Two Burnaby natives are getting feted for accomplishments both inside and outside the hockey rink.
Joe Sakic and Dave Nonis will be inducted into different hall of fames in the near future for accomplishments in the sport.
Sakic is being inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in May, for a career that saw him earn Triple Gold Club status, having won a Stanley Cup (in 1996 and 2001 with the Colorado Avalanche), an IIHF world championship (in 1994) and an Olympic gold medal (in 2002).
Now vice-president and general manager of hockey operations with the Avalanche, Sakic’s NHL career included a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1996 and was named the top player at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Over 1,378 NHL games between 1988 and 2009, Sakic tallied 625 goals and 1,106 assists. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.
Nonis is among a strong group being inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builders category. Like Sakic, Nonis played his minor hockey in Burnaby.
He made his junior hockey debut with the Burnaby Bluehawks of the B.C. Hockey League as a 16-year-old defenceman, then moved on to a four-year stint with the University of Maine, ending as a captain.
Upon graduation, he rose to become vice-president and general manager for the Vancouver Canucks and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He currently works for the Anaheim Ducks as an advisor and assignment scout.
He will enter the BC Hall alongside Canucks players Thomas Gradin and Tony Tanti, and fellow builders Brad Lazarowich, John Shannon and Ron Toigo, and the 1996-96 Allan Cup champion Powell River Paper Kings.
Sakic’s induction into the IIHF hall will see him join Saku Koivu, Teemu Selanne, Uwe Krupp and Angela Ruggiero.
