Hockey Hall of Fame Inducts Doug Gilmour

Last night, one of Kingston’s greatest names in sport took his place amongst hockey’s elite including: Bobbie Orr, Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky and many others, as he was ceremoniously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. During Doug Gilmour’s 20 year career, he played for St. Louis (’83–’88), Calgary (’88–’92), Toronto (’92–’97), New Jersey (’97–’98), Chicago (’98–’00), Buffalo (’00–’01), and finally Montreal (’01–’03). He was an integral part of Calgary’s first and only Stanley Cup win in ’87, while he also set records with the Leafs for most points and assists in a single season. In ’08, Dougie returned to his hometown as the bench boss of the Kingston Frontenacs, helping the team realize a second place finish in the OHL’s East Division in 2009. Although he’s stepped back from coaching the Fronts, he continues to serve as the team’s General Manager.

By today’s standard, Gilmour’s rise to the professional league is arguably against all odds. He was originally drafted to a junior team in Cornwall as a defenceman, tipping the scales at a mere 138 pounds. Dougie sheds some light on his career, as well as what it was like to receive a call from the Hockey Hall of Fame during an informal interview that was shot while he signed a limited number of prints that were distributed at last night’s event.

Douglas Robert Gilmour was born June 25, 1963 in Kingston, Ontario, and through a heralded career of twenty NHL seasons, proved to be a determined and productive forward worthy of induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

This video captures conversation between Mr Gilmour and Hockey Hall of Fame staff as he signs limited edition Induction prints which will be distributed to the first 500 guests to the Hall on Sunday November 13th as part of the 2011 Induction weekend celebration.

Gilmour was inducted alongside Joe Nieuwendyk, Ed Belfour, and Mark Howe.