BLOG: Lowe, Holland headed to Hockey Hall of Fame

EDMONTON, AB - Oilers legend Kevin Lowe as well as current GM and President of Hockey Operations Ken Holland got the call to the Hall on Wednesday as they were selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of 2020.

"On behalf of the Edmonton Oilers, I want to congratulate Kevin Lowe and Ken Holland for their induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame," said Bob Nicholson, Chairman of the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club.

"We are very proud that both Kevin and Ken are part of the Oilers family. Kevin has been an integral part of this organization and community since his arrival in 1979. His impact on our hockey team and our city, both on and off the ice, has been extraordinary. We are also very fortunate to have Ken leading our hockey operations, bringing a wealth of experience and great success to the role. Both are extremely worthy of today's induction."

Lowe was Edmonton's first-ever NHL Draft selection, 21st overall in 1979, and scored the first goal in the team's NHL history before winning five Stanley Cup titles with the Oilers and one more as a member of the New York Rangers in 1994.

The 61-year-old is Edmonton's franchise leader in games played with 1,037 and scored 432 points in 1,254 career games with the Oilers and Rangers, as well as 58 points in 214 career playoff games. He is also one of only 45 players in NHL history to play in 1,000 games with one franchise.

"I'm extremely grateful, humbled, blessed and very excited," said Lowe, adding he grew up just outside of Montreal watching the Canadiens win multiple Stanley Cup titles and dreaming of one day winning one himself.

The defenceman is now the seventh player from the Oilers dynasty era to enter the HHOF, joining Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, Glenn Anderson and Grant Fuhr.

"I think I perhaps represent the next level of guys who helped to win championships," Lowe said. "I appreciate that my contributions to the teams I played on are being recognized in this way."

Holland, who will be inducted to the HHOF as a builder, is currently in his first season as GM and President of Hockey Ops with the Oilers, following a 22-year tenure as GM of the Detroit Red Wings and more than 30 years total with the Motor City club.

The 64-year-old was Detroit's Assistant GM in 1997 when they won the Stanley Cup, and Holland went on to win three more championships with the Red Wings as their GM in 1998, 2002 and 2008.

"I am incredibly humbled by this honour," Holland said of his HHOF induction. "I am in this game because I loved it as a young man and I am happy to have been able to stay in the game."

Under his leadership as GM, the Red Wings also won the division title 10 times, the regular season conference title five times, the Presidents' Trophy four times, and won more regular season (789) and post-season (118) games than any other NHL team.

Lowe and Holland's fellow HHOF Class of 2020 inductees are St. Albert native Jarome Iginla, forward Marian Hossa, defenceman Doug Wilson and Canadian women's goaltending legend Kim St-Pierre.