Three Quebecers will enter the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 13.
They are the former general manager of the Quebec Nordiques and the Colorado Avalanche Pierre Lacroix in the builder category as well as Pierre Turgeon and Caroline Ouellette in the players category.
Lacroix was the architect of the Avalanche teams that won the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001. Appointed general manager of the Quebec Nordiques in 1994, the Montreal native followed the team to Denver the following season, where he acquired Patrick Roy in a major transaction. He also made the high-profile acquisitions of Hall of Famers Raymond Bourque and Rob Blake.
The call for the announcement of the induction of Pierre Lacroix was made to his widow, Colombe, who received the great news with great emotion. “It’s a dream come true. I didn’t think that was going to happen. He wanted it so badly. Thank you, thank you very much, ”she reacted in tears.
He stepped down as general manager in 2006 and remained as team president until 2013.
Lacroix died in 2020 from complications from COVID-19.
Ken Hitchcock is also admitted to the builders.
Three former goalies will also become hockey immortals. They are Tom Barrasso, Mike Vernon and Henrik Lundqvist.
A great career for Turgeon
Turgeon was drafted 1st overall by the Buffalo Sabers in the 1987 draft. In his first season in the National League, Turgeon scored 14 goals and collected 42 points in 76 games.
Turgeon reached the 100 point mark in the 1989-90 season.
Welcome to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Pierre Turgeon.#HHOF2023 | #HHOF pic.twitter.com/ILjBwON57m
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame)
June 21, 2023
Turgeon is honored with this honor, he who still plays twice a week. “With hindsight, when you look back, you think of all you have done and all those who have helped you, you realize that it is a great adventure and a privilege. It’s crazy to imagine that I made my living playing hockey. ”
In 1991, Turgeon was traded to the New York Islanders along with Benoit Hogue, Uwe Krupp and Dave Mcllwain. In his second season with New York, Turgeon had the only 50 or more goal campaign of his career, in addition to finishing the season with a career-high 132 points.
In three seasons with the Islanders, he will obtain 313 points.
Turgeon was traded to the Montreal Canadiens during the 1994-95 season for Kirk Muller, Mathieu Schneider and Craig Darby. He was then named captain of the Habs. Turgeon will only play 104 games in three seasons with the Habs. He will still collect 127 points.
With only nine games played in the 1996 season, Turgeon was traded to the Blues for Murray Baron, Craig Conroy and Shayne Corson. After five seasons with the Blues, Turgeon will wear the colors of the Stars and the Avalanche.
In 1,294 games in the National League, he will have scored 515 goals in addition to collecting 1,327 points.
Turgeon also appeared in four All-Star Games and won the Lady Byng Trophy in 1993.
He failed to win the Stanley Cup in 19 NHL seasons. Turgeon officially announced his retirement on September 5, 2007.
Ouellette, a great Olympian
Caroline Ouellette is one of three hockey players to have won Olympic gold at least four times, along with her teammates Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford. Ouellette helped Canada reach the top step of the podium at the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 Games.
In her second year of eligibility, the Quebecer also won the Women’s World Hockey Championship six times.
Consecration for King Henrik
Lundqvist, who won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s Most Outstanding Goaltender in 2012, ranks sixth in league history in wins (459), ninth in games played by a goaltender (887) and 17th in shutouts (64).
A native of Sweden, Lundqvist is the European goaltender with the most wins in NHL history.
Lundqvist, 41, helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2014. He also reached the East Final in 2012 and 2015.
On the international stage, he won gold at the 2006 Olympics in Turin.
A great honor for Barrasso
A Boston native, Barrasso is best remembered for helping the Pittsburgh Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 1991 and 1992. Originally selected with the fifth overall pick in the 1983 draft by the Buffalo Sabers , Barrasso immediately made an impact on his team, winning both the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year and the Vézina in 1984. He went on to play 777 career games over 19 seasons with the Sabers, Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues.
In his career, Barrasso went 369-277-86 with a 3.24 goals-against average and .892 save percentage.
Barrasso, 58, holds the record for most assists by a goaltender with 48, as well as the record for most consecutive playoff wins with 14.
Internationally, Barrasso has represented the United States on several occasions, including two Canada Cups and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where Team USA finished second.
Two cuts for Vernon
A native of Calgary, Vernon, now 60, helped the Flames win their only Stanley Cup in 1989. 56th overall draft selection in 1981, Vernon played 781 games in 19 seasons with the Flames, Red Wings of Detroit., San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers. He finished his career with a 385-273-92 record with a .889 save percentage and a 2.98 goals-against average.
Vernon won a second Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 1997 where he was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
Ken Hitchcock enters through the front door
Inducted as a builder, Edmonton native Ken Hitchcock was an accomplished junior hockey coach before moving to the NHL. A two-time WHL Coach of the Year, Hitchcock led the Kamloops Blazers to four division titles and two WHL championships in his six years at the helm. the head of the club.
The 71-year-old Hitchcock went on to record the fourth most wins in NHL history with 849 in 21 seasons with the Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Blues and Oilers. Edmonton.
“I started by coaching young people in minor hockey. To be here today, it’s almost impossible for me to realize it, Hitchcock said. When I got the call, I really didn’t expect it. It was a total shock. It’s an incredible honor. ”
Hitchcock led the Stars to the franchise’s only Stanley Cup in 1999. Hitchcock was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2019.
