He was part of the Team Canada incarnation that won the 2004 World Cup. His involvement with the WHA was central to their brief pre-NHL merger success, forcing the NHL to recruit European talent and expand to new markets. With an HPI of 48.62, Henri Richard is the 7th most famous Canadian Hockey Player. In 1976, Orr left Boston as a free agent to join the Black Hawks, but repeated injuries had effectively destroyed his left knee, and he retired in 1978 at age 30. Benn was an outright steal for the Stars, selected in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Born: July 7, 1969, in Burnaby, British Columbia. Publishing date. This page is not available in other languages. Arguably one of the best defencemen of his generationor at least one of the few that could give Niklas Lidstrom a run for the titleScott Niedermayer is simply a winner. Post-1980s IIHF World Championship stats sourced from: IIHF Official Website and the Official Guide & Record Books of the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation.Pre-1980s stats sourced primarily from the wonderful Russian Hockey site https://ice-hockey-stat.com/ and their beautifully documented international hockey history. From sea to shining sea, heres a look at the best and most dominant active NHL player from each Canadian province. He also ranks second in NHL history with 1.883 points-per-game average, behind only Wayne Gretzky (1.921). Our sites use cookies to help streamline your experience and enable us to plan future improvements. Spending the biggest chunk of his NHL career with the San Jose Sharks (twice), Thornton has also repped the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers . This makes Canada the birth place of the most number of Hockey Players. 2008 edition of the IIHF World Championship, If 22 World Championship titles won by the, 2008 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships, 2008 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, 2008 IIHF World Championship Division III, 2008 IIHF World Championship Division III Qualification, "Vancouver 2010 Olympic Men's Ice Hockey format announced", 2008 Ice Hockey World Championship at Hockey Canada website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2008_IIHF_World_Championship&oldid=1157321542, 2008 IIHF Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, International ice hockey competitions hosted by Canada, Ice hockey competitions in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2023, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, 2 points for a win in overtime or in shootout, 1 point for a loss in overtime or in shootout, This page was last edited on 27 May 2023, at 21:50. The most famous living hockey players include Wayne Gretzky, Phil Esposito, and Mario Lemieux. NHL. He led the NHL in goals seven times, the second most of any player in history, and led the WHA in goals one additional time while being the WHA's most valuable player two times. Bergeron played a key role in the Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup victory, posting four goals and 16 assists including two goals in the deciding Game 7 against the Vancouver Canucks and a plus-15 rating in 23 games. France defeated Italy, while Slovakia defeated Slovenia, both in 2 games, and secured themselves a place among the top sixteen hockey nations in the world. He is the only player to score one goal in each of the five possible situations in a single NHL game, a feat he accomplished in 1988. Three Stanley Cups and four Vezina trophies. With an HPI of 57.79, Maurice Richard is the 2nd most famous Canadian Hockey Player. Pantheon has 94 people classified as hockey players born between 1885 and 1997. (2002 and 2010). Won it four times. At his retirement, his 801 goals, 1,049 assists, and 1,850 total points were all NHL records that stood until they were broken by Wayne Gretzky, who himself has been a major champion of Howe's legacy. Like Super Mario, Sydney Crosby doesn't need much of an introduction. But the defenseman, who was . (1995, 2000, 2003 and 2007). In 2007, he won the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Trophy. The riot has taken on a mythical quality in the decades since and is often viewed as a precursor to Quebec's Quiet Revolution. He was named to the100 Greatest NHL Players list in 2017. 