Five players were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame yesterday. Unfortunately, Calgary Flames Alum Theoren Fleury was left off that list again.
Every year, the Hockey Hall of Fame inducts new players. Just yesterday, they inducted five players for the HHOF Class of 2017. The players are Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya, Dave Andreychuk, Mark Recchi, and Danielle Goyette. As we can see, Calgary Flames Alum Theo Fleury has been left off that list for another year.
Now that’s not to say none of these players inducted aren’t well deserving. Especially Teemu and Kariya who played in Anaheim together and signed in Colorado together. However, like I said, Flames Alum Theo Fleury hasn’t found his name in the Hall of Fame yet.
As many Flames fans know, Fleury wasn’t drafted until the 8th round by the Calgary Flames of the NHL Draft back in 1987. EIGHTH ROUND. Wow at scouts for every team: You guys messed up.
Calgary Flames
Fleury played in his first season in the 1988-89 season where he played just 36 games but managed to rack up 14 goals and 34 points in those games. He played 11 years with Calgary playing 791 games and getting 830 points with the club. In his NHL career, he has 1088 points in 1084 games, averaging over 1 point per game. He’s second with leading in points for the franchise, right after Jarome Iginla.
In his rookie season in 88-89, he also played 22 playoff games and put up five goals and 11 points. Hm, I think something of importance happened in that season.. right? I can’t quite put my finger on it, though…
He has made the All-Star team seven times in his career and has made Team Canada at the Olympics twice. He has managed over 100 points twice in his NHL career. He’s 61st overall in NHL history for points, 57th overall for goals, and 49th for points/game.
His on-ice accomplishments are definitely enough to make the Hockey Hall of Fame, however he also does a lot of off-ice work to help communities and victims. Fleury co-wrote Playing With Fire, a best-selling autobiography released 2009, after he retired, in which he revealed that he had been sexually abused by a former coach. Fleury has since become an advocate for sexual abuse victims and developed a career after hockey as a public speaker. He also hosts the “Theo Fleury 14 Hockey Camp” which helps to ‘teach, inspire, and educate young hockey players ages 6 to 16’.
Proud of his Aboriginal background, he was a recipient of the Indspire Award in the sports category in 2013. An award that is awarded to celebrate and encourage excellence among the Aboriginal Community.
Next: Monday Roundtable - Draft and Expansion Recap
That being said, congratulations to the players and builders who made it this year! Definitely all well deserving. And Fleury was definitely a snub in this year’s HHOF Class, but no doubt in my mind he’ll be making it soon enough. It’s about time, hey?