 2009-07-11
Stoic Joe Sakic finally cracked, allowing for a rare show of emotion.
Delivering a speech that had kept him up most of the night fretting, the longtime Colorado Avalanche captain broke down, his voice betraying him as he stared into a room packed with family, friends and teammates - even the governor of the state.
Sakic officially hung up his skates Thursday, ending his standout 20-year career. Try as he might, he simply couldn't get through his prepared speech without choking up.
"So many great memories," Sakic said, fighting back tears.
The pride of Burnaby, B.C., Sakic had hoped to play one more season, possibly culminating his career by suiting up for Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
His body simply wouldn't allow it.
Sakic missed most of the 2008-09 season with an aching back that required surgery to repair a herniated disk. He tried to make his way back onto the ice before the end of the season, but couldn't.
That's when he suspected his career was finished.
"I didn't think I could be the player I wanted to be," said the 40-year-old Sakic, who has been the face of the franchise since the team moved to Denver in 1995. "I always said to myself that the minute I thought I'd slipped, and not be the player I wanted to be, it was time for me to go."
He wore the captain's "C" for 16 straight seasons and guided the team to Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001, won league MVP honours in 2001, was a 13-time all-star and led Canada to an Olympic gold medal in 2002.
Sakic also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship in 2001, showing his true character by handing the Stanley Cup over to Bourque after winning the title and letting the longtime defenseman hoist the trophy.
Known for his lethal wrist shot and precision passing, Sakic leaves the game among the NHL's career scoring leaders. He's eighth in points (1,641), 11th in assists (1,016) and 14th in goals (625).
He was never an intimidating presence - he's only five-foot-11 and 195 pounds - but made up for it with determination and intelligence.
There are only four players in league history that have scored more points with one franchise than Sakic: Gordie Howe (1,809) and Steve Yzerman (1,755) with Detroit, Mario Lemieux with Pittsburgh (1,723) and Wayne Gretzky with Edmonton (1,669).
Sakic was originally taken by Quebec with the 15th pick in the 1987 draft. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 6, 1988, picking up his first assist against the then Hartford Whalers. Two nights later against New Jersey, he scored his first goal.
That would be a familiar occurrence for the quiet superstar.
Author: acatip
|
Archive
05/2012
04/2012
03/2012
02/2012
01/2012
12/2011
11/2011
10/2011
09/2011
08/2011
07/2011
06/2011
05/2011
04/2011
03/2011
02/2011
01/2011
12/2010
11/2010
10/2010
09/2010
08/2010
07/2010
06/2010
05/2010
04/2010
03/2010
02/2010
01/2010
12/2009
11/2009
10/2009
09/2009
08/2009
07/2009
06/2009
05/2009
04/2009
03/2009
02/2009
01/2009
12/2008
11/2008
10/2008
09/2008
08/2008
07/2008
06/2008
05/2008
04/2008
03/2008
02/2008
01/2008
01/2000
|
