Let’s play a game.
I’m going to give you 15 facts about a player from NHL history. All you have to do is tell me who it is.
Sound good?
Great. Let’s do it.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Who am I?
1. I was born in a small town in rural Canada. So small, in fact, that the entire population wouldn’t fill a single section of an NHL arena.
2. I grew up on the family farm and was the youngest of three children, though I was the only one who ever played hockey professionally. My parents knew I had potential when I held my own against teenagers three years older than me at the Canada Games.
3. I left home at the age of 16 to begin my junior hockey career — but I didn’t play in Canada. Instead, I played in the city that hosted the first American team to win the Stanley Cup.
4. I was taken second overall in the NHL Entry Draft after putting up 125 points in my sophomore year of junior hockey. Funny enough, I would later become teammates with the person chosen first overall.
5. I jumped straight into the NHL after being drafted. When I suited up for opening night, I was the youngest player in the league (I had just turned 18 two weeks earlier).
6. Despite my high draft status, I only finished sixth in Calder voting.
7. I was 24 years old when I was named captain midway through a season. Prior to that, three of my teammates alternated who would wear the ‘C’ for the club.
8. I hit my stride two years (but just one season) later. After not earning more than 60 points in a single season, I went on to put up over 70 in five of the next six.
9. I became the franchise leader in points at just 27 years old. I am still the leader in that category today — and many others as well.
10. I played in three all-star games in my career, although the third one was only because another player got injured.
11. I also represented Canada in the Olympic Games twice. We won gold both times.
12. I am just one of two players to open a season with four multi-goal games. The only other played for the Ottawa Senators — the original iteration, not the current one.
13. After 19 seasons with the team that drafted me, I left to try and win my first Stanley Cup. I had only been to one Stanley Cup Final in my career at that point, and it would turn out to be my only one.
14. I would always find my way back to that organization, though. I returned twice later in my career and played my last NHL game with them.
15. I might not have won a Stanley Cup in my career, but I do have a place in the record books: The most games played in NHL history. I passed the great Gordie Howe in my final season.
I am
.
.
.
Patrick Marleau.
Now, you might look at some of these clues and start asking yourself even more questions. Where was Marleau born? What American city did he play junior hockey in? And who did he replace in his third All Star Game?
Well, I have all those answers for you and more right here.
Welcome to the fun facts behind the fun facts.
1. I was born in a small town in rural Canada. So small, in fact, that the entire population wouldn’t fill a single section of an NHL arena.
Marleau was born in Aneroid, Saskatchewan. Population: 50
2. I grew up on the family farm and was the youngest of three children, though I was the only one who ever played hockey professionally. My parents knew I had potential when I held my own against teenagers three years older than me at the Canada Games.
He grew up with a sister, Denise, and a brother, Richard.
3. I left home at the age of 16 to begin my junior hockey career — but I didn’t play in Canada. Instead, I played in the city that hosted the first American team to win the Stanley Cup.
Marleau played junior hockey for the Seattle Thunderbirds. In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans brought the Stanley Cup to the United States for the first time.
4. I was taken second overall in the NHL Entry Draft after putting up 125 points in my sophomore year of junior hockey. Funny enough, I would later become teammates with the person chosen first overall.
The first overall pick that year: Future Sharks captain Joe Thornton.
5. I jumped straight into the NHL after being drafted. When I suited up for opening night, I was the youngest player in the league (I had just turned 18 two weeks earlier).
Marleau was born on September 15 — the last birthdate eligible to enter the the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. This made him not just the youngest player in the NHL, but the youngest player taken in that draft as well.
6. Despite my high draft status, I only finished sixth in Calder voting.
The winner that year was Sergei Samsonov of the Boston Bruins, earning 93% of the vote.
7. I was 24 years old when I was named captain midway through a season. Prior to that, three of my teammates alternated who would wear the ‘C’ for the club.
Those three teammates were Mike Ricci, Alyn McCauley, and former Montreal Canadiens captain Vincent Damphousse.
8. I hit my stride two years (but just one season) later. After not earning more than 60 points in a single season, I went on to put up over 70 in five of the next six.
Marleau took this step following the 2005 NHL lockout, making it two years but only one season.
9. I became the franchise leader in points at just 27 years old. I am still the leader in that category today — and many others as well.
Those categories are: Games played (1,607), consecutive games played (738), goals (532), points (1,111), power play goals (163), shorthanded goals (17), game-winning goals (101), and shots (3,953).
10. I played in three all-star games in my career, although the third one was only because another player got injured.
The injured player was Pavel Datsyuk in 2009.
11. I also represented Canada in the Olympic Games twice. We won gold both times.
Marleau recorded nine points in 13 combined games in 2010 (Vancouver) and 2014 (Sochi).
12. I am just one of two players to open a season with four multi-goal games. The only other played for the Ottawa Senators — the original iteration, not the current one.
That would be Cy Denneny, who played for the Ottawa Senators that existed from 1883 to 1934. The Ottawa Senators we know today were founded in 1992.
13. After 19 seasons with the team that drafted me, I left to try and win my first Stanley Cup. I had only been to one Stanley Cup Final in my career at that point, and it would turn out to be my only one.
Marleau signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the offseason of 2017. The local newspaper put out a full-page ad commemorating his time in San Jose.
14. I would always find my way back to that organization, though. I returned twice later in my career and played my last NHL game with them.
Marleau would come back to San Jose two years later but would get traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins — the team that beat the Sharks in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. He signed with the Sharks for one more season before retiring.
15. I might not have won a Stanley Cup in my career, but I do have a place in the record books: The most games played in NHL history. I passed the great Gordie Howe in my final season.
On top of entering the league as a young 18 year old, Marleau appeared in 900 consecutive games en route to playing in 1,779 contests over his career.
Pucks Over Glass 
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