This is unreal. I still have to pinch myself, I can't believe I am on MY team.

RYAN MALONE

The first Pittsburgh-born player to play for the Penguins.

• Before 1984 – the arrival of Mario Lemiuex – Pittsburgh had 18 sheets of ice for organized hockey. Today there are over 50. • Eight native Pittsburghers have played in, or are currently in NHL team systems. • On October 24, 1972 Pittsburgh native Gerry O'Flaherty became the first local to play against the Penguins. • Pittsburgh native Jamie Adams was the first person to play professional hockey for his hometown team when he skated for the the Pittsburgh Phantoms in 1994. • Ryan Malone was the first Pittsburgher to play for the Penguins. (2003). • Philadelphia Flyers player and Plum native, RJ Umberger and Ryan Malone squared off on Mellon Arena in an NHL game on November 19, 2005.

RYAN MALONE

With St.Cloud State

RJ Umber

With Pittsburgh East

John Zieler

With Pittsburgh Hornets Midget Team

Bill Thomas

With Cleveland Barons Junior

Who's next?

Happing now in Western Pennsylvania

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This is the father of Pittsburgh hockey, James Conant, the man who introduced hockey to the Steel City

Pittsburgh-born players in the NHL A list of players from the Pittsburgh area that have played in at least one NHL game:

A total of eight players from Pittsburgh area have made it to the NHL and there are a handful of players that have been drafted by NHL teams. Ryan Malone was the first Pittsburgh-born player to play with the Penguins. On November 19, 2005, Philadelphia Flyers player and Plum native, RJ Umberger and Malone played in a game in Pittsburgh - the first time two natives met on Mellon Arena ice.

Peggy & Greg Malone with two-week old Ryan

Here is a list of Pittsburgh players in the order of their NHL debuts:

Gerry O'Flaherty Born: August 31, 1950 (Pittsburgh) Drafted: 1970 - 3rd round, Toronto Maple Leafs NHL Debut: December 25, 1971 with Toronto v. Detroit First game against Pittsburgh: October 24, 1972 / Pittsburgh at Vancouver Born in Pittsburgh, where his father John "Peanuts" captained the Pittsburgh Hornets, O'Flaherty later moved to Toronto and played in the MTHL with the North York Rangers. He played junior with the OHA's Kitchener Rangers and was drafted 36th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs after scoring 40 goals in 1969-70. On Christmas day in 1971 he made his NHL Debut with Toronto in and played two games with the Maple Leafs. He was left unprotected by Toronto in the intra-league draft in 1972 and was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks on the recommendation of his father, who was a scout for the club. Left-winger Gerry O'Flaherty had a reputation for being a solid two-way player. O'Flaherty played 438 games in the 1970s. He recorded three 20-goal seasons and was considered an above-average faceoff man. In September 1976 O'Flaherty was picked to represent the United States at the inaugural Canada Cup. After leaving Vancouver, he played one more NHL game with the Atlanta Flames in 1978-79 but spent the rest of that season in the minors before retiring.

Bob Beers Born: May 20, 1967 (Pittsburgh) Drafted: 1985 - 10th round, Boston Bruins NHL Debut: March 11, 1990 with Boston v. Hartford First game against Pittsburgh: November 5, 1991 / Boston at Pittsburgh Made NHL debut with the Boston Bruins in 1989-90. Played with Tampa Bay, Edmonton, & New York Islanders

Ryan Malone Born: December 1, 1979 (Peters, PA) Drafted: 1999 - 4th round, Pittsburgh Penguins on June 26 NHL Debut: October 10, 2003 with Pittsburgh v. Los Angeles First game against Pittsburgh: December 23, 2008 / Tampa at Pittsburgh Made his NHL debut with the Penguins 2003-04 The fourth round, 115th overall selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Malone, the son of former Penguins center Greg, is a graduate of St. Cloud State University. Prior to attending St. Cloud State, Malone played high school hockey locally at Upper St. Clair High School and then went on to play at Shattuck St. Mary's in Minnesota and finally Omaha of the USHL. In his four years at St. Cloud State, Malone recorded 140 points (56-84-140) before joining the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins following his Senior year in 2002-03. In 2003-04, the Pittsburgh, PA native made his NHL debut and was the teams most impressive and consistent player throughout the year. Named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team, Malone finished the season with 43 points (22-21-43), good enough for third on the Penguins and fourth among league freshmen. Following the Penguins season, Malone was named to the United States 2004 World Championship team, and was instrumental in leading the U.S. to a bronze medal. In June 2008, Malone's rights were traded to the Tampa Bay Lighnting. He later signed a four year contract with the Lighnting.

