Joe Sakic

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</div></div> Joseph Steven Sakic (born July 7, 1969 in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada) is a professional ice hockey player who is the captain of the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League. On December 21, 2005, Sakic was named captain of Team Canada for the 2006 Winter Olympics. He is the 11th all-time points scorer in the NHL and 1st among active players.

[edit] Early life

He was born in Vancouver to Marijan, his father, and Slavica, his mother, who were immigrants from Croatia. Joe didn't speak English until he entered kindergarten.<ref name="GrowingUp">Larry Wigge (2006). Powers far beyond mortal men. NHL.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-19.</ref> Growing up, his boyhood idol was Wayne Gretzky.

Although media guides list his birthplace as Burnaby, British Columbia, he was actually born in Vancouver; he grew up in Burnaby and attended Burnaby North Secondary School. He is a fan favourite in the Vancouver region, and a street in Burnaby has been named "Joe Sakic Way" in his honour. He is affectionately known as "Burnaby Joe" to the fans in the Vancouver region and "Super Joe" to the fans in Colorado.

His brother, Brian, played center for the Flint Generals in the United Hockey League.

[edit] Playing career

In 1986-87, Joe was Rookie of the Year for the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL. He notched 60 goals and 73 assists for 133 points. The next year, 1987-88, Joe was the WHL Player of the Year and Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year scoring 160 points (78 goals, 82 assists).

Sakic was drafted 15th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, and made his NHL debut in October, 1988.

Sakic made his NHL debut on October 6, 1988 against the Hartford Whalers, recording an assist in his first game. His first goal came two days later against goaltender Sean Burke, then of the New Jersey Devils.

In 1989-90, his second NHL season, Sakic scored 100 points in the NHL for the first time.

Sakic earned the title of captain for the first time in 1990. Sakic has been the sole captain of the Nordiques/Avalanche since the 1992-93 season. Under his leadership, the Nords made the playoffs in 1993 and the lockout-shortened season of 1995. The next year, he moved with the franchise as they became the Colorado Avalanche, leading them to the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001.

Sakic was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the 1996 NHL playoffs. In 2001, He won a trio of awards including the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's MVP, the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly conduct, and the Lester B. Pearson Award as the league MVP voted for by his peers.

Sakic is known for his prolific offensive skills and is considered by many to have the best wrist shot in the NHL.

Sakic had 2 goals and 2 assists in Canada's gold medal win over Team USA in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and was named its MVP. He also played a part in Canada's triumph in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Sakic captained the heavily favoured but disappointing Team Canada, which failed to medal.

In June 2006, Sakic signed a one-year, $5.75 million US deal to keep him with the Avalanche for the 2006-07 season.<ref name="Contract">Adrian Dater (2006). Sakic stays with Avs. DenverPost.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-19.</ref>

On July 3, 2006, Sakic became the leader among active players for points scored when Steve Yzerman retired.

Sakic is also the last remaining player to be with the Avalanche since its move from Quebec in 1995.

[edit] Film career

Sakic played an anonymous player during the tryout scene of Happy Gilmore.

[edit] Awards

• 1987 - WHL East Second All-Star Team
• 1987 - WHL Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year)
• 1988 - WHL East First All-Star Team
• 1988 - WHL Bobby Clarke Trophy (Leading Scorer)
• 1988 - WHL Player of the Year
• 1988 - CHL Player of the Year (Canadian Major Junior)
• 1996 - Conn Smythe Trophy
• 1998 - M.A.C. (Most Assists with Children) Award winner
• 2001 - Hart Memorial Trophy
• 2001 - Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
• 2001 - Bud Light Plus/Minus Award (shared with Patrik Elias)
• 2001 - Lester B. Pearson Award
• 2002 - 2002 Winter Olympic Games Ice Hockey Tournament Most Valuable Player
• 2001 - NHL First All-Star Team
• 2002 - NHL First All-Star Team
• 2004 - NHL First All-Star Team
• 2004 - NHL All-Star Game MVP
• 2004 - NHL/Sheraton Road Performer Award (player with the most road points)
• Played in 11 NHL All-Star Games - 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004. He was captain for the 2002 team.
• In 1998, with considerable career achievements yet to come, he was ranked number 94 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

[edit] Records and achievements

• Holds the Colorado Avalanche franchise record for goals, assists, and points (575G-915A-1,490P).
• 11th place among the top all-time NHL point scorers.
• Holds record for most career playoff overtime goals (7).
• First player in NHL history to record a 100-point season while playing for the last place team (Quebec Nordiques): 102 points in 1989-90. He repeated the feat the following season with 109 points.
• Fourth player to captain his team to a Stanley Cup championship and win the Hart Memorial Trophy in the same year. The others are Bobby Clarke, Wayne Gretzky, and Mark Messier.
• Has the 2nd-highest single-playoff goal total with 18 goals in 1996, one behind the record of 19 held by Reggie Leach and Jari Kurri.
• Scored his 500th career goal on December 11, 2002 against the Vancouver Canucks.
• Recorded his 1000th career point on December 27, 1999 against the St. Louis Blues.
• Played his 1000th career game on March 9, 2002 against the Los Angeles Kings.
• Became only the 16th player in NHL history to reach 900 assists, against the Calgary Flames on March 12, 2006.
• As of the end of the 2005-06 regular season has been the only team captain in Colorado Avalanche history. Became the longest-tenured active team captain in the NHL upon the retirement of Steve Yzerman, and since Yzerman's retirement, he has been the NHL's leading scorer, and leading assist producer.
• Became just the 11th player to reach 1500 NHL points on 25th October against Washington Capitals, by recording an assist. He also registered a goal in the same game.
• Only the 6th player to record 1500 points with one franchise. All 1500 of Sakic's points have come with the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise. Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers), Gordie Howe (Detroit Red Wings), Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins), Raymond Bourque (Boston Bruins) and Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) have also achieved this feat.

[edit] Career Statistics

Correct as of December 3rd, 2006

[edit] International play

Played for Canada in:

• 1988 World Junior Championships (gold medal)
• 1991 World Championships (silver medal)
• 1994 World Championships (gold medal)
• 1996 World Cup of Hockey (silver medal)
• 1998 Winter Olympics (failed to medal)
• 2002 Winter Olympics (gold medal)
• 2004 World Cup of Hockey (gold medal)
• 2006 Winter Olympics (captain, failed to medal)

International statistics

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Quebec Nordiques
• List of NHL statistical leaders
• List of NHL seasons
• List of NHL players with 1000 points
• List of NHL players
• List of NHL players with 500 goals

[edit] External links

• CBS SportsLine - Joe Sakic's statistics at CBS SportsLine.com.

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