Al MacInnis

Allan "Al" MacInnis (born July 11, 1963) is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues. A first round selection of the Flames in 1981, the 15-time All-Star was most famous for having the hardest shot in the NHL. He was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff most valuable player in 1989 as he helped lead the Flames to a Stanley Cup championship and won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 1999 as the top defenceman in the league while a member of the Blues.
MacInnis won two Ontario Hockey League (OHL) championships as a junior with the Kitchener Rangers, as well as the Memorial Cup national championship in 1982. Internationally, he was an all-star on defence as Canada won the 1991 Canada Cup, twice participated in the Winter Olympics. He was a member of the 2002 team that won Canada's first gold medal in 50 years.
He is known for his powerful slapshot and scoring skills.
==Early life==
He was born in Port Hood, Nova Scotia, Canada.Legends of Hockey - Induction Showcase - Al MacInnis
MacInnis grew up in a fishing village on the west coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. He spent his teen years in Kitchener, Ontario, playing junior hockey and attending Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School.
When he was nine, MacInnis's father was one of only two men entrusted with looking after the local arena, allowing the younger MacInnis to collect pucks that sailed over the boards. As spring came around, MacInnis had gathered between 75-100 pucks to practice his soon-to-be signature shot, which he did by hitting pucks into old carpet he hung on the side of a barn.
==Playing career==
MacInnis was drafted 15th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. He started playing for Calgary in 1981, winning the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989. In that year he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. During that postseason he racked up 7 goals and 24 assists in 22 games. He recorded 26 of those 31 points during a 17-game scoring streak. It was the second-longest such run in the playoffs and MacInnis' streak was the longest by a rearguard. MacInnis was the first blueliner to lead all players in points in the playoffs.
On July 4, 1994, the Flames traded MacInnis (an upcoming free-agent) and a 4th round selection (Didier Tremblay) in 1997 to the St. Louis Blues for Phil Housley, a 2nd round selection (Steve Bégin) in 1996 and a 2nd round selection (John Tripp) in 1997. He re-signed as an unrestricted free agent with St. Louis for the start of the 1994–95 season.
One of the few defencemen to record over 1000 career points, MacInnis retired from the NHL on September 9, 2005, after missing nearly two seasons due to a combination of injuries and the 2004–05 NHL lockout which canceled the entire season, but the factor that was most responsible was his eye injury. His last game was in October 2003, just three games into the season, facing off against the Predators in Nashville when he realized he was having vision problems again. It turned out that he had suffered a detached retina to the same eye that was injured by a wayward stick in January 2001. The previous injury had left him with a permanent blind spot and a need to wear a special contact lens. His jersey #2 was retired by the St. Louis Blues during a pre-game ceremony on Sunday, April 9, 2006, before the Blues faced off against the Edmonton Oilers.
Throughout his career, MacInnis was known most for his powerful slapshot. In the 1999–00 NHL Skills Competition he captured "Hardest Shot" honors for the fourth consecutive year and, overall, has seven such honors to his credit. MacInnis, one of the few NHLers to resist the new composite fiber sticks that came out during 2002–03, fired a shot during All-Star Week that season at 98.9-miles per hour with a Sher-Wood brand wooden stick.
MacInnis has the distinction of playing in two of the three games featuring the largest third-period comeback in NHL history. On January 26, 1987, the Calgary Flames came back from a 5–0 deficit in the third period to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6–5 in overtime. Nearly 14 years later, on November 29, 2000, the St. Louis Blues came back from a 5–0 deficit to defeat the Leafs 6–5 in overtime again; MacInnis played a key role by recording a power-play goal in the third period.
Played in 15 NHL All-Star Games - 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003. His jersey number 2 was retired by the St. Louis Blues on April 9, 2006
On November 12, 2007, MacInnis was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year eligible.
==Records==
* 33rd place in all-time NHL scoring with 1,274 points.
* 14th place in all-time NHL assists with 934.
* 24th place in all-time NHL games played list with 1,416.
* 3rd among all-time NHL defencemen in points.
* 3rd among all-time NHL defencemen in assists.
* 3rd among all-time NHL defencemen in goals with 340 goals.
* Seven-time winner of the hardest-shot competition at the NHL All-Star Game.
==Career statistics==
  	  	  	 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1980–81 	Kitchener Rangers	OHL 	 	47 	11 	28 	39 	59 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1981–82 	Kitchener Rangers	OHL 	 	59 	25 	50 	75 	145 	 	15 	5 	10 	15 	44
1981–82 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1982–83 	Kitchener Rangers	OHL 	 	51 	38 	46 	84 	67 	 	8 	3 	8 	11 	9
1982–83 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	14 	1 	3 	4 	9 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1983–84 	Colorado Flames 	CHL 	 	19 	5 	14 	19 	22 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1983–84 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	51 	11 	34 	45 	42 	 	11 	2 	12 	14 	13
1984–85 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	67 	14 	52 	66 	75 	 	4 	1 	2 	3 	8
1985–86 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	77 	11 	57 	68 	76 	 	21 	4 	15 	19 	30
1986–87 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	79 	20 	56 	76 	97 	 	4 	1 	0 	1 	0
1987–88 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	80 	25 	58 	83 	114 	 	7 	3 	6 	9 	18
1988–89 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	79 	16 	58 	74 	126 	 	22 	7 	24 	31 	46
1989–90 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	79 	28 	62 	90 	82 	 	6 	2 	3 	5 	8
1990–91 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	78 	28 	75 	103 	90 	 	7 	2 	3 	5 	8
1991–92 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	72 	20 	57 	77 	83 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1992–93 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	50 	11 	43 	54 	61 	 	6 	1 	6 	7 	10
1993–94 	Calgary Flames 	NHL 	 	75 	28 	54 	82 	95 	 	7 	2 	6 	8 	12
1994–95 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 	 	32 	8 	20 	28 	43 	 	7 	1 	5 	6 	10
1995–96 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 	 	82 	17 	44 	61 	88 	 	13 	3 	4 	7 	20
1996–97 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 	 	72 	13 	30 	43 	65 	 	6 	1 	2 	3 	4
1997–98 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 	 	71 	19 	30 	49 	80 	 	8 	2 	6 	8 	12
1998–99 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 	 	82 	20 	42 	62 	70 	 	13 	4 	8 	12 	20
1999–00 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 	 	61 	11 	28 	39 	34 	 	7 	1 	3 	4 	14
2000–01 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 	 	59 	12 	42 	54 	52 	 	15 	2 	8 	10 	18
2001–02 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 	 	71 	11 	35 	46 	52 	 	10 	0 	7 	7 	4
2002–03 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 	 	80 	16 	52 	68 	61 	 	3 	0 	1 	1 	0
2003–04 	St. Louis Blues 	NHL 	 	3 	0 	2 	2 	6 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	1416 	340 	934 	1274 	1501 	 	177 	39 	121 	160 	255
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==International play==
Played for Canada in:
*1990 World Championships
*1991 Canada Cup (Champions)
*1998 Winter Olympics
*2002 Winter Olympics (gold medal)
==References==
==External links==
*
Category:Born in 1963
Category:Calgary Flames draft picks
Category:Calgary Flames players
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Conn Smythe Trophy winners
Category:Kitchener Rangers alumni
Category:NHL All-Stars
Category:National Hockey League first round draft picks
Category:NHL players with 100 point seasons
Category:NHL players with retired numbers
Category:Norris Trophy winners
Category:Olympic ice hockey players of Canada
Category:St. Louis Blues players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Hockey Hall of Fame
Category:1998 Olympian
Category:2002 Olympian
Category:Retired in 2003
Category:Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame inductees