R.J. Umberger Born: May 3, 1982 (Plum, PA) Drafted: 2001 - 1st round, Vancouver Canucks NHL Debut: October 30, 2005 with Philadelphia v. Ottawa First game against Pittsburgh: November 16, 2005 / Philadelphia at Pittsburgh The first round, 16th overall selection of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Umberger is a graduate of the CCHA's Ohio State Buckeyes. An offensively gifted forward, Umberger played three seasons at Ohio State registering 129 points (58-71-129) and earning numerous accolades including; CCHA Rookie of the Year (2001), West Second Team All-America (2003), All-CCHA First Team (2003) and finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. After foregoing his senior year at OSU to spend part of the year training with the U.S. National Development Program, Umberger was acquired by the New York Rangers in March of 2004 yet was unable to reach a contract agreement with the club and subsequently was acquired by the Philadelphia Flyers. In his first season with the Flyers organization, Umberger suited for the AHLs Philadelphia Phantoms and was instrumental in helping the club capture the 2005 Calder Cup title. In 80 regular season games with the Phantoms, the former OSU star registered 65 points (21-44-65) and another ten points in the post season. After getting off to a quick start with the Phantoms in 2005-06, Umberger was summoned by the Flyers and would make his NHL debut with the club in the early stages of the season. On the international stage, Umberger is a two-time member of the United States World Junior team (2001 and 2002) and was a member of its World Championship team in 2006 In June 2008, Umberger was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

George Parros Born: December 29, 1979 (Washington, PA) Drafted: 1999 - 8th round, Los Angeles Kings NHL Debut: December 21, 2005 with Los Angeles v. Calgary First game against Pittsburgh: (Never played against the Penguins) Made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings in 2005-06 and played with the Colorado Avalanche for two games. The eighth round, 222nd overall selection of the Los Angeles Kings in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Parros is a graduate of the ECAC's Princeton Tigers. A towering forward, Parros spent four years at Princeton before making his professional debut with the AHL's Manchester Monarchs in the spring of 2003. After two more years of seasoning in the ECHL and AHL, Parros made his NHL debut with Los Angeles during the 2005-06 season. In November of 2006, Parros was acquired by the Anaheim Ducks and was a member of the Ducks 2007 Stanley Cup Championship Team.

Bill Thomas Born: June 23, 1983 (Fox Chapel, PA) Drafted: undrafted NHL Debut: April 1, 2006 with Phoenix v, San Jose First game against Pittsburgh: (Never played against the Penguins). Played his first game with the Penguins on October 5, 2008. A free-agent signing of the Phoenix Coyotes, Thomas is a graduate of the USHL's Tri-City Storm and went on to play two seasons of collegiate hockey with the University of Nebraska-Omaha (2004-2006). A skilled forward, Thomas registered 95 points (46-49-95) in two seasons at Nebraska-Omaha before opting to forego his junior and senior years and sign as a free-agent with Phoenix following his sophomore year. Once his sophomore season came to a close in 2005-06, Thomas immediately joined the Coyotes and suited for nine games registering three points (1-2-3). Thomas signed with the Penguins as a free agent in July 2008.

Nate Guenin Born: December 10, 1982 Drafted: 2002 - 4th round, New York Rangers NHL Debut: January 18, 2007 with Philadelphia v. NY Islanders First game against Pittsburgh: (Never played against the Penguins) Made his NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2006-07, playing in 65 games. The New York Rangers fourth round, 127th overall choice in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Guenin is a graduate of the CCHA's Ohio State University Buckeyes. A rugged defenceman, Guenin spent four seasons at Ohio State serving as the club's captain for the 2004-05 season. Despite being drafted by the Rangers, the free agent signed his first pro contract with the Flyers and shortly after suited up with their AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms. That season, he made his NHL and Flyer debut in a January 18th, 2007 game against the New York Islanders.

John Zieler Born: November 21, 1982 Drafted: 2002 - 5th round, Phoenix Coyotes NHL Debut: February 17, 2007 with Phoenix v. Anaheim First game against Pittsburgh: (Never played against the Penguins) Selected 132nd overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes, Zeiler is a graduate of the St. Lawrence University Saints. A strong player at both ends of the rink, Zeiler's strong performance with the Sioux-City Musketeers of the USHL transited into a four-year stint with the St. Lawrence University Saints. In his first with the University, he was named to the ECAC All Rookie Team after tallying 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists). Zeiler made his professional hockey debut with the Coyotes' AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage in March, 2006. Following a brief stint in San Antonio, Zeiler was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Los Angeles Kings in the summer of 2006. Returning to the AHL Zeiler tallied 28 goals in 56 games for the Kings' AHL affiliate in Manchester. His offensive contributions in Manchester earned him a roster spot in the final 23 regular season games left on the L.A. Kings 2006-07 schedule.

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