Education
Joe Vitale graduated from Christian Brothers College High School in Saint Louis, Missouri, where he was part of three state championships and two undefeated seasons.
Joe Vitale graduated from Christian Brothers College High School in Saint Louis, Missouri, where he was part of three state championships and two undefeated seasons.
Vitale began his professional career in 2009 with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. Amateur
He also played for the Saint Louis Junior. Blues of the Central States Hockey League for two seasons, including a national championship in 2003-2004.
In 2004-2005, he played for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League.
On July 30, 2005, Vitale was drafted by the Penguins with the 195th selection in the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft. He enrolled in Northeastern University and began his college career as a freshman for the Huskies in 2005-2006.
In 2006-2007, he was named alternate captain of the squad as a sophomore and was named to Hockey East"s All-Academic Team. As a junior in 2007-2008, he was named All-New England and New England"s Most Improved Player, was named to the All-Hockey East Second Team, and was Northeastern"s Most Valuable Player.
Vitale"s college career concluded when Northeastern lost to Cornell in the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, Northeastern"s first trip to the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament in 15 years.
He finished his career at Northeastern with 34 goals and 60 assists for 94 points and 268 penalty minutes in 143 games. Professional
On April 3, 2009, Vitale signed a one-year, entry level National Hockey League contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2009-2010 season. He also signed an Amateur Try-Out contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the remainder of the 2008-2009 season.
He recorded his first professional goal and assist on April 4, 2009 against the Albany River Rats.
He finished the season with 4 points in 5 regular season games. Vitale also played in all 12 of the Penguins playoff games.
During the 2009-2010 season, Vitale played in 74 games in the AHL, scoring six goals and recording 26 assists for a total of 32 points. In January 2010, the Penguins and Vitale agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2011-2012 season.
Vitale made his National Hockey League debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 10, 2011 against the Los Angeles Kings.
On February 16, 2011, Vitale scored his first National Hockey League goal against Peter Budaj of the Colorado Avalanche. On February 3, 2012, Vitale was re-signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins with a two-years contract extension, worth $1.1 million. As a free agent, Vitale joined his second National Hockey League team in signing a three-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes on July 1, 2014.