PM Honours Hockey Legends

I want to congratulate once again both our women’s teams that brought home the gold this year.

All of us should say, once again, on behalf of fans from coast to coast to coast how proud we are of our women’s hockey program and the women’s hockey champions for 2012.

I’d also like to thank Hockey Canada and the Hockey Canada Foundation for launching this great new initiative to celebrate the history of our national winter sport.

Now, I’ve been asked to say a few words about all of the Honourees.

They’re going to get a little more play later, but I’ll say a few words, and I’ll introduce them to all of you.

Tonight’s Distinguished Honourees, all of them, have been true leaders in the sport, both on and off the ice.

I think it’s fair to say that they’re not only ambassadors for our game, but also for our country and for our values.

Each one for his or her own unique reasons, and in his or her own unique way, has made us all even more proud to be Canadian.

Our first Honouree was a leader and a trailblazer – a trailblazer for what we’ve already seen here tonight in terms of world champions.

She is the only captain, male or female, to lead Team Canada to two straight Olympic gold medals.

Even more important, she has been a true role model, inspiring a whole generation of young girls to break down barriers, to follow her example, and to take up hockey.

Of course, I’m referring to Cassie Campbell-Pascal.

The next Honouree had a vision at a time when our best players did not compete in world tournaments.

He understood that Canada’s destiny in this sport could be nothing less than being hockey’s preeminent global power.

His hard work paved the way for the international glory that has fallen regularly to our various Team Canadas ever since.

So we all owe many patriotic thanks to our second Honouree, Gordon Renwick.

Now, friends, our third Honouree cannot be here tonight, but we all remember his outstanding career, because nobody ever played the game with more class.

He won 10 Stanley Cups.

And wore the Captain’s C, longer than anyone in the history of the Montreal Canadiens.

He personified what it means to represent le Club de hockey Canadien.

Le Gros Bil, Jean Beliveau.

Now, our next Honouree has hockey’s most famous elbows.

It’s safe to say, very safe to say that his legendary combination of pure goal scoring ability, toughness and longevity will never be matched in this sport.

He drove the production line early in his career, and he played on the line with his own sons before it was over.

We call him Mister, Mr. Hockey, Mr. Gordie Howe.

And of course, there is the Great One.

His offensive statistics will never be equalled.

And while rewriting the record book, he proudly represented Canada at every opportunity, from the World Juniors to the Olympic Games.

With three consecutive Canada Cup wins, his teams established a new era of Canadian dominance.

Number 99, Wayne Gretzky.

As Canadians, we love our athletes for more than their successes.

We see in them talent and tenacity, pioneers and visionaries; in short, the best that Canada has to offer, the best to which our children and our grandchildren can aspire.

I want to thank all the Honourees for displaying the qualities that make our teams great and our country strong.

I want to thank all of you.

I want to thank my friend Wayne Gretzky and all of Hockey Canada, the Hockey Canada Foundation for inviting me to share this moment with you.

And I also want to thank the Hockey Canada Foundation for all the great work that they do to promote this sport, to promote opportunity in communities and among underprivileged children.

It’s a real delight to be here, and I’m glad so many of you are here to share this event and to help support these activities.

Enjoy the evening.

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