Burnaby Joe elected to Hockey Hall of Fame
Burnaby Joe has a new residence, the Hockey Hall of Fame.
In his first year of eligibility Joe Sakic was named to hockey's hallowed hall by the Hockey Hall of Fame committee Tuesday.
"I was very excited to get the call. You're always hoping to go in but when it finally happens it was very humbling. I was speechless for a bit, but it's an honour," Sakic told TSN via phone from Seattle where he was vacationing with family. "I'm extremely proud. I've had a lot of help from a lot of people along the way."
Sakic played 1,378 games in the NHL scoring 625 goals and accumulating 1,641 points, the ninth most in NHL history. He also played 172 playoff games scoring 84 goals and 104 assists.
After playing two seasons for the Swift Current Broncos, the Burnaby Minor Hockey Association product began his 20-year NHL career with the Quebec Nordiques in 1988-89. He moved with the team to Denver where it became the Colorado Avalanche in 1995-96. The Avs won the Stanley Cup that first year and again in 2001. He was the team's captain for 17 years.
Along the way, Sakic was named the Canadian major junior player of the year in 1988, and the Conn Smythe Trophy for being the playoff's most valuable player in 1996, and the league MVP trophy in 2001.
He was also Canada's most valuable player in leading the country to a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Sakic will be inducted along with former Vancouver Canuck Pavel Bure, Adam Oates and Mats Sundin in Toronto on Nov. 12.
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