Dale Hawerchuk Dale Hawerchuk ( born April 4 , 1963 in Toronto , Ontario ) is a retired professional player . In 2001 , he was elected as an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility . Playing career . Hawerchuk was a young prodigy who received his first pair of skates at age two and , according to his father , " was skating before he could walk . " Beginning competitive hockey at age four , Hawerchuk demonstrated superior skills almost immediately . At a Peewee tournament in Montreal , he scored all eight goals during an 8 - 1 victory in the finals , smashing the long - standing record set by the legendary Guy Lafleur . By age 15 , the famed Oshawa Generals offered him a tryout , though he didn ' t make the team . In 1979 , Hawerchuk was selected 6th overall by the Cornwall Royals of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League , and became somewhat of a rarity ; a Toronto - born player starring in the QMJHL . He recorded 103 points and was named Rookie - of - the - Year . Hawerchuk was the playoff MVP and led the Royals to the Memorial Cup championship . In his second junior season , he scored 81 goals and 183 points and led the Royals to their second consecutive Memorial Cup title . He was named a QMJHL First Team All - Star , the Canadian Major Junior Player - of - the - Year , and Memorial Cup MVP . The Winnipeg Jets selected Hawerchuk first overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft , ahead of future Hall of Famers Ron Francis and Grant Fuhr . Hawerchuk immediately became Winnipeg ' s star attraction , leading the Jets to what was at the time the largest single season turn - around in NHL history , a 48 - point improvement . He became the youngest NHL player in history to reach 100 points ( a record since broken by Sidney Crosby in 2006 ) , finishing with 103 , and winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL ' s Rookie of the Year . He also played in that season ' s All - Star Game . Hawerchuk recorded 91 points in his second season , then hit the 100 - plus point plateau for the next five consecutive years , including a career - high 53 goals and 130 points in 1984 – 85 . During the 1990 NHL Entry Draft , Hawerchuk was involved in a blockbuster trade . Along with Winnipeg ' s 1st round choice ( Brad May ) in the draft , he was dealt to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Phil Housley , Scott Arniel , Jeff Parker and Buffalo ' s 1st round choice ( Keith Tkachuk ) . Over the next five years he recorded no fewer than 86 points ( except during an injury plagued and lockout shortened 1994 – 95 season ) . In 1995 , he signed with the St . Louis Blues , recording 41 points in 66 games before a trade to the Philadelphia Flyers in March , 1996 . He finished the season strongly , scoring 20 points in the season ' s final 16 games and adding 12 points in the playoffs . The next season , he was plagued by injuries but managed 34 points and played in his fifth All - Star Game . Hawerchuk announced his retirement from the game following the 1996 – 97 season at age 34 . His appearance with the Flyers in the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals marked the only time any of his teams advanced past the second round of the playoffs . He played for Team Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup tournament , and had a goal and two assists in the decisive third game of the Finals against the Soviets . Late in the third period , he won the face - off that led to Canada ' s second - most famous goal and tied up with the Russian player who tried to check Mario Lemieux at centre ice , allowing Lemieux to take Gretzky ' s pass in the slot for the series winner . He was named Canada ' s MVP for that decisive game . Commentators remarked on his ability in the series to switch from being a goal scorer to a mucker and grinder . Hawerchuk was also key to Canada ' s 1991 Canada Cup victory . In a poll of NHL general managers during the mid - 1980s asking them to select the player they would start a franchise with , Hawerchuk was voted third behind only Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey . He retired with 518 goals , 891 assists and 1 , 409 points , placing him 17th on the career NHL points list . He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001 .