Iginla headlines Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2020
Jarome Iginla will headline the Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2020.
The Calgary Flames icon and former captain was in his first year of eligibility following a standout career that spanned from 1996 through 2017. Three-time Stanley Cup champion Marian Hossa will join Iginla in the players category along with a pair of defencemen who have waited a long time to hear their names called — Kevin Lowe and Doug Wilson — and Canadian women’s national team goalie Kim Stpierre.
Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland, meanwhile, will go into the hall as a builder, rounding out the 2020 class unveiled Wednesday in Toronto following a vote by the hall’s 18-member selection committee.
Iginla, who also helped Canada win gold at the 2002 and ’10 Olympics, will be the fourth
Black person enshrined in the hall, but just the second recognized for on-ice accomplishments in the NHL.
He will join former Oilers goalie Grant Fuhr, Angela James of the Canadian women’s national team and Willie O’ree — the league’s first Black player — who was inducted as a builder in 2018.
“This selection is hard to believe and makes me reflect and look back on my career,” Iginla said. “I was always just trying to make the NHL and this recognition means a lot to me and my family.”
Iginla registered 525 goals and 1,095 points in 1,219 games from 1996 through 2013 with Calgary before stops with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings. The 42-year-old Edmonton native finished his career with 1,300 points in 1,554 regular-season contests to go along with 37 goals and 31 assists in 81 playoff outings.
Iginla won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer in 2001-02, and grabbed the Rocket Richard Trophy with the most goals that season and again in ’03-04.
Hossa, meanwhile, will become the second NHL player enshrined despite still being on an NHL payroll, following Chris Pronger in ’15.
The 41-year-old, who hasn’t suited up for a game since ’17 and isn’t expected to resume his career because of a serious skin condition, wound up with 525 goals and 1,134 points in 1,309 regular-season games with the Ottawa Senators, Atlanta Thrashers, Penguins, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Hossa added 52 goals and 149 points in 205 playoff outings, winning the Cup with Chicago in 2010, ’13 and ’15.
The Slovak winger was placed on long-term injured reserve by
Chicago in October 2017 and subsequently traded to the Arizona Coyotes in July ’18 in a salary-cap move. Hossa will remain on Arizona’s books through the end of the ’20-21 season.
Lowe played 13 seasons in Edmonton, winning five Stanley Cups. After being traded to the New York Rangers in ’92, Lowe played four more seasons adding a sixth title in ’94.
St-pierre represented Canada on the international stage, helping her country capture three Olympic gold medals and five world championships. She is the eighth woman to be named to the hall.
Wilson played 14 seasons with the Blackhawks and has served as San Jose’s GM since 2003. In 1,024 NHL regular-season games, Wilson recorded 237 goals and 827 points.
Holland was named Detroit’s GM in 1997. spent 22 seasons in the post, winning three Cups. He was hired as GM of the Oilers last May.