Joseph Steven Sakic was born in 1969 into a family of Croatian immigrants. His childhood was spent in Burnaby, a suburb of Vancouver. He grew up speaking Croatian and only began learning English when he started kindergarten. Despite the language barrier, Joe’s determination helped him build a stellar sports career.
Joe attended his first NHL hockey game at the age of four, a match between the Vancouver Canucks and Atlanta Flames. That game inspired him to pursue a career in sports. Read more on ivancouver.
The Beginnings of a Hockey Career
At the age of 17, Joe Sakic moved to Saskatchewan with two teammates to play for the Swift Current Broncos. The players lived with host families and attended Swift Current High School, where Joe met Debbie Metivier, who would later become his wife.
Although shorter than many of his peers, Sakic compensated for his height with agility and maneuverability, modeling his skills after his idol, Wayne Gretzky.
In his first season, Joe scored 60 goals and made 73 assists, totaling 133 points. This earned him the title of Rookie of the Year.
A Tragedy in the Team
On the night of December 30, 1986, Joe and the Broncos were traveling to a game against the Regina Pats. Due to poor weather conditions, their bus skidded off the road, resulting in the deaths of four teammates seated at the back. Joe, unharmed, escaped through the front window with others.
The following season was dedicated to their fallen teammates, and Sakic’s leadership shone through. He scored 60 goals and made 73 assists, helping the Broncos reach the playoffs.
The next year, Joe was offered a position with the Quebec Nordiques but opted to stay another season with the Broncos to improve his physical conditioning. He concluded the season with 78 goals and 82 assists, earning the title of Canadian Player of the Year before signing with the Nordiques.
Professional NHL Play
Joe made his NHL debut in 1988 against the Hartford Whalers, recording an assist. Two days later, he scored his first goal in a game against the New Jersey Devils.
Initially wearing jersey number 88, as his preferred number 19 was taken by teammate Alain Côté, Sakic excelled in his first season. Despite his strong performance, a shin injury sidelined him for 10 games, affecting his scoring streak and costing him the Calder Memorial Trophy.
The following season, Sakic reclaimed jersey number 19 after Alain Côté retired. He finished with 102 points, ranking ninth in the league. In 1990, Joe was named alternate captain, and in 1992, he became the team’s captain. Under his leadership, the Nordiques returned to the playoffs for the first time in six years, setting a team record for wins and points.
A New Team
In 1995, the Quebec Nordiques were sold and relocated to Denver, Colorado. Renamed the Colorado Avalanche, the team secured its first Stanley Cup, amassing 120 points in 82 regular-season games and 34 points in 22 playoff matches.
Joe Sakic was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for being the most valuable player in the 1996 playoffs.
In 2002, Joe competed in the Winter Olympics, scoring four goals in six games and helping Canada win its first Olympic gold in hockey since 1952. He returned to the Olympics in 2006, scoring one goal in six games.
Sakic retired from professional hockey in 2009.