Tony Voce Explained

Position:Left wing
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:5
Height In:8
Weight Lb:188
Played For:Grizzlys Wolfsburg
Ilves
Graz 99ers
Birth Date:30 October 1980
Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2004
Career End:2010

Anthony Francis Voce[1] (October 30, 1980 – July 8, 2024) was an American professional ice hockey player. Voce was the first Philadelphia native to play for the Philadelphia Flyers organization.[2]

Playing career

Voce played college hockey at Boston College. In his four years there, he recorded 90 goals and 77 assists to go along with 207 penalty minutes. As a senior, he finished second in the nation in goals in the NCAA, and for the second time (also as a sophomore) was awarded the Norman F. Bailey Award as team MVP. In addition, he was named to the All-Hockey East First Team and was an AHCA First Team All-American.

After being signed as an undrafted free agent by his hometown team, the Philadelphia Flyers, he was sent to their minor league affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms.[2] Voce was a member of the 2004–05 Calder Cup winning Philadelphia Phantoms team. He became one of the team's top goal-scorers, totaling 50 goals in two years as a member of the Phantoms before being loaned to Grand Rapids.[3]

Voce left North America to sign with Ilves of the SM-liiga for the 2007–08 season.[4] He was released after playing five games for them.[5] Three days later, he signed with Grizzlys Wolfsburg of the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).[6]

On March 17, 2008, he signed with the DEL's Straubing Tigers and transferred November 28, 2008 to EC Graz 99ers of the Erste Bank Hockey League.[7] After two weeks in Austria, he was released by the team.[8]

Death

Voce died suddenly on July 8, 2024, at the age of 43.[9] [10]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2000–01Boston CollegeHE4212142640
2001–02Boston CollegeHE3826224865
2002–03Boston CollegeHE3723234656
2003–04Boston CollegeHE4229184748
2004–05Philadelphia PhantomsAHL732217398540004
2005–06Philadelphia PhantomsAHL6728275587
2006–07Philadelphia PhantomsAHL418132144
2006–07Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL2546103773256
2007–08IlvesLiiga50226
2007–08Grizzlys WolfsburgDEL4113152864
2008–09Graz 99ersEBEL621320
2009–10Ontario ReignECHL5823163969
AHL totals20662631252531132510

Awards and honors

AwardYear
Hockey East All-Tournament Team2001[11]
All-Hockey East First Team2001–02
2003–04
AHCA East First-Team All-American2003–04

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Anthony "Tony" Francis Voce (October 30, 1980 – July 8, 2024) . Life Celebration . John F. Givnish Funeral Home . July 11, 2024.
  2. Web site: Flyers Sign Tony Voce to Contract. Philadelphia Flyers. July 13, 2004. October 28, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040715023853/http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com/pressbox/archive/1669.asp. July 15, 2004.
  3. Web site: Griffins Add Firepower From Philly . OurSports Central . July 9, 2024 . February 19, 2007.
  4. Web site: Tony Voce Ilveksen testiin . Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta . July 8, 2024 . fi . September 29, 2007 . Tony Voce for the Ilves test.
  5. Web site: Tony Voce ei jatka Ilveksessä . Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta . July 9, 2024 . fi . October 17, 2007 . Tony Voce will not continue in Ilves.
  6. Web site: Grizzly Adams verpflichten Tony Voce . Grizzly Adams Online . July 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071019043648/http://ehc-wolfsburg.de/news_show.html?&no_cache=1&backPid=71&tt_news=976&cHash=ee47a6d97a . October 19, 2007 . October 18, 2007 . Grizzly Adams sign Tony Voce.
  7. http://www.hockeyweb.de/artikel.php?a=40836 Tony Voce nach Graz
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20081220224247/http://www.99ers.at/news/newsakuelles/2153-motherwell-und-jakobsen-zurueck-voce-wurde-entlassen.html Motherwell und Jakobsen zurück - Voce wurde entlassen!
  9. Web site: Remembering Tony Voce, an adored ‘Philadelphia hockey specimen'. NBC Sports Philadelphia. July 8, 2024. July 10, 2024.
  10. https://www.si.com/college/bostoncollege/hockey/former-boston-college-hockey-player-tony-voce-passes-away-at-43-01j2a4caba1m Former Boston College Hockey Player Tony Voce Passes Away at 43
  11. News: 2013-14 Hockey East Media Guide. Hockey East. 2014-05-19.