Scott Gomez
A gifted playmaking center who broke barriers as the first Alaskan-born player in the NHL and won the Calder Trophy as its top rookie.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American ice hockey player and coach·Birthday: December 23·Generation X
Biography
Scott Gomez exploded onto the NHL scene not just as a talented player, but as a symbol of hockey's expanding geography. Hailing from Anchorage, Alaska, his slick passing and elite vision made him an immediate star with the New Jersey Devils. He captured the Calder Trophy in 2000, becoming the first player of Hispanic descent to win the award, and immediately helped the Devils hoist the Stanley Cup. Gomez was a premier setup man for over a decade, leading the league in assists in 2004 and playing a key role for the 2007 New York Rangers. His later career saw him play for several teams, including a memorable stint with the San Jose Sharks. After retiring, he moved into coaching, bringing his extensive experience to develop the next generation of players.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Scott was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Scott Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Scott's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year for the 1999–2000 season.
- Won the Stanley Cup twice with the New Jersey Devils in 2000 and 2003.
- Led the NHL in assists during the 2003-04 season with 56.
- Became the first Alaska-born player to skate in the NHL and to win the Stanley Cup.
Did You Know?
His mother is from Mexico, making him one of the first prominent players of Mexican heritage in the NHL.
He played collegiate hockey at the University of Alaska Fairbanks for one season before turning professional.
He recorded over 500 points in his first seven NHL seasons.
“I play the game because I love it, and I love to make plays.”
