Riley Cote

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size = 200px
team = Philadelphia Flyers
league = NHL
position = Left Wing
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 220
nationality = Canada
birth_date = Birth date and age|1982|3|16|mf=y
birth_place = Winnipeg, MB, CAN
career_start = 2002
website = [http://www.rileycote.com RileyCote.Com]

Riley Cote (born March 16, 1982 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Cote is known for his skills as an enforcer, dedicated work ethic, and for his wild, aggressive style of play. Not drafted to the National Hockey League after completing juniors, Cote was a walk on to the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp in fall 2002. He impressed the Leafs staff, signed a one year contract, and was assigned to the Leafs Central Hockey League affiliate, the Memphis RiverKings. While called up Toronto's American Hockey League affiliate (the St. John's Maple Leafs) a few times during the 2002–2003 season, he spent most of his rookie year with the RiverKings and was with them when they won the CHL championship that season. Not re-signed by the Leafs, Cote was signed to a 2-way contract by the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL and entered the training camp for their NHL affiliate, the Columbus Blue Jackets, in fall 2003. Columbus released him and he returned to the Crunch. An eye injury caused during a pre-season scrimmage resulted in Cote being assigned to the Crunch's ECHL affiliate, the Dayton Bombers, for much of the 2003–2004 season. Cote was recruited back to the RiverKings for the 2004–2005 season but was offered a try-out contract by the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms just before the season began. The Phantoms extended his contract twice through the 04–05 season. Cote would eventually spend the entire season with Philadelphia and help the Phantoms win the AHL championship accumulating a team-leading 280 penalty minutes and becoming a fan favorite along the way (as he had with his previous teams). Shortly after the season ended, Cote's effort and contributions were recognized as the Phantoms signed him to a 1 year standard player contract. Since the 2005–2006 season, Riley has served as one of the Phantoms Alternate Captains. He would participate in the Philadelphia Flyers training camps in fall of 2005 and 2006. In the 2006–2007 season, Cote was signed to a 2-way contract by the Flyers. Early in the season, he was assigned to the Phantoms and shortly after suffered an ankle injury that kept him from playing most of the season. When he returned to the ice, he was greeted with cheers by the fans and announced his return by getting into a fight on his very first shift. He would be recalled to the Flyers late that season and play 8 NHL games. After the Flyers season ended, he returned to the Phantoms and finished out the season with them. Cote was re-signed by the Flyers for the 2007–2008 season.

Cote was suspended on December 3, 2007 for three games after he delivered a high head shot to Dallas Stars defenceman Matt Niskanen late in the third period two days earlier. He became the fifth Flyers player to receive a suspension during the 2007–08 season after Steve Downie, Jesse Boulerice, Randy Jones and Scott Hartnell. [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=224272&hubname=]

In recognition of his contributions to the community, the Phantoms named Riley as the 2006–2007 Man of the Year.

Riley Cote scored his first NHL goal on February 17, 2008 against rookie goaltender Carey Price of the Montreal Canadians.

On June 2, 2008 the Flyers announced they had signed Cote to a 3 year contract extension.

Championships

* 2002–03: President's Cup (Ray Miron President's Cup) "Memphis RiverKings"
* 2004–05: Calder Cup "Philadelphia Phantoms"

Awards

Man of the Year (2006–2007), Philadelphia Phantoms
* [http://www.phantomshockey.com/pressbox/archive/1933.asp Phantoms Hockey - COTE NAMED PHANTOMS 2006-07 MAN OF THE YEAR]

Career statistics

Personal life

Riley is married to Holly Cote.

Riley has been an advocate for multiple sclerosis diagnosis and treatment since his older sister, Jamie, was diagnosed with the disease in 2000.

External links

*hockeydb|45187
* [http://www.rileycote.com www.rileycote.com] The Official Riley Cote Website
* [http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?page=HistoricalPlayerDetail&service=page&pkey=8468786 Riley Cote's official page at NHL.com] Basic stats and won't break if a player is traded.
* [http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8468786&service=page Riley Cote's official Philadelphia Flyers page at NHL.com] More details but will probably break if player gets traded.

* [http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/6263/blue_jackets_enforcers_fighting_for_a_chance_at_camp/ Blue Jackets: Enforcers Fighting for a Chance at Camp]
* [http://www.phantomshockey.com/pressbox/featurestory/1941.asp Phantoms Hockey - At The Top Of His Game]
* [http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/AHL/2007/01/25/3445717.html Article at slam.canoe.ca by David Uncle with Cote's comments after game of weak effort by the Phantoms in late January 2007.]
* [http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Unkle/2007/03/24/3822032.html Article at slam.canoe.ca by David Uncle on Cote's first NHL game]
* [http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=335315&page=NewsPage&service=page Philadelphia Flyers - News: Flyers Re-Sign Riley Cote and Boyd Kane 07/25/2007]
* [http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=335584&page=NewsPage&service=page Philadelphia Flyers - News: Cote Determined to Open Eyes in Training Camp]