Iginla ends legendary career

Jarome Iginla is calling it a career.

The future Hall of Famer from St. Albert is hanging up the skates after 20 seasons with five National Hockey League teams.

Iginla, 41, will officially announce his retirement at Monday’s press conference at Scotiabank Saddledome and the goodbye ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m.

The two-time Olympic gold-medallist spent 16 seasons with the Calgary Flames, including nine as the team captain, and is the all-time franchise leader in goals (525), points (1,095) and games played (1,219) and was the team's top scorer 11 seasons in a row, the longest streak in NHL history.

The power forward at right wing and six-time NHL all-star also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and his final NHL game was April 9, 2017 with the Los Angeles Kings.

Among the all-time NHL leaders, Iginla ranks 13^th in regular-season games (1,554), 15^th in goals (625) and 34^th in points (1,300).

The 2002 Art Ross Trophy winner as the NHL’s points leader (96 in 82 games) was the recipient of the Rocket Richard Trophy as the league’s top goal scorer with 52 in 2002 and 41 in 2004.

In 81 playoff games, Iginla compiled 37 goals and 68 points and in his first year as the Flames’ captain led the team to the 2004 Stanley Cup final only to lose in game seven to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The two-time Memorial Cup champion with the Kamloops Blazers and Western Hockey League player of the year in 1996 was also a gold medallist with Team Canada in 1994 with the U18 national team, 1996 at the IIHF World Junior Championship, 1997 at the IIHF World Championship and 2004 at the World Cup of Hockey.

Iginla was drafted by the Dallas Stars 11^th overall in 1995 and was traded to the Flames in exchange for Joe Nieuwendyk that same year.

Growing up in St. Albert, Iginla attended Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Lorne Akins and Paul Kane while excelling in hockey and baseball.

As a second-year bantam with the 1992-93 Eagle Raiders, Iginla led the Alberta midget AAA league in scoring (34-53-87 in 36 games) in his last season of hockey in St. Albert.

Iginla was born on Canada Day and married his junior high sweetheart, Kara Kirkland. They have three children and the family is currently based in Boston.