Now there’s a thousand reasons to love Flames sniper Jarome Iginla. The always-affable captain proved once again he’s a cut above the rest in a 3-2 road win over the St. Louis Blues Friday night. Iggy, who scored his team’s opening goal and assisted on the Flames’ second tally, also rifled home the winner. It was the 1,000th point of his NHL career. And the best part? There’s more to come. For now, here’s a look at some of Iggy’s finer moments during what’s been a very productive time in the league.
July 8, 1995
After scoring 102 goals and 236 over three seasons with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, selected in the first round (11th overall) by the Dallas Stars.
Dec. 20, 1995
Traded along with F Corey Millen to the Calgary Flames for Joe Nieuwendyk.
April 21, 1996
Made NHL debut in first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks. He became the first 18-year-old to play for the Flames since Dan Quinn (1983) and assisted on a Theo Fleury goal in his first game.
April 23, 1996
Scores first NHL goal but the Flames lose 2-1 and are swept from the post season by the Hawks.
1996-97
Led all freshmen with
50 points, is named to the NHL’s all-rookie team and finishes second to D Bryan Berard in voting for the Calder Trophy.
1997-1998
The sophomore jinx hit Iginla as his totals (13 goals, 32 points) decreased across the board.
Sept. 23, 1998
Returns with a vengeance,
scoring twice in a 5-2 loss in Ottawa. “He’s got all the tools to be a great player and it’s just a matter of him getting some confidence back, and if he gets that, he’ll get back to that high level he set for himself,” said teammate Theo Fleury.
Nov. 7, 1998
It was obvious early in his career the affable Iginla would be a crowd favourite. On this night, he gets out of his car just after 11 p.m., in the rain, to sign autographs.
“When I was a young kid, I dreamed of the day that somebody would ask me for my autograph,” Iginla said. “I practised it in school and changed it. It’s an honour and more
of a pleasure than anything.”
Dec. 20, 1998
Won the hardest-shot title at the Flames skills competition with a 99.8 m.p.h. blast.
1998-1999
Finishes with a team-leading 28 goals and 51 points.
4 1999 Training camp
His success leads to a contract impasse. In a show of good faith, Iginla attends camp without a contract after purchasing his own insurance. He misses the first three games of the season before inking a US$4.9-million deal.
Feb. 26, 2000
Picks up a goal and caeer-high four points in a 5-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers. He extends his points streak to 13 games. He ended up tying Gary Suter’s franchise record at 16 games.
1999-2000
Finishes with career highs — 29 goals, 63 points.
March 25, 2001
Reaches the 30-goal mark for the first time and assists on Dave Lowry’s game-winner as the Flames beat the
Chicago Blackhawks 3-1. He finishes the season with 31 goals and 71 points.
Feb. 24, 2002
Scores a pair of goals as Team Canada beats Team USA 5-2 to win the Olympic gold medal at Salt Lake City, Utah.
March 4, 2002
Notches first career hat-trick in a 5-3 win in New York, taking a pass from Marc Savard and beating Rangers goaltender Mike Richter. “It’s been a while,” the league’s leading scorer said after sniping goals No. 37, 38 and 39. “I”ve been fortunate to have my share of two-goal games but the passes I got tonight were so good. I just closed my eyes and they found their way in.”
April 7, 2002
Officially becomes an NHL sniper with his 50th goal of the season. He takes a pass from Craig Conroy at the Chicago blueline, carries the puck to the top of right circle and blasts a slapshot over Hawks goalie Jocelyn Thibault’s glove. “I’ll tell you, I put my head down and hit it as hard as I could,” Iginla said.
“I was pretty excited going down thinking maybe it’d be 50. It’s a huge thrill. A lot of things have gone well and I’ve gotten a lot of breaks.
I don’t know how many chances I’ll get at this. I realize it’s not every season that opportunity comes.”
April 13, 2002
Finishes the season with 52 goals and 96 points. Wins the Art Ross for most points and Rocket Richard Trophy for sniping the most goals in the league. He was also awarded the Lester B. Pearson Award as the league’s most valuable player as voted by his peers and is a finalist for both the Hart Trophy and the King Clancy Memorial Award.
