It may not be his jersey retirement, but Roberto Luongo was back in Vancouver to be honored by the Canucks in a ceremony on Thursday.
The popular retired goaltender's name was added to the franchise's Ring of Honor before the game against the Florida Panthers at Rogers Arena. The Quebecer played for both of these teams, but for him Vancouver remains the most beautiful city in the world.
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“[J’ai passé] fantastic years here in Vancouver. I think those were the years when I reached my peak, so I'm happy that this is being recognized because this city has a special place in my heart,” he explained at a press conference, cracking jokes as only he could can.
“You pushed me to be a better person, a better goalkeeper, and I really embraced that and appreciated that. I really thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Roberto Luongo thanks and shares his fondest memories during the Ring of Honor induction ceremony. pic.twitter.com/ers7H1Wlzz
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 15, 2023
“You were more than a goalkeeper. They were our confidence, our advantage, our aces and our hope that we could achieve our goals.”
We celebrate you tonight, Roberto Luongo. pic.twitter.com/x60ZYtNpTf
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 15, 2023
Clearly capable of keeping a straight face, the 44-year-old looked back on his eight campaign visits to British Columbia with a touch of emotion. The closest he came to winning the Stanley Cup was with the Canucks in 2011.
“It was a great and special group. The guys in that locker room really loved each other and really cared about each other. The fact that a lot of these guys are still working around the league is great because I get to see them,” he said.
In fact, Luongo experienced his best years in Vancouver. He surpassed the 30-win plateau six times and was even captain of the organization between 2008 and 2010.
“It's a great honor. “This is one of the achievements that makes me most proud as a hockey player,” he remembers. No other goalkeeper can say he did that.”
Five goaltenders have been captains before him, but none since Bill Durnan with the Montreal Canadiens in 1948.
And the sweater?
For all his heroics, should the fourth-winningest goalie in history see his number 1 hoisted to the heights of Rogers Arena? The Panthers retired his jersey in 2020 after his 10th full season at Florida.
“I believe his play, his work in the community, his leadership qualities give him all the criteria to receive this honor. “The things he did off the ice that he didn't make public were very strong,” said former general manager Mike Gillis on an episode of the “Sekeres & Price Show” podcast.
This is the same GM who was in charge for most of Luongo's time in Vancouver, eventually handing him over on March 4, 2014. The Montreal goalkeeper wanted to shed light on this situation.
“It wasn’t a request for a transaction. It was more of a mutual decision with Mike Gillis. Cory [Schneider] “The game was coming up and we had a discussion at the end of the year and decided it would be better and that Cory would be the showman,” he said.
“At the time, Cory was excited, so I agreed and we tried to find a solution together.”
The rest is history as Schneider was traded ahead of Luongo on June 30, 2013. Eddie Lack and Ryan Miller took over before Jacob Markstrom came onto the scene a few years later.
Luongo is now considered by many to be the best goaltender in Canucks history. He will be the second goaltender in Ring of Honor after Kirk McLean. Five jerseys were retired by the organization, namely those of Pavel Bure, Stan Smyl, Trevor Linden, Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin.