Iginla officially enters Hockey Hall of Fame: ‘It’s been even better than I ever dreamed’

Article content

TORONTO — Jarome Iginla, as he pointed out at the start of his Hockey Hall of Fame induction speech, “probably wasn’t your typical hockey kid.”

Article content

“My dad immigrated to Canada from Nigeria and my mom came from Oregon,” he explained. “But I once I started with St. Albert Minor Hockey, I was hooked and I wanted to be a hockey player and dreamed of being in the NHL.”

Jarome Iginla didn’t just play in the NHL.

He starred.

He was a scoring machine. A trailblazer. A fan favourite and a role model.

And now he’s a Hockey Hall-of-Famer. Monday’s induction gala in Toronto made it official.

“Before I started, I was like, ‘I’m not too nervous,’ ” Iginla confessed during his moment at the microphone. “And then all the guys came in and I saw Paul Coffey and I saw Mark Messier and Bryan Trottier and everybody, and it was just so cool and I never, ever dreamed of it … But let me get back on track here.”

Article content

Iginla has certainly earned his place among the greats.

As NHL commissioner Gary Bettman put it, the Calgary Flames’ longtime face-of-the-franchise and all-time leading point-producer “redefined the term ‘power forward’ ” while also “shattering stereotypes about Black athletes in hockey and inspiring countless children to love our game.”

Never one to take the credit, Iginla’s list of thank-yous included Grant Fuhr and Willie O’Ree. Along with Angela James, who was a superstar and pioneer for the Canadian women’s national team, they are the only other Black inductees in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

“Being a young Black hockey player, it was important for me to see other Black players in the NHL,” said Iginla, also mentioning Claude Vilgrain and Tony McKegney. “In my first year of hockey, as a seven-year-old, a kid came up to me and said, ‘Why are you playing hockey?’ Over the years, I would hear, ‘What are your chances of playing in the NHL? There are not many Black players.’ I’d hear other stuff, but luckily there was only a few.

Article content

“It’s thanks to guys like Grant and Willie who made me know that my dream of playing in the NHL was attainable.”

Without a doubt, Iginla has been that same source of inspiration to so many.

He was famous as a finisher, with both a wicked shot and some nifty moves around the net. He capped his NHL career with 625 goals. In league lore, only 15 marksmen have tickled more twine.

Even with those soft hands, he was equally famous for his hard-nosed style. It was well-known that the game-plan against Iginla was to play nice, to avoid doing anything that might tick him off a little. When he was mad, when he was looking to avenge a big hit or still seething from a scrum, he was at his best.

He was famous for his competitive streak, for his leadership abilities and for a sincere and genuine appreciation for the fans who absolutely adored him.

Article content

And he was famous for that smile.

The one that he wore. The ones that he created, in Calgary more than anywhere else. While he’d also skate for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings, Iginla was already a Hockey Hall of Fame shoo-in when he concluded his 16-season stint at the Saddledome.

Now 44, Iginla was beaming from start to finish Monday, right from the moment he was greeted on the red carpet by fellow Flames icon Lanny McDonald.

He thanked the selection committee.

He thanked his former teammates and coaches, including a nod to his junior days with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers and a special shout-out to Craig Conroy and Alex Tanguay, his sidekicks for some of his best campaigns in Calgary. (Conroy was among those in attendance at Monday’s shindig. Also spotted in the crowd were Michael Cammalleri, Martin Gelinas, Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr.)

Article content

A two-time Olympic gold medallist, highlighted by a very significant assist at Vancouver 2010, he thanked Hockey Canada for his international opportunities.

He thanked his family, of course. His wife Kara and three kids — Jade, Tij and Joe — were in the front row.

Iginla reminisced about his minor-hockey days, mentioning that because “money was tight,” flying to tournaments wasn’t usually an option. Instead, his grandfather Rick Schuchard would do the driving.

“Great memories and times spent with my grandpa,” Iginla said. “I look back, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Except he was a very, very slow driver. Once got a ticket for going too slow, honestly.”

Iginla, as he often does, talked about how fast his career zipped by.

But did he ever make the most of it.

Monday was just a reminder of that.

“I want to thank God for all his blessings, it’s been even better than I ever dreamed,” Iginla said, concluding his speech. “Thank you again for this incredible honour.”

The Hockey Hall of Fame’s latest induction class also featured Marian Hossa, Kevin Lowe, Kim St-Pierre, Doug Wilson and Ken Holland in the builder category. They’ve all been playing the waiting game, since this celebration was postponed by a full year due to the pandemic.

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/WesGilbertson