Sep. 6, 2002
Becomes highest-paid player in franchise history after signing a US$13-million, two-year contract. “He’s an important member of our team and people are excited that he’s here,” said Flames GM Craig Button.
2002-2003
After tallying just four times in the first 21 games, Iginla finishes the season with 35 goals and 67 points. A lingering finger dislocation (from a fight) is at least partly to blame.
Oct. 8, 2003
Named captain of Flames, taking over from linemate Craig Conroy. “It’s humbling. It’s something, when you’re younger, you dream of, for sure,” he said.
April 4, 2004
After a 41-goal (and 73-point) campaign, Iginla ties Rick Nash and Ilya Kovalchuk for the Rocket Richard Trophy.
April 7, 2004
Iginla and the Flames return to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. “I don’t have a lot of NHL playoff experience, so we’ll see how it goes as far as how the game is different,” said the 26-year-old captain, now in his eighth full NHL season. “It’s still hockey and it’s still competing. It might be up a few notches but I’m excited for that.”
April 19, 2004
In one of the performances that will define his career, Iginla scored twice and set up Martin Gelinas’ OT winner as the Flames stunned the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Game 7 of the opening round of the playoffs. “Jarome Iginla tonight was a dominating player,” Calgary coach Darryl Sutter said. “In my 25 years, the game tonight was as dominating as I’ve seen one player in one game of playoff hockey.”
June 3, 2004
Scores a goal as the Flames beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in overtime in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final. Iginla finished with 22 points in the playoff run that fell short as the Bolts won the final two games.
Feb. 15, 2005
Disappointed after the 2004-05 season is officially cancelled due to the lockout, Iginla said the players have bent as far as possible. “A cap is not necessarily fair but we realize maybe it’s not about what’s right for the marketplace or whatever, it’s about what needs to be done to get a deal done. To make it work,” he said. “The owners are in very good shape. If this can’t work, if this isn’t a fair deal, we are going to be out a long time.”
2005-2006
Finishes the season with 35 goals and 67 points, and adds eight points in a seven-game, first-round playoff loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Dec. 7, 2006
Scores his 300th goal and 600th point against the Minnesota Wild.
April 7, 2007
Despite missing 12 games with a knee injury, finishes the season with 39 goals and a career-high 55 assists. Has four points in a six-game playoff loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
July 4, 2007
Signs a five-year, US$35-million extension with Flames.
Nov. 29, 2007
Becomes franchise’s all-time leader in games played when he suits up in tilt No. 804 against the Anaheim Ducks.
Jan. 27, 2008
Became the first Flames player in franchise history to captain the Western Conference all-star team.
March 10, 2008
Breaks Theo Fleury’s franchise record with his 365th goal against St. Louis Blues goaltender Manny Legace.
Dec. 19, 2008
Picks up career point
No. 800 with an assist against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Dec. 31, 2008
Scores twice and picks up a career-best five points in a 6-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers on New Year’s Eve. He had 14 four-point outings before the big five-point night.
Jan. 7, 2009
Named to his fifth all-star game. “I’m goal-less in the past. I’m not going to talk about it this year — that’s the last time I’m going to mention it — but maybe this year I can get one.” He does.
March 1, 2009
Becomes the franchise’s all-time leading scorer when he surpasses Theo Fleury (830 points) during a five-point barrage against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He picks up his 400th goal in the process. “It’s been a great time, and to get to play with the players I’ve played with and the opportunities I’ve gotten — and to get it at home — is special.”
2008-2009
Finished the season with 35 goals and 89 points.
Jan. 30, 2010
Potted two goals and four points against the Edmonton Oilers to reach the 900-point mark.
Feb. 5, 2010
Played in his 1,000th career game against the Florida Panthers.
Feb. 28, 2010
Set up Sidney Crosby’s Golden Goal in overtime as Canada beat Team USA to win the Olympic gold medal at Vancouver.
Jan. 11, 2011
Recorded 500th career assist against the Carolina Hurricanes and was named to his sixth all-star game. He would later withdraw from the game to spend time with his ailing grandmother.
March 6, 2011
Hits the 30-goal mark for the 10th consecutive season.
April 1, 2011
Records 1,000th career point
on the third point he scores
— one of his two goals, and the winner at that — in a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the host St. Louis Blues.
