Jason Cirone

Jason Gerardo Cirone (February 21, 1971 – October 2, 2024) was a Canadian-Italian professional ice hockey centre. He played for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League and was the former head coach of the Metro Jets of the North American 3 Hockey League. He was head coach of the Midland University Men's hockey team in Fremont, Nebraska. Internationally, Cirone represented Italy at several World Championships and at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Jason Cirone
Born	(1971-02-21)February 21, 1971 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died	October 2, 2024(2024-10-02) (aged 53)
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	HC Asiago Frankfurt Lions Winnipeg Jets
National team	Italy
NHL draft	46th overall, 1989 Winnipeg Jets
Playing career	1991–2008

Playing career

As a youth, Cirone played in the 1984 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Don Mills.^[1]

Cirone was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the third round (46th overall) in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He played junior hockey for the Cornwall Royals and Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. Cirone appeared in three games with the Jets during the 1991–92 season.^{[citation needed]}

In August 1993, the Jets traded Cirone to the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Dave Tomlinson.^{[citation needed]}

Cirone had a successful career in minor-league hockey.^{[citation needed]} He played for the Moncton Hawks and Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League; and the Cincinnati Cyclones, Los Angeles Ice Dogs, Kansas City Blades, and Flint Generals of the International Hockey League. In 2006–07 he was a player-assistant coach with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League.^{[citation needed]} Cirone had two stints overseas for Asiago HC on the Italian Ice Hockey League in 1992–93 and then again from 2001 to 2006, and the Frankfurt Lions of the German Ice Hockey League in 2000–01. Cirone also spent two seasons playing roller hockey for the Buffalo Stampede in 1994 and 1995.^{[citation needed]}

Cirone held an Italian passport, and played in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy as a member of the Italian team.^{[citation needed]}

Coaching career

Cirone was the Midland University Men's Hockey team's head coach in Fremont, Nebraska from 2013 to 2021. Cirone was previously the head coach of the Metro Jets of the North American 3 Hockey League located in Waterford, Michigan. He also had previously served as an assistant coach for the Jets.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Cirone died from cancer on October 2, 2024, at the age of 53.^[2]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1986–87	Toronto Red Wings U18 AAA	GTHL		36	53	64	117	125		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Cornwall Royals	OHL		53	12	11	23	41		11	1	2	3	4
1988–89	Cornwall Royals	OHL		64	39	44	83	67		17	19	8	27	14
1989–90	Cornwall Royals	OHL		32	21	43	64	56		6	4	6	10	14
1990–91	Cornwall Royals	OHL		40	31	29	60	66		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Windsor Spitfires	OHL		23	27	23	50	31		11	9	8	17	14
1991–92	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		3	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Moncton Hawks	AHL		64	32	27	59	124		10	1	1	2	8
1992–93	HC Asiago	ITA		16	6	5	11	18		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Cincinnati Cyclones	IHL		26	4	2	6	61		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Birmingham Bulls	ECHL		11	3	3	6	45		10	8	8	16	67
1994–95	Cincinnati Cyclones	IHL		74	22	15	37	170		9	1	1	2	14
1995–96	Rochester Americans	AHL		24	4	5	9	34		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	San Diego Gulls	WCHL		3	2	1	3	20		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Los Angeles Ice Dogs	IHL		26	8	10	18	47		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Long Beach Ice Dogs	IHL		11	4	3	7	14		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Kansas City Blades	IHL		70	18	38	56	88		3	0	3	3	2
1997–98	Kansas City Blades	IHL		82	22	30	52	166		11	3	3	6	20
1998–99	Kansas City Blades	IHL		82	42	26	68	151		3	1	0	1	8
1999–2000	Kansas City Blades	IHL		71	19	24	43	133		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Frankfurt Lions	DEL		51	18	17	35	138		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	HC Asiago	ITA		37	20	13	33	77		4	0	1	1	4
2002–03	HC Asiago	ITA		33	16	18	34	124		11	3	2	5	22
2003–04	HC Asiago	ITA		38	31	21	52	79		12	6	5	11	16
2004–05	HC Asiago	ITA		18	1	13	14	34		3	0	1	1	2
2005–06	HC Asiago	ITA		46	18	31	49	78		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees	CHL		59	28	35	63	84		5	0	1	1	4
2007–08	Flint Generals	IHL		63	21	41	62	64		5	0	1	1	2
IHL totals				505	160	189	349	894		31	5	8	13	46
NHL totals				3	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
ITA totals				188	92	101	193	410		30	9	9	18	44

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2004	Italy	WC D1		5	2	1	3	10
2006	Italy	OG		5	1	1	2	6
2006	Italy	WC		6	0	2	2	18
2007	Italy	WC		6	2	2	4	4
2008	Italy	WC		5	3	1	4	0
Senior totals				27	8	7	15	38