Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla got a rink named after him in his hometown.
What a special day August 25th, 2019 will be for Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla, his family, and the city of St. Albert. Iginla grew up playing hockey in the formerly known Akinsdale arena in St Albert.
As of Sunday, August 25, the arena has been freshly renamed the “Jarome Iginla Arena.” Iginla recently retired in the summer of July 2018 and his number was retired at the Saddledome by the Flames in March of 2019 after he played 16 seasons in Calgary and 20 in the NHL.
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Alex Antoneshyn of CTV News Edmonton interviewed the Mayor of St. Albert, Cathy Heron. She had this to say.
“The fact that Jarome started to skate in this very arena proves that the investment that we do as municipalities—we invest in recreational facilities—and it’s an important investment.”
It certainly will be a surreal feeling for any of the youth, or Iginla fans when they step inside the Jarome Iginla Arena.
Iginla is certainly no stranger to charity work and helping others. An interesting stat about his compassion towards children is that starting in the year 2000, he teamed up with KidsSport Calgary.
This non-profit organization helps assist kids financially so that they can play sports. Well, a young Iginla decided to donate $1,000 per goal he scored towards the foundation, and after the 2004-05 lockout, he upped the contributions to $2,000 for every goal scored.
Iginla has always been described as a leader, as tough to play against, and as humble. He certainly leads by example both on and off the ice. He’s donated well over $800,000 to Kids Sport Calgary and Canada, so he has impacted children all across his home country.
On the ice, he always seemed to lead by example, as he the Flames captain for nine seasons out of 16. He threw down 1,095 pts in 1,219 games with the Flames.
There is no question that Jarome Iginla deserves to be honored by the city where it all began. The city that gave him so much as a kid, and the city that saw him give back so much to the game he loved, and the future of it, is giving him such positive recognition back. I couldn’t think of a more deserving ex-Flame to receive this honor. Whether you grew up a fan of the Oilers or the Flames, the city of St. Alberta, Alberta showed who the real home town boy is today.