Rob Blake

Robert Bowlby Blake (born December 10, 1969) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, appearing in the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, winning the James Norris Memorial Trophy and serving as team captain for five seasons in his initial 11 season-stint with the club. In 2001, Blake was traded to the Colorado Avalanche and won a Stanley Cup championship. After a two-season return to Los Angeles, Blake signed with the Sharks in 2008, retiring as its captain after the 2009-10 season.
Internationally, Blake has played for Team Canada in three consecutive Winter Olympics in 1998, 2002 and 2006, winning gold in 2002.
==Playing career==
Blake grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown of Simcoe, Ontario on some successful hockey clubs. From Novice to Bantam, Blake won two OMHA championships and was a teammate of future NHL goaltender, Dwayne Roloson.
Blake played for the Brantford Classics and Stratford Cullitons Jr.B. teams in the Midwestern Ontario Jr.B. league. After the 1985-86 season, Blake was selected in the 3rd round (31st overall) by the S.S. Marie Greyhounds in the 1986 OHL Priority Selection. Blake did not report to the Greyhounds, preferring to obtain an NCAA scholarship and then signed with the Stratford Cullitons for the 1986-87 season.
Blake accepted a scholarship to Bowling Green State University (CCHA) and played 3 seasons for the Falcons.
===Los Angeles Kings (1990–2001)===
Blake was selected 70th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. He had completed his freshman year with Bowling Green University of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) when he was drafted and went on to play three years total in the college ranks, earning CCHA and NCAA West First All-Star Team honours in 1990. Foregoing his final season of college eligibility, Blake joined the Kings for the final four games of the 1989–90 season before tallying 46 points in his NHL rookie campaign in 1990–91 to be named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.
After a 59-point campaign in his third season, Blake helped lead the Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, where they were defeated in five games by the Montreal Canadiens. The following season, in 1993–94, Blake improved to a career-high 48 assists and 68 points, but the Kings failed to qualify for the playoffs.
In a season where Blake was kept to just six games due to injury, the Kings traded captain Wayne Gretzky to the St. Louis Blues at the 1995–96 trade deadline, leaving the team's captaincy vacant. Blake was named the 11th captain in team history. He served as captain from 1996-2001. In 1997–98, Blake received the James Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman after recording a career-high 23 goals to go with 50 points.
With Blake about to become an unrestricted free agent in the 2001 off-season, the Kings traded him, along with Steven Reinprecht, to the Colorado Avalanche for Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller, Jared Aulin and a 1st round pick (David Steckel) on February 21, 2001.
===Colorado Avalanche (2001–06)===
After 11 seasons in Los Angeles, Blake joined Colorado late in the 2000–01 season and made an immediate impact, tallying 10 points in the final 13 games of the regular season after being traded. He then won his first Stanley Cup with the Avalanche, adding 19 points in 23 post-season games. Blake re-signed with the Avalanche in the off-season and recorded 56 points in 2001–02, his highest total with the club.
===Return to Los Angeles (2006–08)===
After four seasons with Colorado, the Avalanche chose not to pick up his contract option for the 2006–07 season, making him a free agent. He re-signed with his former team, the Kings, for two years at $6 million per year on July 1, 2006.
Having come off a 51-point campaign with Colorado the previous year, Blake's production dipped upon his return to Los Angeles. He recorded 34 points in 2006–07 for his lowest total since 1996–97. Nevertheless, prior to the start of the 2007–08 season, Blake was re-named team captain on September 28, 2007, after previous captain Mattias Norström's departure to the Dallas Stars.
===San Jose Sharks (2008–2010)===
Becoming an unrestricted free agent once more in the 2008 off-season, Blake signed a one-year, US$5 million contract with the Kings' Pacific Division rival San Jose Sharks on July 3, 2008. Blake reached the 40-point plateau once more with the Sharks, tallying 10 goals and 35 assists in his first season in San Jose.
Blake extended his contract with the Sharks, re-signing for another year at $3.5 million to avoid free agency. Blake would be named captain of the Sharks approximately six weeks after previous captain Patrick Marleau was stripped of the role by Sharks management.
== Retirement ==
On June 18, 2010, Blake announced his final retirement from professional hockey.
