Jarome Iginla

1977-present
Jarome Iginla
July 1st, 1977 - Present

Early Life
Jarome Iginla was a professional hockey player. He was born in
Edmonton, Alberta, but lived in neighbouring city, St. Albert. His
father was a lawyer from Nigeria. His mother was originally from Oregon,
America. She worked as a massage therapist and music teacher. As a child, he played baseball
as well as hockey. Iginla said he grew up admiring other Black hockey players, like Grant Fuhr
who played for the Edmonton Oilers. Fuhr was a goaltender and Iginla started hockey playing
goalie as well.

The Edmonton Oilers had a winning streak, winning five Stanley Cups from 1984 to 1990.
Iginla was fortunate to grow up during this era. Hockey would have been a big deal at the time.
By the time Inigla was ten, he had begun playing right wing. Iginla would play minor hockey
in St. Albert until he was fifteen years old. A highlight of his amateur career was the 1992-93
season while he played for the St. Albert Midget AAA Raiders and scored a magnificent 34 goals
and 87 points in only 36 games.

Iginla played for the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1993-1996.
He played with a number of future NHL players, Shane Doan and Darcy Tucker. He had 63 goals
with the Blazers in 1995-96. They were the second highest in the WHL that season. He was
named WHL player of the Year.

NHL Career

In 1995, Iginla was drafted 11th overall in the first round of the NHL draft to the Dallas Stars
though he would never play for them. He was preparing to play for Canada at the World Junior
Hockey Championship in Boston, when he was traded to the Calgary Flames. Jarome Iginla had
an amazing season in 2001-02, leading the NHL with ninety-six points and fifty-two goals. He
was named the Captain of the Calgary Flames in the 2003-2004 season. He was the nineteenth
captain in the team’s history. After seven years of not making the playoffs, Iginla took the
Flames to the playoffs. His best game was in game seven of the playoffs against the Vancouver
Canucks. He scored two goals and an assist. Iginla and the Flames went on to the finals but lost
against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Iginla won a number of awards in his career. He won the Art Ross Trophy for the most regular
season points.

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 Jarome Iginla

He won the Maurice Richard Trophy for the most regular season goals and the Lester B. Pearson
Award for the most valuable player - which was voted on by the Players’ Association. He was
the first Black player to win all three of these awards. In the 2002 Olympic Winter Games,
Iginla played for Team Canada. He was the first Black male athlete to win a gold medal. In the
2010 Olympics, Iginla scored five goals and Team Canada went on to win the gold on home soil
in Vancouver.

In the 2012-13 season, Iginla was traded. He held a number of franchise records at the time.
He had five hundred and twenty-five goals, one thousand ninety-five points, had played in
one thousand two hundred and nineteen games and played in four hundred and forty-one
games in a row. He had also played on the NHL First All-Star teams and led the Flames in
scoring for eleven seasons in a row from 2001 to 2012. In March of 2013, Iginla was traded
to the Pittsburgh Penguins. After his season with the Penguins, he signed a one year contract
with the Boston Bruins for the 2013-2014 season. He joined the Colorado Avalanche for the
2014-15 season, scoring his six hundredth NHL goal. In March of 2017, he was traded to the
Los Angeles Kings. By July of 2018, Iginla announced his retirement from the NHL. He had
scored six hundred twenty-five goals, six hundred seventy-five assists and one thousand three
hundred points.

Volunteer Work

Iginla is also well known for his volunteering work. He won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy,
an award for exemplary outstanding leadership qualities on and off the ice. He also supports
KidSport that helps underprivileged children participate in sports, donating over six hundred
and fifty-thousand dollars to KidSport Calgary. He has participated in volunteer opportunities
for Easter Seals, The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the “Reading...Give it a Shot”
initiative.

Jarome Iginla is an amazing example of a remarkable Black Canadian.

He has a stellar record of accomplishments in the hockey ring, winning
a number of awards, leading his team to Stanley Cup finals and
winning gold at the Olympic Games. His fame is both impressive on
and off the ice as he also participates in humanitarian work and
gives back to the community.

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 Jarome Iginla Questions
1. Match the answers

Iginla was born in Dallas Stars

Iginla started his career playing

this position. Maurice Richard

Iginla was the first Black Kamloops,

male to win a British Columbia

Iginla won this trophy for the

most goals Grant Fuhr

Iginla was drafted to this team but

never played for them Gold Medal

Iginla played in the WHL here

Goalie
Iginla had a lot of respect for this
Oilers goalie Calgary Flames

Iginla spent the majority of his

career with this team Edmonton, Alberta

2. Fill in the Blanks

a. Iginla scored five goals and Team Canada went on to win on soil.

b. WHL stands for .

c. He scored two goals and an .

d. In the 2012-2013 season Iginla was .

e. KidSports helps children participate in sports.

f. As a child, he played as well as hockey.

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 Jarome Iginla Questions

3. Do you enjoy playing sports? What is your favourite sport? What kind of dedication and
hard work do you have to do to be a professional at your sport? If you do not play sports,
which sport would you like to be a superstar at? What kind of hard work would you need to
do to excel at it?

4. What makes Jarome Iginla a Remarkable Canadian? Write a short paragraph, summarizing
his accomplishments and what makes him great.

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 Jarome Iginla Answers
1. Match the answers

Iginla was born in Dallas Stars

Iginla started his career playing

this position. Maurice Richard

Iginla was the first Black Kamloops,

male to win a British Columbia

Iginla won this trophy for the

most goals Grant Fuhr

Iginla was drafted to this team but

never played for them Gold Medal

Iginla played in the WHL here

Goalie
Iginla had a lot of respect for this
Oilers goalie Calgary Flames

Iginla spent the majority of his

career with this team Edmonton, Alberta

2. Fill in the Blanks

a. Iginla scored five goals and Team Canada went on to win on home soil.

b. WHL stands for Western Hockey League.

c. He scored two goals and an assist.

d. In the 2012-2013 season Iginla was traded.

e. KidSports helps underprivileged children participate in sports.

f. As a child, he played baseball as well as hockey.

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 Jarome Iginla Answers
3. Do you enjoy playing sports? What is your favourite sport? What kind of dedication and
hard work do you have to do to be a professional at your sport? If you do not play sports,
which sport would you like to be a superstar at? What kind of hard work would you need to
do to excel at it?
Answers will vary.

4. What makes Jarome Iginla a Remarkable Canadian? Write a short paragraph, summarizing
his accomplishments and what makes him great.

Answers will vary.

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