His surname, Iginla, means “Big Tree” in Yorùbá. Rightfully so as Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla has been – and continues to be – a monumental force on and off the ice as a part of the Calgary Flames hockey organization. Jarome Iginla has been the face of the franchise, dedicating his career to the success of the Calgary Flames through potent consistency over 15 years, accomplishing numerous milestones along the way.
Jarome Iginla was born on July 1st, 1977 and 18 years later, during 1995, was drafted into the NHL by Texas’s Dallas Stars; however, he soon was traded to the Calgary Flames where he would nevertheless, revolutionize the term “Power Forward” without a star centre to contribute to his success. He made his NHL debut in the 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks and became the first 18 year old to play for the Flames since Dan Quinn. In his first two regular season games played, he recorded his first NHL assist in the first, and first NHL goal in the second. Jarome would later earn a spot on the NHL’s All Rookie Team, leading all players with 50 points.
Iginla’s successes would continue to surmount as he led the Flames with 28 goals in only his third season in 1998-99; he fabricated a new career high with 29 goals and 63 points the next season and would eventually top that record with 31 goals and 71 points in the 2000-01 season. However, the 2001-02 season elevated Iginla’s to superstar status as he scaled to new heights tallying 52 goals and 96 points. He earned the Art Ross and Maurice Richard trophies as the NHL’s leading point and goal scorer. He was also awarded the Lester B. Pearson Award as the league’s most valuable player as voted by his peers, and was a nominee for both the Hart Memorial Trophy and the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. Although Iginla was injured for some of the 2002-03 season with only 67 points, he still managed to lead the Flames for the fourth time in five seasons with 35 goals.
At the start of the 2003-04 regular season, Jarome Iginla was named the Calgary’s 14th captain in Flames franchise history – the first black captain in NHL history. He responded by claiming, once again, the Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard trophy with 41 goals. Iginla would continue to collapse more boundries by taking the Flames into the 2004 playoffs, the first time in eight years, and then onto the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, the first time in 15 years. Although a controversial loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the finals, Iginla led all playoff scorers with 13 goals.
After the NHL Lockout, Iginla continued where he had left off. He scored his 300th career goal and 600th career point on December 7 of 2006 against the Minnesota Wild. In the same season with an injury costing him 12 games, Iginla missed the 2007 NHL All-Star Game; he still managed however, to score 94 points and a career high 55 assists. In the following 2007-08 regular season, Jarome recorded his second 50 goal season along with 48 assists for a career high of 98 points. Iginla was later voted to the starting line-up of the 2008 NHL All-Star Game and was named captain of the Western All-Stars. Iginla would become the Calgary Flame’s all-time games played leader (804) and all-time leading goal scorer when he scored his 365th against the St. Louis Blues on March 10th, 2008 to pass Theoren Fleury.
Although Theoren Fleury led the Flames franchise as the all-time point scoring leader with 830, Jarome would overcome that in his endeavor during the 2008-09 season. Ending 2008, Iginla scored a career high five points in a New Year’s Eve game against the Edmonton Oilers (he had 14 previous four point games). In January, Jarome Iginla would be named to the 2009 NHL All-Star Game, his fifth selection to the exclusive event. He represented the Western All-Stars and registered his first career All-Star Game goal. On March 1st, 2009, Jarome Iginla claimed the title of the all-time point scoring leader in Flame’s franchise history with another five point game, also scoring his 400th career goal; he finished the regular season with 35 goals and 89 points.
Jarome Iginla played his 1000th career game six nights after registering four points on January 30th, 2010 against the Oilers to record his 900th point in the 2009-10 season. The next season would prove to be one full of milestones as well. On the same night Jarome recorded his 500th assist (Jan.11/11), Iginla was also selected to start in his sixth NHL All-Star Game. Nearing the end of the 2010-11 season, Iginla became one of only 10 players in NHL history to score 30+ goals in 10 consecutive seasons when he scored his 30th of the season on a penalty shot against the Nashville Predators on March 6th, 2011; his name is recorded with those such as Wayne Gretzky. Around a month later on April 1st, 2011, Jarome Iginla notted the game winning goal against the St. Louis Blues resulting in his 1000th career point. He is only the 34th player in National Hockey League history to score all 1000 points within one uniform, one team.
Today, Jarome Iginla surpassed another exclusive milestone against the Minnesota Wild. This accomplishment of many in his much-respected career by fans all alike reminded me about all Jarome has done for my favorite team and the city I live in as my favorite player. He is a tremendous force with great leadership and others around the league have noticed it as well: “I think it was a very classy thing to do. I think Jarome is one of the most classy players in the league, not only that, he’s probably the best player in the league. When you have a captain like that, it was certainly a very classy move on their part, no doubt.”  —Trevor Linden, after Iginla led a procession of Flames players in shaking Linden’s hand following his final NHL game, April 5, 2008. He can score points, hit, and fight – a well-rounded, intimidating player but also one of the kindest around. Craig Conroy, former team member, also commented on Iginla’s demeanor: “He doesn’t carry himself with any attitude or arrogance. He’s confident in his abilities. He’s self-assured. He’s genuine. He’s a better person than he is a player, and we all know what kind of player he is.” Jarome operates his own non-profit hockey school program where proceeds go to the Diabetes Research Program. In 2004, he was awarded the NHL Foundation Player Award for his community service and the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in recognition of his humanitarian contributions. Iginla supports many charities, too. In 2000, he began donating $1,000 per goal he scored to KidSport, a figure he doubled to $2,000 in 2005. From 2000 through to the end of the 2008 season he donated $430,000 from this initiative.
Tonight on January 7th, 2012, Jarome Iginla notted his 500th goal of his career proving to be the game winner; an ecstatic moment for all as evident in the “Iggy!” chants deafening the Dome. I was elated and I guess this milestone provoked me to recollect some of the accomplishments Jarome Iginla has had over his lengthy career that I have followed from the beginning as it continues today as he is someone I idolize a lot. He has grit, generosity, consistency, leadership, and passion and his hard-work, dedication, and modesty distinguish him from many athletes around the globe; his attitude and ethic have earned him World Junior and Olympic golds as well as his name in National Hockey League record books and a hallowed place in the game, the community, and fans like myself.