Hope the Flames have something dialed up for Iggy. He deserves the standing ovation tonight.
I still think my favorite Iginla moment is Game 7 of the 1st round in 04. He absoutley dominated the Canucks and carried the Flames to a historic win. Still see the fist pumps he did on goal.
Iggy Iggy Iggy! Oi Oi Oi!
A nice article about Versteeg's hockey idol.
Quote:
As a youngster growing up in Lethbridge, Kris Versteeg idolized Jarome Iginla.
It was a family thing.
So, just try to imagine the emotions that came with Versteeg being called up from the AHL in 2008 to play his very first game in the NHL against, of all teams, Iginla’s Flames.
In Calgary.
Quote:
“I remember my uncle came to that first NHL game of mine and he showed up in his Iginla jersey to watch me,” chuckled Versteeg. “I was with Chicago. I’m like, ‘What the hell are you doing?’ It just shows you, Jarome meant a lot to this city and to a lot of people
Quote:
“The 2004 playoff run, I know they were a good team and Darryl (Sutter) had them playing hard, but (Iginla) damn near single-handedly carried them there,” said Versteeg, echoing a sentiment shared universally. “Without Iggy, they don’t go there. I’ve been a huge fan of him and have so much respect for what he continues to do for the game.
Quote:
“I was extremely star struck,” said Versteeg, 30, of his first faceoff against the 500-goal man. “I played hard against him every time and I don’t expect to do anything different. I still have a picture in my basement of my first NHL game in Calgary and its my first faceoff lineup and it’s against Iginla.”
Quote:
“I remember in the Calgary Sun there was a big picture of my head and his head and my family is going, ‘What’s going on?’ because we loved Iginla.”
Diehard Flames fans will face a similar dilemma Wednesday night when Iginla returns with the Los Angeles Kings for what will almost certainly be his final spin at the rink he ruled in for 17 seasons.
While the evening’s focus will revolve around the Flames’ chance to clinch a playoff spot, the Saddledome will be peppered with people in Iginla jerseys hoping for one final chance to salute the most prolific Flames player of all time.
It will most certainly have to be an impromptu moment as Iginla once again rejected the Flames’ request to honour him, as he did his last time through.
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I honestly never thought I'd see the day he's be done playing hockey. Seemed like he would forever be an immortal player who would never retire. Sad to think that he is now on the verge.
Deep down I hope he has 1 more year in him, and the reason he doesn't want a ceremony is because he has unfinished business!
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My favorite player of all time and a guy who I was proud to call our captain for all those years.
Somewhat strange situation with Iggy's current team potentially being eliminated from the playoffs (officially, they are definitely done even if they win tonight) and his old team where he created his legacy will be the team to do while punching their ticket to the playoffs.
Flames fans have been lucky to have Iggy all these years. We have also been very lucky that once the organization and player parted ways the Flames were able to turn things around relatively quickly even though they got nothing when trading Iginla.
Can't blame him for declining the request to honour him, even if he's only 10% on playing next year that would just feel tacky to have him honoured and then play 3 more games here next year.
Yeah, I'm convinced he plays another year and that is why he doesn't want a tribute. Probably, a tribute in his mind means he is done and he isn't ready to call it.
Jarome Iginla's final trip to the dome?
