Jarome Iginla, the Calgary Flames Hall of Famer, is an icon in the hockey world. His career, marked by skill, leadership, and community involvement, has solidified his place as one of the greats. Here are seven cool things about this remarkable athlete:

1. A Voice for Music: Growing up in Edmonton, music was a significant part of Iginla's life. His grandmother was a music teacher, and his mother was a singer. He learned to play the piano and sang solos at local music festivals. One of his most nerve-wracking moments was when his mother sang the Canadian and U.S. national anthems at a game.
2. A Name of Significance: Iginla's full name is Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla. Arthur-Leigh is his father's middle name, and Adekunle was his father's first name in Nigeria before immigrating to Canada. His father changed his name to Elvis because he "thought it was cool". Iginla's surname means "big tree" in Yoruba.
3. Baseball Beginnings: Iginla's first love was baseball. His grandfather introduced him to sports and encouraged him to become an athlete, taking him to baseball tournaments. He played catcher, pitcher, and shortstop, dreaming of being like Bo Jackson and playing both hockey and baseball until age 17.
4. From Goalie to Goal Scorer: Iginla started his hockey journey as a goalie. Inspired by Edmonton Oilers goaltender Grant Fuhr, whom he admired, Iginla played goalie for his first two years of organized hockey. He initially played goalie because he wasn't a naturally strong skater.
5. Flames' Franchise Leader: Iginla is the Calgary Flames' all-time leader in games played (1219), goals (525), and points (1095). He played 16 seasons with the Flames and captained the team for nine seasons. His jersey number 12 was retired by the Flames on March 2, 2019.
6. Olympic Heroics: Iginla has won five gold medals in 42 games with Team Canada. He won gold medals at the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics. In 2002, he became the first Black male athlete to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. He also assisted Sidney Crosby's "Golden Goal" at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
7. Generosity and Leadership: Iginla is known for his generosity and leadership, both on and off the ice. He won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his humanitarian contributions and the Mark Messier Leadership Award. Iginla donated $2,000 to KidSport Calgary for every goal he scored.

Jarome Iginla's impact extends beyond statistics and awards. He was the first Black captain in NHL history. Iginla's career includes 625 goals and 675 assists in 1,554 regular-season games. He reached the 40-goal mark four times and scored 50 goals twice. Iginla was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020, his first year of eligibility. He is the fourth Black player to be inducted. Iginla's legacy is one of skill, sportsmanship, and giving back to the community, setting a high standard for future generations.