100 Greatest NHL Players The 100 Greatest NHL Players is a centerpiece in honoring 100 years of NHL hockey. Named captain of the Red Wings in 1986, Yzerman played more than 1,300 games wearing the C. He holds the record as the longest-serving captain in professional sports, not just hockey. Canada's best 2008 goalies - Elite Prospects. His biography has been translated into 22 different languages. With Orr, the Bruins won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1970 and 1972, and lost in the 1974 Final. That year, he became the youngest captain in the NHL. He has also picked up a gold medal (2002) as the starting goalie and another as the backup goalie (2010) in the Olympics. But looking at the historical data, one trend is absolutely clear: Saskatchewan is far and away the most dominant hockey region in Canada, surpassing every other province and territory according to players per capita, in every decade since the 1950s (last season, Saskatchewan had 3.6 NHL players per 100K residents). There arent many active players from New Brunswick, but St. Louis Blues goaltender Jake Allen certainly stands out as the most successful. Despite his lengthy absences from the game, his play remained at a high level upon his return to the ice; he won the Hart Trophy and scoring title in 199596 after sitting out the entire previous season. Chicago Blackhawks captain and three-time Stanley Cup-winning ice-hockey player Jonathan Toews became the second-youngest NHL captain ever, at 20. Oh, and he was also named to the All-Star game everysingle year of his career, without fail. The two-time Art Ross Trophy-winning player became the youngest NHL captain and has won the gold at the 2016 Ice Hockey World Championships, the 2015 Junior Championships, and the 2013 U-18 Championships. Hes also won an eye-popping 57.3 percent of his faceoffs. British Columbia Jamie Benn Lemieux also missed the entire 199495 season due to Hodgkin's lymphoma. The closest Smyth has come to the Stanley Cup was the Edmonton Oilers' run to the finals in 2005. In October 2016, he returned to the Oilers as a minority partner and vice-chairman of their parent company, Oilers Entertainment Group. His best offensive season came in 2017-18, his second campaign with the New Jersey Devils. In his short career, Toews has managed to earn entry into the exclusive Triple Gold Club by winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, Olympic gold in 2010, and winning the world championships in 2007. Honourable Mentions: Mike Green, William Nylander, Brayden Point. Liam Kerr (F) 2008 2008: 2023 | Toronto Red Wings U15 AAA | GTHL U15: 25 833: 3. His 76 goals in 77 games in 1992-93 is the fifth-best goal-scoring season in NHL history. Honourable mentions: Duncan Keith, Mark Stone, Alexander Steen. Howe was most famous for his scoring prowess, physical strength and career longevity, and redefined the ideal qualities of a forward. A complete player who possesses a hard shot and plays a heavy game, Benn has been a Stars cornerstone for a long time but somehow manages to keep a fairly low profile despite being an NHL All-Star. Minn-Kota Bantam A. Minn-Kota Bantam B. Atlantic District 2008 Tier 1. Yzerman was a leader for Team Canada as well, winning gold in the 1984 Canada Cup, as well as the 2002 Olympics. 99 a 42-point lead on the point total of Jaromir Jagr, who played . In his first four seasons with the club, hes notched 30 goals and 91 assists in 238 games and skated an average of 18:58. Bossy also holds the NHL record with nine consecutive seasons of 50-plus goals. The only other player to achieve this feat was Wayne Gretzky. This makes Canada the birth place of the most number of Hockey Players. Creative Commons Attribution + Noncommercial. Crosby, who is an elite passer that also owns perhaps the best backhand shot of all-time, has put 1,502 points in 1,190-career games and has reached the 100-point plateau in six separate seasons. - Most goals (12), assists (25) and points (37) by a defenceman in a single playoffs, - Most goals (48) in a season by a defenceman, - Longest point streak (28 games) by a defenceman. Teams finishing last in all four Preliminary Round groups competed in the Relegation Round in order to determine which two nations would be relegated to the IIHF World Championship Division I. Do I really need to explain how the Great One made the list? League. The ceremony will take place in Canada during the 2008 World Championship."[2]. Played 1988 to 2009 for the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. Hes won two Art Ross Trophies, Hart Trophies, and Ted Lindsay Awards each. Bobby Orr called him "the most talented player I've ever seen." His blonde hair, skating speed, end-to-end rushes, and ability to shoot the puck at very high velocity all earned him the name "The Golden Jet". The Lightning officially parted ways with pending unrestricted free agent Corey Perry, trading his rights to the Blackhawks for a seventh-round pick in 2024. Take a look back at the careers of the six Janes All In honourees. These are some of the best Canadian hockey players to ever live, so if you're a native of Canada and are aspiring to play hockey professionally then these people should be your idols. Orr was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979 at age 31, the youngest to be inducted at that time. The tournament was won by Russia which claimed its first gold medal since 1993. Gretzky's 1,963 helpers in 1,487 games would still give No. Hes Sidney Crosby. In 1998, Richard was diagnosed with abdominal cancer and died from the disease two years later. The tournament was won by Russia which claimed its first gold medal since 1993. In addition, Gretzky tallied over 100 points in 15 professional seasons, 13 of them consecutive. The men's tournament was introduced at the 1920 Summer Olympics, and permanently added to the Winter Olympic Games in 1924. