Thanks for the Memories Sakic!

He's just not an average Joe...

It’s a sad day for Colorado Avalanche fans. Today marks the retirement of the franchise’s greatest player, Joe Sakic. After a 20 year career, Sakic officially called it quits. Sakic spent his entire career with one franchise...the Quebec Nordique (7 Seasons)/Colorado Avalanche (13 Seasons)franchise.

Super Joe as we’ve come to known him, broke into the league on Oct. 6, 1988 with the Quebec Nordiques (the franchise which is now the Av’s after its move in July of 1995). Super Joe recorded his first NHL point that night against the Hartford Whalers (now the Carolina Hurricanes) and tallied his first goal two nights later against the New Jersey Devils (a franchise which was formerly the Colorado Rockies).

In 1992 he earned the right to be the team’s captain and has worn the “C” on his uniform ever since (16 seasons). He has been a classic example of a true professional in the game of hockey and a role model for all. If there was an image for being a hero, then Super Joe would be front and center.

Where Super Joe ranks among the NHL's elites, that's up for debate. Personally I think he's one of the All-Time greats...probably somewhere within the Top 20. He certainly has the statistics behind him, but he led a glamorless career which hurts him in popularity.

My fondest memories of Super Joe dates back to the first year the Avs arrived in Denver (1995-1996 season). My father and I had split tickets for a 10 game season ticket package for the Avs. Later on my father took on the bulk of the costs for full season tickets for the next nine seasons.

The Avs were just starting their magical playoff run against first round opponent the Vancouver Canucks. I had purchased playoff tickets for Game 5 while at the stadium's box office during the "Nick Van Exel pushing the referee" Lakers vs. Nuggets game a few weeks earlier. My two other friends, The Shark and The Tool accompanied me to the game.

Our seats were in the nosebleed section of McNichols Sports Arena (Big Mac for those local folks), and we were just one row from the top directly behind the goal. We also sat one row behind a bunch of thirty some year old chicks that weren't even paying attention to the game and were happily trying to reinvent their youth through the blaring of bad 80's songs played on Big Mac's P.A. system. Needless to say they became our entertainment for the game as we secretly made fun of them.

The series had been going back and forth and was currently tied at 2-2 in a best of seven format. The Canucks were a fairly even match-up for the Avs as they pestered us over the series. They even "called out" our defense by saying they were a bunch of soft marshmallow players. This became known as the Marshmallow Defense.

The Avs were in control of most of the game until they got screwed by the officials with some bad calling (not hometown biased here) which lead to a major penalty and two powerplay goals by the Canucks to take the lead. The Avs fought back with the help of Super Joe.

Super Joe scored two goals in regulation including the game tying goal towards the end of the third. In the overtime of the game Super Joe ripped off a lightning shot from the top of the face-off circle to win the game for the Avs. It completed a hat trick for Super Joe and seemed to jump start the team for their Stanley Cup run.

I know Super Joe has given fans many memories over the years, but that playoff game in our first season sticks out in my mind as my favorite. Mostly because I was there at the game, but also because it seemed to spark the Cup run.

Once again...thanks for the memories Super Joe!

Statistics:
1378 Games Played
625 Goals (14th All Time)
1016 Assists (11th All Time)
1641 Points (8th All Time)
+ 30 Career +/-

Stanley Cups:
1996 (MVP)
2001

Honors:
1996 Conn Smythe Trophy Winner (MVP of Playoffs)
2001 Hart Trophy Winner (MVP)
2001 Lester B. Pearson Trophy Winner (MVP voted by players)
2001 Lady Byng Trophy Winner (Player w/ best sportsmanship)
2002 Olympic Gold Winner (Team Canada)
2002 Olympic Tournament MVP

All-Star Games:
13 Time All-Star
2001 1st Team All-Star
2002 1st Team All-Star
2004 1st Team All-Star
16 Assists (1st All Time)
22 Points (3rd All Time)
2004 All-Star Game MVP

* The home opener of the Avs 2009-2010 season will feature Super Joe's #19 Jersey being retired in the Pepsi Center's rafters. *