Anthony Stolarz

Anthony Stolarz (born January 20, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed Stolie, Stolarz previously played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks and Florida Panthers. He won the Stanley Cup in 2024 with the Panthers.

Born in Edison, New Jersey, and raised in Jackson Township, Stolarz and his brother Todd played junior ice hockey within the New Jersey Devils organization. After playing two seasons with Jackson Memorial High School and one season with the New Jersey Hitmen of the Empire Junior Hockey League, Stolarz moved to Corpus Christi, Texas to play with the Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League. He attended the University of Nebraska Omaha on a scholarship, but dropped out after only eight games with the Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey team, instead signing with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.

The Flyers drafted Stolarz in the second round, 45th overall, of the 2012 NHL entry draft. He spent two seasons playing with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, before making his major league debut in 2016, becoming the first goaltender from New Jersey to play in the NHL. He continued to spend time with the Phantoms and Flyers before being traded to the Oilers in 2019 in exchange for goaltender Cam Talbot. Stolarz became a free agent at the end of the 2018—19 season and signed a two-year contract with the Ducks. He spent most of the 2019–20 season with the Ducks' AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, and only played one game with the Ducks before the NHL season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stolarz returned to the Ducks in the 2020–21 season, and won his first NHL game in over two years on March 28, 2021.

Stolarz was born on January 20, 1994, in Edison, New Jersey, and was raised in Jackson. A New Jersey Devils fan, Stolarz grew up watching goaltender Martin Brodeur play ice hockey, as well as his older brother Todd, who served in goal for a New Jersey junior ice hockey team. The Stolarz brothers bonded as children by watching old videos of Brodeur and Ron Hextall on the family television set, with Anthony asking questions about the goaltenders. Always tall for his age, Stolarz began goaltending in butterfly style from the age of eight or nine to account for his height.

As a goaltender for New Jersey youth hockey teams, Stolarz played tournaments in Wildwood and Vineland. In 2007, he made an appearance in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Devils' minor hockey affiliate; and in 2009, he played for the Devils' under-16 youth national hockey team. After spending his freshman year at St. John Vianney High School, Stolarz transferred to Jackson Memorial, where he spent two years playing hockey and basketball before moving to Corpus Christi, Texas. During his junior and senior year of high school, Stolarz experienced a growth spurt that took him from 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) to 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m).

During the 2010–11 season, Stolarz played with the New Jersey Hitmen of the Empire Junior Hockey League (EmJHL). In 16 appearances with the Hitmen, Stolarz posted a 10–4–0 record with a 3.19 goals against average (GAA) and a .902 save percentage (SV%). In 2011, Stolarz wished to serve as the goaltender for the Hitmen's first-level team, a position that had already been given to Chris Funkey. He passed on a chance to serve on the second-level team, instead going to Albany, New York, to try out for the Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). Stolarz had a strong season with the IceRays in 2011–12, posting a 23–22–4–3 record, 2.84 GAA, and .920 SV% in 50 appearances with the club, including three shutouts.

Going into the 2012 NHL entry draft, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Stolarz fourth among all North American goaltending draft prospects, and he was the only NAHL player invited to the 2012 NHL Draft Combine. The Philadelphia Flyers selected Stolarz in the second round, 45th overall, of the 2012 draft. That same year, Stolarz accepted a scholarship to play college hockey at the University of Nebraska Omaha.

Although Stolarz enjoyed most aspects of his time with the Omaha Mavericks, he was frustrated about splitting his time in goal with starting goaltender John Faulkner and backup Dayn Belfour, the son of former NHL player Ed Belfour. After playing only eight games for Omaha, Stolarz dropped out, accepting an offer from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). At the behest of his parents, Stolarz agreed to attend the University of Western Ontario. His tuition would be taken care of by the Knights, who pay for the college education of all of their full-time players. By the end of the 2012–13 OHL season, Stolarz had become the Knights' starting goaltender. He went 13–3–2 in the final 20 games of the season, with a .920 SV% and 2.29 GAA. After posting a 13–5 record, 2.53 GAA, and .923 SV% in the first rounds of the 2013 OHL playoffs, Stolarz was benched during the championship series against the Barrie Colts due to a subpar performance.