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Played 2005 to present for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Orr remains the only defenceman to have won the league scoring title with two Art Ross Trophies. Two playersMartin Brodeur and Chris Prongerhave played on four teams. This list of famous Canadian Hockey Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biographys online popularity. flipped this story into. NHL Public opinion Editor's Picks Current statistics on this topic Hockey NHL - number of Stanley Cups won by team 1915-2022 Hockey Average ticket price for an NHL game by team 2019/20 Sports. Subban is a Canadian ice hockey player who currently plays as a defenceman for the NHL's New Jersey Devils. Born: Jan. 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario. The relegation round was different too, as it consisted of two best-of-three series instead of a round robin series between four teams. He helped the team capture Lord Stanleys Mug in 2007 by putting up points in 21 games that postseason, is a three-time NHL All-Star, and has a pair of Olympic gold medals, too. Orr used his ice skating speed, scoring, and play-making abilities to revolutionize the position of defenceman. Of course "best" is a subjective term, so we based our rankings on which Canadian hockey players are currently at the top of their game from an athletic standpoint, an entertainment perspective, how valuable they are to their team and their respective league. Find out more about the greatest Canadian Ice Hockey Players, including Wayne Douglas Gretzky, Wayne Gretzky, Taylor Kitsch, Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. Two gold medals. Amidst the greatest Canadian born hockey players of all time, we're tossing in those clunky moving, cement-filled skates of the worst Canadian born hockey players of all time. In 1995, Smyth won the World Junior Championships. This visualization shows the lifespans of the 12 most globally memorable Hockey Players since 1700. 40 40. These players were named to the Olympic roster, but did not play in any games. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983, the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, and received the Wayne Gretzky International Award in 2003. Played 1985 to 2003 for the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche. [12] In 2018, NHL players were not allowed to participate. Although the Oilers were abysmal for most of his tenure there, Hall still has 264 goals and 429 assists for 693 points in his 13-year career. The perfect example of his leadership and drive to win occurred during Game 7 of the first-round series between his Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks during the 2011 playoffs. More than perhaps any other player on this list, Steve Yzerman personifies leadership. He would go on to manage the 2010 Olympic team that won gold as well. In the 2021/22 season, there were a total of over 513 thousand registered ice hockey players in Canada according to the International Ice Hockey Federation. He was traded to the Arizona Coyotes, where he recorded 10 goals and 17 assists in 30 games before the NHL shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was the inaugural recipient of the NHL Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Manage Settings Immediately rising to stardom, he has continued to impress the audience with his powerful gameplay. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 12 seasons, the first 10 with the Boston Bruins, followed by two with the Chicago Black Hawks. Getzlaf averaged nearly a point per game over his 17-year career, which hes spent entirely with the Anaheim Ducks. At the time of his retirement in 1999, he held 61 NHL records: 40 regular season records, 15 playoff records, and 6 All-Star records.Born and raised in Brantford, Ontario, Gretzky honed his skills on a backyard rink and regularly played minor hockey at a level far above his peers. Lemieux's NHL debut was on October 11, 1984 and his final game took place on December 16, 2005. Aside from his impressive Stanley Cups, Conn Smythe trophies and scoring titles, Mario Lemieux was a clutch player for Team Canada. A Stanley Cup (2009), Rocket Richard Trophy (2010), Art Ross Trophy (2007) and a Hart Trophy (2007) are a pretty good start to stocking his trophy case. Born: Oct. 5, 1965, in Quebec City, Quebec. Most of his