Tino Lettieri

Martire Tino Lettieri... sports family (hockey son Vinni)... he was three months old when his family moved to Montréal, QC, Canada... played hockey (goaltender)... famous “companion” Ozzie II was a stuffed parrot he brought to the football pitch (at home, his pet Yellow Naped Amazon was named Ozzie)...

honoured by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame as a player (he was shortlisted as an original alternate by The Soccer Hall of Fame in 2000 and then honoured as part of the Class of 2001)... honoured by the Québec Soccer Hall of Fame (Temple de la renommée du soccer québecoise)... part of the first Canadian team to reach the knock-out phase at the Olympic Games (Los Angeles 1984), recognised as a Canada Soccer Team of Distinction... part of the first Canadian team to play at the FIFA World Cup (Mexico 1986), recognised as a Canada Soccer Team of Distinction...

Concacaf champion (1985)... represented Canada at the Montréal 1976 Olympic Games, the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games and the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico... career 35 international appearances across 14 years from 1975 to 1988 with Canada Soccer's Men's National Team as a goalkeeper, including 24 international "A" appearances... when he left international football in 1988, he ranked first all-time with 35 international goalkeeper appearances (15th overall)...

during his time with the Minnesota Kicks, he was noted as “president of the Tino Bambinos Fan Club”... served as Honorary President for Canada Soccer’s 1984 Petro-Canada National Championships in Dorval... in 2000, one of 17 alternates shortlisted by The Soccer Hall of Fame (he became an honoured member as part of the Class of 2001)...

his son Vinni made his NHL debut with the New York Rangers on 29 December 2017 (he scored his his debut against the Red Wings)...

said Robert Iarusci, Tino “is bubbling with self confidence. He’s sure of himself and as they say, you have to be a little crazy to play goalkeeper”... wrote the Minnesota Kicks in 1981, Tino “has proved over the years that quickness, bravery and determination far outweighs any other ingredient that goes into the makeup of a professional goalkeeper”... wrote John Kernaghan in 1983, with Lettieri “the operative word here is flakey, but if one must be off the wall, this is a charming way to go... (but) Lettieri can also be out of this world as a goaltender”... said Lettieri in 1983, “I’m probably the shortest goalkeeper in the world. I’m proud of it now. I feel big in the goal”... wrote John Kernaghan in 1984, “Tino, everyone agrees, can be one hilarious dude. (He) does great imitations”... as idolized in the 1986 lyrics for Oh Canada, We’ll Proudly Play for You, “Tino Lettieri saves the day”...