==International play==
Played for Canada in:
*1991 World Championships (silver medal)
*1994 World Championships (gold medal)
*1996 World Cup of Hockey (silver medal)
*1997 World Championships (gold medal)
*1998 Winter Olympics
*1998 World Championships
*1999 World Championships
*2002 Winter Olympics (gold medal)
*2006 Winter Olympics
==Personal life==
Blake and his wife Brandy have two children. His best friend in the NHL is New York Islanders goaltender Dwayne Roloson, with whom he grew up playing hockey in Simcoe, Ontario. He is also closely related to Hall of Famer Red Kelly. In 2008, Blake appeared in the Mike Myers film The Love Guru as himself.
==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
  	  	  	 	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
1985–86 	Brantford Classics 	OJHL-B 	 	39 	3 	13 	16 	43 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1986–87 	Stratford Cullitons 	OJHL-B 	 	31 	11 	20 	31 	115 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1987–88 	Bowling Green Falcons	CCHA 	 	43 	5 	8 	13 	88 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1988–89 	Bowling Green Falcons	CCHA 	 	46 	11 	21 	32 	140 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1989–90 	Bowling Green Falcons	CCHA 	 	42 	23 	36 	59 	140 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1989–90 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	4 	0 	0 	0 	4 	 	8 	1 	3 	4 	4
1990–91 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	75 	12 	34 	46 	125 	 	12 	1 	4 	5 	26
1991–92 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	57 	7 	13 	20 	102 	 	6 	2 	1 	3 	12
1992–93 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	76 	16 	43 	59 	152 	 	23 	4 	6 	10 	46
1993–94 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	84 	20 	48 	68 	137 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1994–95 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	24 	4 	7 	11 	38 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1995–96 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	6 	1 	2 	3 	8 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1996–97 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	62 	8 	23 	31 	82 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1997–98 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	81 	23 	27 	50 	94 	 	4 	0 	0 	0 	6
1998–99 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	62 	12 	23 	35 	128 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1999–00 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	77 	18 	39 	57 	112 	 	4 	0 	2 	2 	4
2000–01 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	54 	17 	32 	49 	69 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2000–01 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	13 	2 	8 	10 	8 	 	23 	6 	13 	19 	16
2001–02 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	75 	16 	40 	56 	58 	 	20 	6 	6 	12 	16
2002–03 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	79 	17 	28 	45 	57 	 	7 	1 	2 	3 	8
2003–04 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	74 	13 	33 	46 	61 	 	9 	0 	5 	5 	6
2005–06 	Colorado Avalanche 	NHL 	 	81 	14 	37 	51 	94 	 	9 	3 	1 	4 	8
2006–07 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	72 	14 	20 	34 	82 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2007–08 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	71 	9 	22 	31 	98 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2008–09 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	73 	10 	35 	45 	110 	 	6 	1 	3 	4 	4
2009–10 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	70 	7 	23 	30 	60 	 	15 	1 	1 	2 	10
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	1270 	240 	537 	777 	1679 	 	146 	26 	47 	73 	166
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International===
Year 	Team 	Event 	GP	G	A 	Pts	PIM
1991 	Canada 	WC 	2 	0	2 	2 	0
1994 	Canada 	WC 	8 	0	2 	2 	6
1996 	Canada 	WC 	4 	0	1 	1 	0
1997 	Canada 	WC 	11	2	2 	4 	22
1998 	Canada 	OG 	6 	1	1 	2 	2
1998 	Canada 	WC 	5 	1	0 	1 	6
1999 	Canada 	WC 	10	2	5 	7 	12
2002 	Canada 	OG 	6 	1	2 	3 	2
2006 	Canada 	OG 	6 	0	1 	1 	2
Senior Int'l Totals	Senior Int'l Totals	Senior Int'l Totals	58	7	16	23 	52
==Awards==
* CCHA Second All-Star Team - 1989.
* CCHA First All-Star Team - 1990.
* NCAA West First All-American Team - 1990.
* NHL All-Rookie Team - 1991.
* Played in NHL All-Star Game - 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003.
* Named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1998.
* Named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
* James Norris Memorial Trophy - 1998.
* Stanley Cup - 2001 Colorado Avalanche.
==References==
==External links==
*
Category:Born in 1969
Category:Bowling Green Falcons players
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Colorado Avalanche players
Category:1998 Olympian
Category:2002 Olympian
Category:2006 Olympian
Category:Los Angeles Kings draft picks
Category:Los Angeles Kings players
Category:NHL All-Stars
Category:Norris Trophy winners
Category:Olympic ice hockey players of Canada
Category:San Jose Sharks players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Retired in 2010
Category:Triple Gold Club