achievements as a player were overshadowed by his reputation of being a fighter inside the rink as well as his off-ice antics and brushes with the law. Top 2008 born Canadian players. In 1999, he bought the then-bankrupt Penguins and their top minor-league affiliate, the American Hockey League's (AHL) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and was the team's principal owner until selling controlling interest in the team to Fenway Sports Group in 2021. Widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time, he made his professional debut in 2005. In 2002, he won Olympic gold in Salt Lake. This video is following some of the Best 2006 born hockey players in the whole world. But it was the timing of goals that cemented his reputation as a clutch scorer. He hasnt really looked back since then. began the season with the Buffalo Sabres on a one-year contract. Joseph Henri Maurice "Rocket" Richard (; French: [ia]; August 4, 1921 May 27, 2000) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens. He made a brief return to the NHL in 197980, playing one season with the Hartford Whalers, then retired at age 52. He also supported aspiring hockey players and often bought match tickets for underprivileged children. One of the NHL's best goal scorers, Hull scored 741 times in the regular season and another 103 times in the playoffs. The Great One. The pride of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. Clarke had 1,210 points in 1,144 NHL games and captained the Philadelphia . We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Chris Pronger holds the record for most games played, having dressed for 25 games in four Olympics between 1998 and 2010. Nicknamed "the Great One", he has been called the greatest ice hockey player ever by many sportswriters, players, The Hockey News, and by the NHL itself, based on extensive surveys of hockey writers, ex-players, general managers and coaches. Early complaints about his all around game and fitness led Team Canada snubbing him, at which point Hull took advantage of his dual citizenship to play for the US national team, which actually wanted him. He is the only man to have his name on the Cup both as a player and owner. Potvin captained the Islanders in their dynasty years, collecting four Stanley Cups. Ryan Getzlaf just edges out Patrick Marleau for the title of best current Saskatchewanian. [1], On May 8, 2007, the IIHF announced it "will also formalize the Triple Gold Club by awarding commemorative medals to the 19 players who have won the three most prestigious championships in world hockey: Olympic gold, Stanley Cup, and World Championship gold. Considered to be the best player in the .more #28 of 56 Athletes Who Won MVP Before Turning 25 #44 of 45 The Best Selling Jerseys of 2023 #2 of 80 The Greatest Edmonton Oilers of All Time 2 Nathan MacKinnon Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada 401 votes Team: Colorado Avalanche Position: Centre Continue with Recommended Cookies. Born: Aug. 9, 1964, in Belleville, Ontario. [3] Between 1920 and 1952, seven Olympic ice hockey tournaments were held and Canada won six gold medals and a silver in 1936. Men's ice hockey tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since 1920. Born: Aug. 7, 1987, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also won the Cup while with Anaheim in 2007. He won the Stanley Cup in 1999 with the Dallas Stars and again in 2002 with the Detroit Red Wings. Niedermayer is so far past the fabled Triple Gold Club that they need to invent a new club just for him. the NHL broke down what makes Captain Serious so effective. Howe retired for the first time in 1971 and was immediately inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame that same year. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Vote for Your Favourite Canadian Ice Hockey Players, (One of the Greatest Ice Hockey Players in the History of the National Hockey League), Nicknamed "The Great One, Wayne Gretzky is a four-time, (One of the Greatest Ice Hockey Players of All Time), (Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Centre), (Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Defenceman), (Canadian-American Former ProfessionalIce HockeyGoaltender), (CanadianAmerican Former Ice Hockey Player and General Manager), (Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Player), (Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Executive and Former Player), (Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Right Winger), (Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Defenceman and a Former Advisor to the Florida Panthers), Canadian ice-hockey star Bobby Orr is known for his 12-year, (Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Centre), CanadianAmericanSwiss ice-hockey player Joe Thornton, or Jumbo Joe, currently plays for the, (Canadian FormerIce Hockey