By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

memories to last generations

Legends Iginla, Szabados, Kisio reflect on careers as they enter Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame

Jul 23, 2024 | 3:52 PM

The 2024 Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held July 20 at Red Deer Polytechnic, was an event to remember.

The class includes the 2000-01 Memorial Cup-winning Red Deer Rebels (read more here), plus iconic names such as Shannon Szabados, Jarome Iginla, Kelly Kisio, Billy Dea, Dave King and Craig MacTavish.

rdnewsNOW caught up with Szabados, Iginla and Kisio prior to the ceremony.

“It’s a huge honour,” said Szabados, who spent 25 years of her playing career in Alberta, breaking one barrier after another.

Szabados played for men’s teams in the AJHL, ACAC and WHL, among others, and did so with plenty of success, including being named the AJHL’s top goaltender (2006-07), winning ACAC silver while with Grant MacEwan (2008), and then ACAC gold with NAIT (2012-13).

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She’s also a two-time Olympic gold medallist (2010 & 2014) and is the only woman to record a shutout in men’s professional hockey in North America, doing so in December 2015 with the SPHL’s Columbus Cottonmouths.

“Hopefully more than anything, aside from my play on the ice, is just what I brought off the ice,” Szabados, an Edmonton native, said when asked about her legacy. “Whether it was interacting with fans, or breaking a few barriers so girls and boys behind me had easier opportunities to play.”

Szabados is now a motivational speaker, and author of children’s book ‘Every Bunny Loves to Play.’

Kisio, born in Peace River, has a home in Sylvan Lake and once played for the Red Deer Rustlers alongside Darryl, Brent and Duane Sutter.

But Kisio’s history with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, which included 18 years running the team, is the centrepiece of his career. That run included a heated rivalry against the aforementioned 2000-01 Rebels.

“It’s pretty damn exciting for myself and my family. You realize that people recognized your effort and ability, and now you’re getting paid back for it,” said Kisio, who played 761 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, and finally the Calgary Flames (1993-95).

He finished his career with 229 goals and 658 points, then joined the Flames’ scouting staff before taking over the Hitmen in 1998. With the WHL club, he won four regular season titles, and the WHL championship in 1999 and 2010.

“It’s neat to see where some of them got to and where they went on to play, or even if they became doctors. You hope you did a good enough job that they grew up and became better people. That’s what you cross your fingers for; that you put your stamp on them.”

Kisio was named WHL Executive of the Year twice, in 2004 and 2009. He joined the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights in 2016, and was part of the Stanley Cup-winning team there in 2023.

Then there’s ‘Iggy!’ (Iginla), who is part of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s 2020 class.

The St. Albert product’s offensive dynamism and toughness should be unfamiliar to no one, particularly around Alberta.

Iginla amassed 525 goals and 1,095 points in 1,219 games, the vast majority of which were with Calgary.

“I was very fortunate to get to be a part of a really, really good program. I had great coaches who treated me really well and helped me grow a love of the game,” Iginla, a two-time Memorial Cup Champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist, told rdnewsNOW.

“Playing in the NHL and stuff, it was an amazing job. You get paid to play a sport for a living, and paid to stay in shape and compete — and I love competing. Some of the best memories though are from growing up, [for example] being at the Red Deer Lodge for a tournament, running around with my teammates. I feel blessed to have experienced what I have from hockey.”

Iginla won the gold with Canada at the 1996 World Juniors, and World Championship in 1997, and the 2004 World Cup.

Asked about memories that stand out, he mentioned 1995 draft day in Edmonton where he was selected 11th overall by Dallas, playing his first game during the 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs immediately after his WHL season with Kamloops ended, and of course the 2004 run to the Stanley Cup Final.

“The C of Red in Calgary, the Red Mile, and the way the fans embraced it, that was pretty special,” he said. “Daily life playing in the NHL, there’s a lot of stress when you’re not winning, but that’s part of life. Everybody has that. But it’s an amazing job and I’m thrilled I got to do it.”

Finally, for Iginla, the future is now for his three children, Tij, Joe and Jade, all of whom are elite hockey players.

Tij was selected 6th overall last month by the Utah Hockey Club at the 2024 NHL Draft, while Joe has NHL dreams, and Jade has her eyes on the Olympics.

For Jarome and wife Kara, bringing them up in hockey was easier because they loved it, but that’s never a guarantee, he pointed out.

“You never know if they’re going to love it and want to keep playing, or if they’re just doing it for recreation. All of those are fine,” he said.

“My grandparents were very involved in things. My mom was busy working, so my grandparents put me in music, and me grandma encouraged/made me do the music. Plus I did sports. For parents, the most important thing is to try and find things your kids love. The only way a kid will get good at anything is if they love it.”

The rest of Hockey Alberta’s induction videos can be found here.

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