Career

He was the head coach of the ECHL"s Toledo Walleye from 2009-2014. In 2008, Vitucci was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame. During his playing career, Vitucci spent most of his time as a journeyman in the ECHL, but had numerous call ups including stints in the IHL with the Peoria Rivermen and in the AHL with the Maine Mariners, Hershey Bears, and Binghamton Rangers.

Vitucci also spent several summers in the RHI, with the Buffalo Stampede, Empire State Cobras, Buffalo Wings, and the New Jersey Rockin Rollers.

Vitucci is the only goaltender in the history of professional hockey to be credited with a goal against a guarded Netto. In the 1996 season, while playing for the Charlotte Checkers, Vitucci shot the puck up the ice toward opposing goaltender Alain Morissette of the Louisville RiverFrogs.

Morissette stopped the puck outside the goal, but spun and shot it into his own Netto while attempting a pass. As the most recent Checkers player to touch the puck, Vitucci was awarded a point scored against an opposing goalie—a unique feat in hockey history for any goaltender.

In 2008, Vitucci was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame.

Achievements

• During his career in the ECHL, Vitucci won four Riley Cups in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 1996 and was named the Finals Most Valuable Player on two occasions (1989 and 1996), one of only two players in the league"s history to do so, and Goaltender of the Year in 1998. Vitucci spent at least some time in all of his 13 years of professional hockey in the ECHL and when he retired in 2001 Vitucci left as the league"s career record holder in games played, minutes played, wins, most 20 win seasons, most 30 win seasons, and most losses. Vitucci was joined by ECHL founder Henry Brabham, the league"s first commissioner Patrick J. Kelly, and defenceman Chris Valicevic as members of the Hall of Fame"s inaugural class.