Player and Four-Time Olympic Gold Medalist), (Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Defenceman), (CanadianAmerican Professional Ice Hockey Executive and Former Player), (Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Player Who Plays as a Centre), (Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Winger), (Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Goaltender), (Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Goaltender and Coach), (Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Player Who Played Centre), (Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Player), (The First Ice Hockey Player to Score More Than 100 Points in a Season), (Former Canadian Ice Hockey Player Who Played as a Winger), (Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Forward), (Former Ice Hockey Player - Holds Records for Most Career Goals, Assists & Points By a Defenceman in the NHL), (Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Goaltender), Canadian former ice-hockey player Brooks Laich is known for his successful stints with. For more information about how Hockey Canada handles the information we collect, please review our, 2022-23 National Para Hockey Development Team | Series vs. United States, BFL Female Coach of the Year Julie Venselaar is growing hockey in Powell River, B.C., by creating opportunity for girls and women to share the ice together, Haneet Parhar thought she was done with hockey after university, but through coaching, the BFL Female Coach of the Year found her way back to the game, Working in part with the Newfoundland Growlers, BFL Female Coach of the Year Alicia MacDonalds belief is creating opportunities for herself and for others, Hockey Canada Foundation announces new board members, Steven Albiani, Angela James and Brad Morris join Hockey Canada Foundation Board of Directors, World Juniors 50/50 draws pass $1 million in sales, Proceeds support community programs on and off the ice. In 1918, Vzina became the first NHL goaltender to both record a shutout and earn an assist on a goal. Between 1971 and 1991, Lafleur played right wing for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Quebec Nordiques in an NHL career spanning 17 seasons, and five Stanley Cup championships in 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979 (all with the Canadiens). Related: NHLs Top 5 Left Wingers of the Decade. [7][8] In 1986, the IOC voted to allow all athletes to compete in Olympic Games, starting in 1988. [3], This was also the first major IIHF championship that used the four-official system with two referees and two linesmen instead of standard three-official system with only one referee.[4]. We follow some of the brightest and best youth hockey upcoming stars on their paths to the show, so if you want to see more content like this, subscribe down below, or check out some of our other social media pages! His biography has been translated into 20 different languages. The top three teams in the standings of each group of the Preliminary Round advance to the Qualifying Round, and are placed in two groups: teams from Groups A and D compete in Group E, while teams from Groups B and C compete in Group F. Each team is to play three games in this round, one against each of the three teams from the other group with which they have been paired. His biography has been translated into 19 different languages. The only goaltender to play for the Canadiens between 1910 and 1925, Vzina helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 1916 and 1924, while reaching the Stanley Cup Finals three more times. [39] (death announced on this date) Nahel M., 17, French motorist, shot. Including Trottier may be cause for some criticism, as he did shun Canada to play for the US national team in the 1984 Canada Cup. Canada has produced some very talented hockey players over the years, including centers, goalies, wings and defensive players. He ranks second in NHL history with a 1.129 career assists-per-game average, behind only Wayne Gretzky (1.320). Glenn Anderson has six Stanley Cup rings, winning five during the glory days of the Edmonton Oilers. And no small feat, he holds the NHL records for career goals (410), assists (1,169) and points (1,579) by a defenceman. During his 23 year playing career, from 1957 to 1980, he played in both the National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Chicago Black Hawks, Winnipeg Jets, and Hartford Whalers. CALGARY, AB - Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), announced on Wednesday the 25 players that attend the Team Canada West pre-tournament camp prior to the 2008 World Junior A Challenge. In his 19-year career, which hes spent entirely with the Bruins, he has 427 goals and 613 assists for 1,040 points and has tallied 50-plus points 14 times. Chosen in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft after a standout juniors career with the Windsor Spitfires in which he helped the club capture back-to-back Memorial Cups and was the Cup MVP both times, the left-winger really came into his own in 2013-14, when he posted 80 points. The tournament was also included as part of the celebrations of Quebec City's 400th anniversary. Best - Scott Niedermayer. Perry picked up 31 of his 417 career . