elk River, MN, USAPosition:C
Known For:Defensive centerShoots/Catches:Right
National Team:USA

Joel Stuart Otto (born October 29, 1961) is an American former professional ice hockey center in the NHL for the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers. An undrafted player, Otto signed with the Flames as a free agent in 1984 and played 11 seasons with the team. He was one of the top defensive centers in the league during his career and one of the NHL’s best at faceoffs; Otto was a two-time finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy. He was known for his confrontations with Mark Messier as part of the Flames’ rivalry with the Edmonton Oilers and was a member of Calgary’s 1989 Stanley Cup championship winning team. He joined the Flyers in 1995, with whom he played three seasons.

Otto was a frequent member of the United States national team. He played in two World Championships and two Canada Cups, captaining the United States to the final in 1991. Otto was a member of the team that won the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996 and played in the 1998 Winter Olympics. He currently serves as an assistant coach of the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen, with whom he won the league championship in 2010.

Joel Otto
Joel Otto (Sergei ~ 5of7, CC BY-SA 2.0 – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0 – via Wikimedia Commons)

Joel Otto Statistics

Deeper Dive

Staff History

  • Calgary Hitmen (WHL)- Assistant Coach 2006-2021

Achievements

  • NAIA All-American 1981-1982
  • NCAA III First Team All-American (West) 1982-1983
  • NCAA III First Team All-American (West) 1983-1984
  • NHL Stanley Cup Champion 1988-1989
  • Canada Cup Runner-Up 1991-1992
  • NHL Top Defensive Forward (Selke Trophy) Finalist 1992-1993
  • NHL Top Defensive Forward (Selke Trophy) Finalist 1994-1995
  • World Cup Gold Medal 1996-1997

Sources