Lafleur, McDonald, St-Pierre named to Order of Hockey in Canada
Hall of Famers honored for contributing to growth of game
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NHL.com @NHLdotcom
The three, along with 2020 and 2021 honorees
Ken Dryden
, Bill Hay, Angela James, Sheldon Kennedy,
Kevin Lowe
and Dr. Charles Tator, will be celebrated June 23-24 at the annual Hockey Canada Foundation Gala & Golf event in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
The Order of Hockey in Canada is an initiative to celebrate individuals for their outstanding contributions or service to the growth and development of the sport of hockey in Canada. A total of 36 men and women have now been named to the Order of Hockey in Canada since it was introduced in 2012.
Lafleur, a legend with the Montreal Canadiens for 14 seasons, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1988, then returned to play three more seasons with the New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques. The all-time leading scorer in Canadiens history with 1,246 points (518 goals, 728 assists), Lafleur is a five-time Stanley Cup champion who won the Art Ross Trophy as the leading scorer in the NHL three times (1976-78), the Hart Trophy voted to the most valuable player in the NHL twice (1977-78) and the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 1977.
In addition to his success in the NHL, Lafleur scored 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in 21 games with Canada in international competitions, and helped Canada win the 1976 Canada Cup. He was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1980 and had his No. 10 retired by the Canadiens in 1985.
"It certainly is a great honor bestowed upon me," Lafleur said. "I'm humbled and grateful for this recognition.
"I would also like to congratulate my fellow honorees for this well-deserved honor. I'm delighted to be among an amazing group of individuals who have in their own way contributed to the success and growth of our game."
McDonald co-captained the Calgary Flames to the Stanley Cup in 1989. During his 16-season NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies and Flames, he was voted the Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey in 1983, and the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice, in 1988.
He scored 1,006 points (500 goals, 506 assists) in 1,111 games, and his No. 9 was retired by the Flames in 1990, two years before he was elected to the Hall of Fame.
McDonald played for Canada twice internationally, including the 1976 Canada Cup, where he had an assist on Darryl Sittler's double-overtime goal that gave Canada the championship. As an executive, McDonald was director of player personnel for Canada when it won the 2004 IIHF World Championship. He has been chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame since 2015.
"This game has meant so much to me, from my time as a little boy, watching my dad play senior hockey, to being able to extend this throughout my life, for our entire family," McDonald said. "The love affair I've had with Hockey Canada has been so much fun. I've met so many great people along the way. I owe so much to this great game and I can't thank Hockey Canada and the selection committee enough for this honor."
St-Pierre was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020. She is first among goalies in games played (83), wins (64) and shutouts (29) in the history of Canada's national women's team. At the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics she helped Canada win the gold medal and was named the tournament's best goalie. She also won Olympic gold medals in 2006 and 2010, and helped Canada win the IIHF Women's World Championship five times (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007). She was named Canadian Women's Hockey League goalie of the year three times and won the Clarkson Cup twice.
St-Pierre attended McGill University, where she was a three-time All-Canadian, was recognized as the top Canadian university women's athlete of the year and became the first woman to win a Canadian men's university hockey game in 2003.
"To be named to the Order of Hockey in Canada is one of the most prestigious accomplishments in our sport and all three distinguished honorees in the Class of 2022 are incredibly deserving of this honor," Hockey Canada chief executive Tom Renney said. "Guy, Lanny and Kim have each contributed immensely to the growth of hockey across our country and internationally, and we are thrilled that they will be celebrated in Niagara Falls this June.
"On behalf of Hockey Canada, our board and the Order of Hockey in Canada selection committee, I would like to congratulate Guy, Lanny and Kim on this tremendous achievement."
Appointed by the Order of Hockey in Canada executive committee, established by Hockey Canada, the 12-member selection committee is tasked with nominating and selecting the annual recipients of the Order of Hockey in Canada via secret ballot.
The Hockey Canada Foundation Gala & Golf event, which leaves 50 percent of its net proceeds within the host community and surrounding region, has raised more than $7.5 million since 2009.
NHL.com columnist Dave Stubbs contributed to this report
