Al MacInnis

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Lore & Background

MacInnis was most famous for having the hardest shot in the league. He tied Bobby Orr's Ontario Hockey League (OHL) record for goals by a defenceman, and won two OHL championships and a Memorial Cup with the Kitchener Rangers as a junior. He famously split goaltender Mike Liut's mask with a shot, and became only the fourth defenceman in NHL history to score 100 points in a season. Internationally, he was an all-star on defence as Canada won the 1991 Canada Cup and twice participated in the Winter Olympics. He was a member of the 2002 team that won Canada's first gold medal in 50 years. An eye injury suffered early in the 2003–04 NHL season forced MacInnis into retirement. He finished his career third all-time among defencemen in goals, but fourth in assists and points, and was named to seven postseason all-star teams. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007, and his jersey number 2 was retired by the Blues and is honoured by the Flames. MacInnis remains a member of the Blues organization, currently serving as the team's senior advisor to the general manager.

In Their Own Story

Al MacInnis skated up the ice, his eyes locked on the puck carrier, anticipating a breakaway that could decide the series. With a burst of speed and a calculated check near the blue line, he stripped the puck away, sending it flying into the corner to relieve pressure. As the crowd roared, he turned up the ice, ready to lead the rush, embodying the perfect blend of defensive steel and offensive fire that defined his tenure in Edmonton.

Reader's Guide

MacInnis was born in Inverness, Nova Scotia, and grew up in nearby Port Hood. He is the seventh of eight children. He won the Norris Trophy in 1999. An eye injury in 2003–04 ended his career. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. The source does not specify when or if MacInnis served as captain of the Blues.

Did You Know?

• MacInnis tied Bobby Orr's OHL record for goals by a defenceman.
• He famously split goaltender Mike Liut's mask with a shot.
• He became only the fourth defenceman in NHL history to score 100 points in a season.
• He was a member of the 2002 Canadian Olympic team that won Canada's first gold medal in 50 years.