Roberto Luongo knows thereB次元官网网址檒l be a lot of emotions when he takes the ice in Vancouver Thursday night.
After all, Rogers Arena has long held a special place for the former Canucks goalie.
ItB次元官网网址檚 the rink where he backstopped Team Canada to Olympic gold in 2010 and the spot where he and his Canucks teammates experienced heartbreak in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final in 2011.
Those are among the moments Luongo will be thinking of when heB次元官网网址檚 honoured Thursday in a ceremony ahead of a tilt between Vancouver and the Florida Panthers. His former teammates, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, will also be recognized after all three were inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame last month.
B次元官网网址淭hose playoff runs, those were the best moments of my career,B次元官网网址� Luongo told reporters. B次元官网网址淪o I want to be able to kind of relive them a little bit here, the next little while and take it in and thank the fans for everything. I think itB次元官网网址檚 a nice way to cap it all off.B次元官网网址�
It wonB次元官网网址檛 be the last time the 43-year-old Montreal native is recognized before a Vancouver crowd. The Canucks announced Wednesday that heB次元官网网址檒l join the teamB次元官网网址檚 Ring of Honour next season.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great honour. IB次元官网网址檓 really excited about it,B次元官网网址� said Luongo, who now serves as FloridaB次元官网网址檚 director of goaltending and as a special adviser to general manager Bill Zito. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice to see that the work that I put in here for eight years is going to get recognized and IB次元官网网址檓 very grateful to be able to go up there with those guys.B次元官网网址�
Luongo spent eight seasons (2006-2014) donning a Canucks jersey, setting multiple franchise records and helping lead the team to a Stanley Cup appearance in 2010-11.
The Montreal native is the franchise leader in wins (252) and shutouts (38). He also tops the list in save percentage (. 919) and goals-against average (2.36) among those with at least 100 games played. Luongo also led Canada to two Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014.
B次元官网网址淲e are proud to welcome Roberto to the prestigious list of Canucks Ring of Honour inductees,B次元官网网址� team president Jim Rutherford said in a statement. B次元官网网址淩oberto experienced many of his career highlights as a Vancouver Canuck and is deservingly viewed as one of the best goaltenders our game has ever seen thanks to those moments.
B次元官网网址淗e was a fierce competitor and a tremendous leader for this team, and we are honoured to be able to acknowledge his contributions to this organization and city.B次元官网网址�
The 43-year-old played 20 years in the NHL before announcing his retirement after the 2018-2019 season.
During his time in Vancouver, the team made the playoffs five seasons in a row. It was a special group that made that run, the netminder said.
B次元官网网址淚t was unbelievable,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd sometimes when youB次元官网网址檙e in it, you donB次元官网网址檛 kind of realize it. But then you move on, you play for other teams, teams change. And now that you look back, itB次元官网网址檚 like you realize how special the group was and it was a unique group, right?
B次元官网网址淲e had different types of personalities in the locker room. And I think thatB次元官网网址檚 what made us so good.B次元官网网址�
Luongo closed out his career with the Panthers, spending five seasons in FloridaB次元官网网址檚 crease before announcing his retirement after the 2019-19 season.
That success has prompted many in Vancouver to muse about whether his jersey should be retired B次元官网网址� a decision Luongo said is out of his control.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not up to me to decide, right? But either way, itB次元官网网址檚 a tremendous honour. And IB次元官网网址檓 very grateful to be honoured anyway,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o I was happy when I got the call yesterday, and IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to next season.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
