Knowledge
Network
Network
ASK A QUESTION
WRITE AN ARTICLE
The IIHF recognizes a unique few hockey players throughout the world in their ‘Triple Gold Club’. To become a member of the Triple Gold Club, a player must win a Stanley Cup in the National Hockey League, a Gold Medal at the IIHF World Hockey Championships and a Gold Medal at the Winter Olympic Games.
To date, there are just 24 players and one coach that have accomplished this amazing feat. Seven of the players and the one coach are from Canada. Obviously, there will be no new members until at least 2014, the next time the Winter Olympic Games take place.
Rob Blake won two World Championships with Canada in 1994 and 1997. Blake hoisted the Stanley Cup as a member of the Colorado Avalanche in 2001. He topped off his triple gold achievement with a Gold Medal at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Rob played in the NHL from 1989-90 to 2009-10 with the Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks.
Joe Sakic followed a very similar path as Blake. He was part of the 1994 Team Canada World Championship team and won Gold at the 2002 Olympics. Sakic captained the Colorado Avalanche to two Stanley Cup victories, 1996 and 2001. Joe began his NHL career a year before Blake in 1988-89 with the Quebec Nordiques. 2008-09 was his last season in the NHL after spending all his years with the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise.
Brendan Shanahan, similar to Blake and Sakic, was with Canada for the 1994 World Championships and the 2002 Olympics. Shanahan was also part of three Stanley Cup winning teams in Detroit. Brendan has Stanley Cup rings from the Red Wings 1997, 1998 and 2002 victories. Shanahan entered the NHL one year sooner than Sakic with the 1987-88 New Jersey Devils. He finished up his career after the 2008-09 season after a career with the Devils, Hartford Whalers, Red Wings and New York Rangers.
Scott Niedermayer needs a large trophy case. Scott won four Stanley Cups over his NHL career, 1995, 2000 and 2003 with the New Jersey Devils and 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks. Niedermayer has two Olympic Gold Medals from 2002 and 2010. Scott was a member of Team Canada as they won the 2004 World Championships. Niedermayer began his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils in 1992-93 and finished off with the Anaheim Ducks in 2009-10.
Chris Pronger won the World Championships with Canada in 1997. Pronger has two Gold Medals from the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics. Chris was a teammate of Scott Niedermayer on the 2007 Stanley Cup winning Anaheim Ducks. Pronger began his NHL career in 1993-94 with the Hartford Whalers. He is currently playing for the Philadelphia Flyers. Along the way, Pronger has also played for the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks.
Eric Staal wasted no time in joining the Triple Gold Club. Staal began his NHL career in 2005-06 with the Carolina Hurricanes and won a Stanley Cup that first season. The following year, 2007, he won at the World Championships. In 2010, he was part of Team Canada’s Gold Medal performance at the Olympics. Staal is currently still with the Hurricanes.
Jonathan Toews was even quicker than Staal. Toews was part of the 2007 World Champions before he even started his NHL career. Jonathan began with the Chicago Blackhawks for the 2007-08 season. In 2010, he won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks and won gold at the Olympics with Canada. He is currently still a member of the Blackhawks.
The one coach to belong to the club is Mike Babcock. Babcock coached the 2004 World Championships team, won a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008 and was the bench boss for the 2010 Olympics Gold Medal. Mike began his NHL coaching career with Anaheim in 2002-03. After two seasons with the Ducks, he moved on to Detroit where he is still head coach.
Sam - I don't think it'll be long before the Avalanche are back in the thick of things. Short but winning tradition and good young players is all they need.
very interesting and informative
"there will be no new members until at least 2014" - this is not true as there are many players that have won olympic gold but who haven't fulfilled the other two requirements competed for annually.
Voted up. like this article
Very interesting Tom, I guess I didn't realize Rob Blake had played that many years. The Avalanche made Joe Sakic an executive advisor for all hockey operations. Maybe that will help them get back to the playoffs again.