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Puck Prospects is one of the worlds greatest youth hockey social media pages. Hull's inclusion on this list is not without controversy, as he never played a game for Team Canada, despite his citizenship. The game will miss him." He then followed it up by captaining the national team to another gold medal in the World Cup during the 2004 NHL lockout. [ Related: Top 10 Finnish Players in the NHL] 10) Ryan Getzlaf One of the best leaders and centers in the NHL today is Ryan Getzlaf. A prolific playmaker who was outstanding especially when playing with fellow 2003 pick Corey Perry the duo was even referred to as Hockeys Version of Pairs Skaters by the New York Times the centre had 282 goals and 737 assists for 1,019 points in his 1,157-game career. If you want to be featured make sure to shoot us a DM on Instagram . Bergeron doesnt appear to be slowing down, either: despite being 35 years old, he set a new high with 79 points in 2018-19 season and operated at a near point-per-game clip in both 2019-20 and 2020-21. He has played 84 games for Team Canada, and has been named the captain in six different tournaments. 1) WAYNE GRETZKY - C. It requires one sentence to make the case that Wayne Gretzky is the best hockey player of all time: he would lead the NHL's all-time scoring list if you subtracted goals from his point total. Oilers' 3 Worst Draft Day Decisions During McDavid Era. He was the first non-politician to be honoured by the province of Quebec with a state funeral. In 2017, Howe was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players".Howe made his NHL debut with the Red Wings in 1946. His #7 jersey was retired by the Bruins on December 3, 1987, and there is a statue in his likeness at Tampa Bay's Amalie Arena. However, he isn't just a Slapshot parody. His younger brother Henri also played his entire career with the Canadiens, the two as teammates for Maurice's last five years. In 2017, Orr was named by the National Hockey League as one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history.Orr started in organized hockey at age eight. His biography has been translated into 18 different languages. NHL Players. And Pronger has picked up a pair of gold medals from the 2002 and 2010 Olympics. 4) Follow steps 1, 2 and 3 with games involving the highest non-tied team in the same group. At the start of the 192627 NHL season, the Canadiens donated the Vezina Trophy to the NHL as an award to the goaltender who allowed the fewest goals during the season. [6] Many of Canada's top players were professional, so the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) pushed for the ability to use professional and amateur players. This is a custom user-submitted ranking. With an HPI of 48.02, Bobby Orr is the 10th most famous Canadian Hockey Player. Mario Lemieux (; French: [lmj]; born October 5, 1965) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. NHL shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joseph Georges Gonzague Vzina (; French: [ vezina]; January 21, 1887 March 27, 1926) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played seven seasons in the National Hockey Association (NHA) and nine in the National Hockey League (NHL), all with the Montreal Canadiens. There are only three active NHLers from Newfoundland and Labrador and current New Jersey Devil Dawson Mercer is the best. He has an astounding seven (!) The final standings of the tournament according to IIHF: List shows the top 10 skaters sorted by points, then goals. Hull scored 50 goals in 50 games twice in his career. As long as he can avoid the concussion problems which dogged him in the earlier part of last decade, he should continue to excel for a number of seasons yet. A savvy, two-way centre, Patrice Bergeron hails from LAncienne-Lorette, a suburb just east of Quebec City. In 1962, Canada implemented a national team program, led by Father David Bauer. 2008 2008: 2023 | Mid Fairfield Rangers 14U AAA | NEPACK 14U: 59 004: 2. Nicknamed the "Chicoutimi Cucumber" for his calm composure while in goal, Vzina allowed the fewest goals in the league seven times in his career: four times in the NHA and three times in the NHL. This debate comes up every time the Canadian national team is assembled for the Olympics or a World Cup, as players who would be stars for any other country are left off the roster. Scott Niedermayer was a smooth-skating, shutdown defenseman who boasts a hefty trophy shelf.