Edmonton has produced many athletes who have made a name for the city in the world of sports. One of the most notable is Jarome Iginla, a hockey legend who played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), including 16 with the Calgary Flames. More at iedmonton.net.
Early Years in Amateur Hockey
Jarome Iginla was born on July 1, 1977, in Edmonton. From an early age, he developed a passion for sports, which later shaped his professional career. When he was two years old, his parents separated, and he was raised by his mother, grandmother, and grandfather, who fully supported his athletic pursuits. In one of his interviews, Iginla admitted that without their encouragement, he might never have built such a successful career.
At seven years old, he began playing hockey with the Remax Rangers Novice C team. He was fortunate to grow up in Edmonton during the dynasty years of the Edmonton Oilers, when the team won five Stanley Cups between 1984 and 1990. His childhood idol was goaltender Grant Fuhr, and in his early hockey years, Iginla played as a goalie, modeling his style after Fuhr’s unique hybrid butterfly and stand-up technique.
At ten, he switched to right wing and was invited by Canadian businessman Bill Comrie to join Edmonton’s team in the prestigious Vancouver Super Series, an offseason amateur tournament for young hockey players. By 15, he was playing in St. Albert. During the 1992-1993 season, he played for the St. Albert Midget AAA Raiders, leading the Alberta Midget Hockey League with 34 goals and 87 points in just 36 games.
Aside from hockey, Iginla excelled in baseball, which was his childhood favorite. In 1992, while leading the hockey league, he also played for the St. Albert Cardinals at the Canadian National Bantam Baseball Championship, where he became the tournament’s star, recording 20 strikeouts.
A Successful NHL Career
From 1993 to 1996, Iginla played three seasons with the Kamloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League (WHL). During his rookie season, he tallied 29 points in 48 games, helping the Blazers win the first of two consecutive Memorial Cups. In 1994-1995, he scored 71 points for the Blazers, solidifying his reputation as a top prospect.
In the 1995 NHL Draft, Iginla was selected 11th overall by the Dallas Stars in the first round. However, he never played for them. In December 1995, while preparing to represent Canada at the World Junior Championship in Boston, he was traded to the Calgary Flames. His NHL debut came in the 1995-1996 playoffs, where he played two games against the Chicago Blackhawks—registering an assist in his first game and scoring his first NHL goal in the second. However, Calgary’s playoff run ended early.
During his rookie NHL season in 1996-1997, Iginla played 82 games, earning 50 points, which secured him a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team.
His most outstanding season came in 2001-2002, when he led the NHL in scoring with 96 points and 52 goals. Despite his stellar performance, the Flames missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. For his achievements, Iginla won the Art Ross Trophy and other prestigious awards. He was also widely recognized by the NHL Players’ Association as one of the league’s most valuable players.
In March 2013, Iginla was traded again—this time to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He contributed 11 points in 13 regular-season games and 12 points in 15 playoff games. The following season, he signed a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins, where he emerged as a top scorer with 30 goals.
In 2014, Iginla joined the Colorado Avalanche, leading the team with 29 goals. After a brief stint with the Los Angeles Kings, he announced his retirement from professional hockey in July 2018.Over his remarkable career, Jarome Iginla recorded 625 goals, 675 assists, and a total of 1,300 points in regular-season play, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest Canadian hockey players of all time.