More on This Story Pavel Bure to be inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame Hall vote: Joe Sakic, Brenda

Colorado Avalanche centre and captain Joe Sakic waits for a face off in a NHL hockey game in Denver Colorado, Jan. 31, 2006. The Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2012 includes Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin, Pavel Bure and Adam Oates. Photograph by: David Zalubowski
Taken 15th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1987 NHL entry draft, Sakic went on to average 1.19 points a game (1,641 points) through 1,378 regular season games, all with the Nordiques and, then, the Colorado Avalanche.
"Three years have passed since I retired and it makes me realize how privileged I was to play my entire career in Canada, where hockey really matters," Sundin said in a release. "Having my hobby and love for a sport become my livelihood really allowed me to live out my dream."
Sakic helped Canada end its 50-year Olympic gold medal drought in 2002, scoring twice in a 5-2 win over the United States at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, less than a year after celebrating a second Stanley Cup title with the Avalanche.
"I remember early in my career — I think it was my second year — and we were struggling there in Quebec," Sakic told TSN on Tuesday. "I remember Guy Lafleur in the back of the bus, telling me, 'You know what? Just play as hard as you can, work hard, don't worry about anything else. It'll work out.'
More on This Story   Pavel Bure to be inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame Hall vote: Joe Sakic, Brendan Shanahan to get in; Shero, Burns should Joe Sakic leads list of first-year eligibles for Hockey Hall of Fame Hall of Fame debate sure to be lively Awards 'really didn't matter to me' Bleacher Report: 10 players who have best chance hotels munich to be voted in More hockey coverage at Faceoff.com   Story Tools   E-mail this Article Print this Article   Font: * * * * *   Image: * * * *
Colorado Avalanche centre and captain Joe Sakic waits for a face off in a NHL hockey game in Denver Colorado, Jan. 31, 2006. The Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2012 includes Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin, Pavel Bure and Adam Oates. Photograph by: David Zalubowski, THE CANADIAN PRESS       E-mail this Gallery Print this Gallery Share this Gallery
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