Rory Brian Fitzpatrick (born January 11, 1975) is an American politician and former professional ice hockey defenseman who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers. He was known as a journeyman depth player at the NHL level. A Republican, Fitzpatrick served as Irondequoit town supervisor from 2021 to 2023.

As a youth, Fitzpatrick played in the 1989 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Rochester, New York.

Fitzpatrick spent his junior career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Sudbury Wolves, and was selected in the second round of the 1993 NHL entry draft, 47th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens.^{[citation needed]}

After completing his junior eligibility, Fitzpatrick made his professional debut in the American Hockey League (AHL), although he eventually joined the Canadiens and played 42 games. However, just six games into the following season, Fitzpatrick was traded to the St. Louis Blues in the blockbuster Pierre Turgeon trade, where he played a pair of games before being sent down to the minors. After that demotion, Fitzpatrick would only play one more game in a Blues uniform, spending the bulk of his time in the minor leagues before being traded to the Nashville Predators.^{[citation needed]}

Fitzpatrick's luck did not improve with the Predators, one of the NHL's newest expansion teams, and he was sent to Edmonton after only two games. In Edmonton, he spent time as a healthy scratch, but never actually saw NHL icetime. However, he was a reliable offensive threat with the Hamilton Bulldogs.^{[citation needed]}

Following the 2000–01 NHL season, Fitzpatrick became an unrestricted free agent. Signing with the Buffalo Sabres as a depth defenseman, Fitzpatrick spent the majority of 2001–02 with his hometown team, the Rochester Americans of the AHL, although he did play five games with the Sabres. This gave him an opportunity to be reunited with former junior teammate Jay McKee.^{[citation needed]}

In 2002–03, Fitzpatrick again started the year in Rochester. However, he was recalled four times by Buffalo, and the last time, on February 12, he stayed with the team, and spent the entire 2003–04 with them. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff played him in all situations — evenstrength, on the power play and short-handed. A knee injury prematurely ended Fitzpatrick's season.^{[citation needed]}

In July 2004, Fitzpatrick filed for salary arbitration, but was able to reach a deal with the Sabres before the hearing. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he spent his time doing odd jobs before signing with Rochester for the final 20 games. He also played with the Original Stars Hockey League before its collapse, and worked at a hockey clinic.^{[citation needed]}