
Tony Granato is one of four members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
A few years into his tenure as men’s hockey coach at Bowling Green, Jerry York took a trip to Lake Placid, New York, to see his friend Steve Reed.
Reed today is one of the intersections for two of the members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 but in the early 1980s the Northwood School guidance counselor had a intriguing prospect for York to look at.

Granato
Tony Granato was getting attention from a lot of colleges at that point as one of the top high school seniors in the U.S.
York later visited Granato and his family at their suburban Chicago house and almost left with a commitment — from Don and Natalie Granato, at least.
“When he left, my mom and dad said I want you to play for Jerry York. I think he’d be a great coach to play for,” Granato recalled Tuesday.
Said York: “I thought we had him.”
That would have been a big turn in history. Granato became the first of three Granato brothers to play for the University of Wisconsin, finishing third on the program’s all-time goal-scoring list with 100. He’s now entering his fifth season as the Badgers’ head coach.
On Monday night, he was revealed as the sixth former Badgers player to be chosen for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
One thing that Granato’s parents forgot when they initially wanted him to play for York at Bowling Green, he said, was that Madison was so close to home.
“So when we had the discussion later on, Jerry was still in the discussion on how wonderful he’d be to play for,” Tony Granato said. “But that two-hour trip for them to come up every weekend outweighed the experience of going to Bowling Green.”
The call from USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher about the induction sent Granato into a reflective mood, thinking about the people and opportunities that sent him on his way toward the honor.
In a sign of how interconnected hockey can be, the other three members of the group with which he’ll enter the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame each have their own places in Granato’s story.
York, the all-time leader in NCAA hockey coaching victories, almost had him locked up for Bowling Green. Former North Dakota and Omaha coach Dean Blais coached the U.S. Deutschland Cup team alongside Granato during the 2004 NHL lockout.
Four-time Olympian Jenny Potter got to know Granato while she played with his sister, Cammi, a 2008 selection for the American hockey shrine.
With the Granatos, however, things start with family. Tony Granato emphasized how grateful he is that his parents gave him and his siblings the opportunity to play hockey.
Don Granato Sr. was learning the game while he was coaching it, Tony Granato said, because he understood how much his kids loved it.
“They didn’t get to do all the things we did,” said Don Granato Jr., who followed Tony Granato to UW in 1987 and later joined his inaugural coaching staff in 2016. “They provided the opportunity for us to go do them and experience such great things.
“For this type of honor and for them to be around and see it and see all the things through Tony’s career, that he did things the right way and was respected enough to receive this honor, that was my first thought — how great this is for my mom and dad.”
The induction ceremony won’t happen until December 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’ll be another big affair for the Granato family.
“That’s kind of how we’ve always done it,” said Rob Granato, who played for the Badgers from 1992 to 1994. “It’s a neat thing when you’re always included in everything, whatever we’ve done.”
After he learned of his selection, Tony Granato let his thoughts wander to youth coaches, then to Reed at Northwood and coaches Jeff Sauer and Grant Standbrook at UW. He also recalled Jim Johannson, his former Badgers teammate who picked him to be the 2018 U.S. men’s Olympic coach before passing away a month before the Games.
“You don’t think of things that you did,” Granato said. “You think of the people that were around you that helped you have so much fun in the game of hockey.”
The things that he did on the ice, however, started with experiences playing for his country. Granato’s playing resume features seven international tournaments for the U.S., including two World Junior Championships, three World Championships, a Canada Cup and the 1988 Olympics.
He scored 264 goals and recorded 535 points in 852 NHL regular-season and playoff games with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles and San Jose over 13 seasons.
That first World Juniors opportunity was in the 1982-83 season when he was a senior at Northwood, being courted by York and others in NCAA hockey.
“It was only a couple years after the 1980 team won (the Olympic gold medal) so I still could hear the USA, USA chants in the arena in Lake Placid as I put my sweater on and got on the ice and was able to represent the United States,” Granato said.
He still has that jersey, and he took a look at it after he got the call about his induction.
“That was a special day for me,” Granato said.
Photos: Tony Granato through the years
With the Badgers

Tony Granato scored 100 goals in 152 games for the Badgers from 1983 to 1987.
Captain Granato

Tony Granato was captain of the Badgers in his senior season of 1986-87.
Senior season

Tony Granato was a second-team All-American as a senior in 1986-87.
1988 Olympics

Tony Granato of the U.S (21) plows into Norway's Petter Salsten (3) and goalkeeper Mott Vernon as the puck enters the net for the United States' second goal in their Olympic hockey match against Norway at the Saddledome, Friday, Feb. 19, 1988, Calgary, Canada. The U.S. won the match 6-3.
Kings vs. Flames

Los Angeles Kings Tony Granato (14) attempts a shot on the net in the first period of NHL playoff game against Calgary, Friday, April 6, 1990 in New York.
Kings vs. Canucks

Vancouver Canucks’ goalie Kirk McLean thwarts a shot on goal as the Los Angeles Kings’ Tony Granato skates past on Thursday, Oct. 12, 1995, at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
Tony and Gabriella

