Scott Niedermayer owns the distinction of being the only player in hockey history to win every major North American and world title a Canadian can win: the Memorial Cup, World Junior championship, Stanley Cup, World Championship, World Cup and Olympic gold medal.
On Tuesday, Niedermayer, along with Chris Chelios and Brendan Shanahan were named as part of this year’s group to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in November.
"It’s pretty surreal to get this call," Niedermayer said on a conference call. "To be told that you’re inducted into the Hall of Fame, obviously it takes a long time to sink in.
In all, Niedermayer, currently an assistant coach with Anaheim, won four Stanley Cups, including captaining the Ducks to their one and only title in 2007.
It was a Stanley Cup he was able to win alongside his brother, Rob.
"It was a pretty special time to play alongside my brother in the NHL for a few years and then to win a Stanley Cup together" Niedermayer said when reached by phone. "To be able to hand him the Stanley Cup was definitely a highlight in my career. He played a long time. He had been close a couple of times and wasn’t able to pull it off. To do it alongside of him was pretty special, probably something you would never dream of being able to do.
"It's a memory that I will take with me forever."
Niedermayer played in 1,263 career games spanning 17 seasons with the New Jersey Devils and Ducks, totaling 172 goals and 740 points. He was honored in 2004 with the James Norris Trophy (best defenseman), and in 2007 he was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP.
"I'm so happy for Scotty!" former Ducks teammate Teemu Selanne said in a statement. "He was one of the best players to ever play the game and deserves to join the legends of hockey in the Hall of Fame. It was unbelievable to watch him as a player, his skating was incredible.
"It was an honor to be his teammate."
While today was a special day for Niedermayer, former Los Angeles Kings player Rob Blake did not receive enough votes to earn induction into the Hall of Fame. Blake, who won a Stanley Cup with Colorado as well as the Norris Trophy, will have to wait another year.
