Early Life
Tortorella attended Concord-Carlisle High School in Concord, Massachusetts, and he is listed on the school's athletic Hall of Fame wall (1976). He also attended the University of Maine, graduating in 1981. John's brother Jim Tortorella is also listed on the wall.
Tortorella, nicknamed "The Paper Italian", played right wing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the University of Maine for three years (1978–81). He played along with his brother, goaltender Jim, who now serves as assistant men's coach for the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. After college Tortorella played a year in Kristianstads IK (1981-82) and then four years of minor pro hockey (1982–86) in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL). During these years he skated with the Hampton Roads Gulls, Erie Golden Blades, Nashville South Stars and the Virginia Lancers.
During his days in the ACHL, Tortorella briefly played with Oren Koules while with the Hampton Roads Gulls. The two later reunited in Tampa Bay, as Tortorella was the coach and Koules was one of the new owners of the Lightning. He never played a game in the NHL.
Read more about this topic: John Tortorella
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