The world of professional hockey seems far away to Tony Granato as he holds daughter Gabriella in June 1996 at his Madison home.
The Granato family, 1996

Tony and Linda Granato are home for the summer of 1996 with their four children. From left are Nicholas, 3; Gabriella, 1 1/2; Dominick, 5; and Michael, 6.
Sharks vs. Ducks

San Jose Sharks defenseman Michal Sykora, right, gets control of the puck from teammate Tony Granato, center, and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks’ Steve Rucchin during first-period action at the Pond in Anaheim, California on Friday, Oct. 18, 1996.
Calling the action

After his playing career ended, Tony Granato, right, tried some broadcasting. Here, he teams with Paul Braun, left, during a Feb. 1, 2002, Badgers game against Alaska Anchorage at the Kohl Center.
In practice

Colorado Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore, right, stretches out in the crease while talking with assistant coach Tony Granato as the Avalanche opens its first day of training camp for the 2006-2007 NHL hockey season, Friday, Sept. 15, 2006, in Englewood, Colo.
With Joel Quenneville

In this Jan. 28, 2007, photo, Colorado Avalanche head coach Joel Quenneville, left, and assistant coach Tony Granato argue with referee Don Koharski after a replay allowed a goal by Detroit Red Wings Tomas Holmstrom in the third period of an NHL game in Detroit.
Arguing with Mike Babcock

Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock, left, argues with Colorado Avalanche assistant coach Tony Granato after a fight between Red Wings right winger Aaron Downey and Avalanche right winger Ian Laperriere in the third period of the Red Wings' 4-0 victory on Monday, Feb. 18, 2008.
With Francois Giguere

New Colorado Avalanche coach Tony Granato, left, and general manager Francois Giguere, right, smile at a news conference in Denver on Thursday, May 22, 2008.
Avalanche vs. Blackhawks

Colorado Avalanche head coach Tony Granato looks on against the Chicago Blackhawks in the second period of Chicago's 7-4 victory in an NHL exhibition hockey game in Denver on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008.
Avalanche vs. Canucks

Colorado Avalanche head coach Tony Granato directs his team against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period of the Avalanche's 5-4 shootout victory in an NHL game in Denver on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008.
Penguins vs. Blues

Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach Tony Granato gives instructions in the third period of an NHL game against the St. Louis Blues in Pittsburgh, Sunday, March 23, 2014. The Blues won 1-0.
With Sidney Crosby and Dan Bylsma

Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby, left, talks with head coach Dan Bylsma, center, and assistant coach Tony Granato during hockey practice at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, March 15, 2012, in New York.
Arguing with Craig Berube

Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach Tony Granato, left, stands on the boards between benches to talk with Philadelphia Flyers assistant coach Craig Berube, top right, during a on-ice fight during the third period of an NHL game in Pittsburgh Sunday, April 1, 2012. The Flyers won 6-4.
With Mike Babcock

Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock, top left, shakes hands with assistant coach Tony Granato as Tomas Tatar (21), Stephen Weiss (90) and Luke Glendening, right, leave the bench to celebrate after beating the Nashville Predators 4-3 in an NHL game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn.
Introduced as Badgers coach

Tony Granato, center, is introduced as the new head coach for the Badgers men's hockey team, with assistant coaches Don Granato, left, and Mark Osiecki, right, at the Kohl Center on Wednesday, March 30, 2016.
Taking the Kohl Center ice

Badgers men's hockey coach Tony Granato at the Kohl Center on Sept. 8, 2016.
Walking the campus

Badgers men's coach Tony Granato walks to Bascom Hall from a class at Nancy Nicholas Hall on the University of Wisconsin campus on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. After nearly 30 years, Granato was finishing up his degree at UW as a requirement to be the Badgers coach.
Entering Bascom Hall

Tony Granato heads into Bascom Hall on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016.
Walking out of class

UW hockey coach Tony Granato leaves Nancy Nicholas Hall after a class on the University of Wisconsin campus on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016.
Timeout instructions

Tony Granato delivers instructions to his team during a timeout in the second period of a Big Ten game against Michigan State at the Kohl Center on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017.
Walking off the ice

Badgers coach Tony Granato watches officials discuss an issue at the end of the second period of a game against Penn State at the Kohl Center on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017.
Announced as 2018 U.S. Olympic coach

Tony Granato speaks during a news conference in Plymouth, Mich., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. USA Hockey announced that Wisconsin's Tony Granato will coach the U.S. men's hockey team at the 2018 Olympics, the first Winter Games without NHL players since 1994.
Badgers vs. Penn State

Badgers men's hockey coach Tony Granato stands behind his bench during an NCAA hockey game against Penn State in State College, Pa., on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018.
Coaching in Pyeongchang

United States coach Tony Granato directs his team during the second period of the qualification round against Slovakia at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018.
Working with the team

Tony Granato addresses his Badgers men's hockey players during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018.
Discussing a drill

Tony Granato has a discussion with Badgers forward Jason Dhooghe during a practice before the 2018-19 season.
At the white board

Badgers men's hockey coach Tony Granato talks to his team during practice at the Kohl Center on Sept. 16, 2019.