Dryden’s Chris Pronger says he was surprised to learn his #44 will be retired by the St. Louis Blues next season.
The NHL Hall of Famer played nine seasons with the Blues.
Pronger says it’s an honour to be recognized.
“I had a number of great years here in St. Louis and you like to think that you left a positive mark and you accomplished some big things. Obviously my personal life I did and now having my number retired up there with the Blues greats is very special.”
Pronger was humble when learning about the honour.
“You look around the league. There’s a lot of great players that don’t have their numbers retired. It’s not a forgone conclusion. It’s not something that’s owed to you. It’s upon the organization and how they feel.”
He adds “Nobody owes you anything. You got to go out, whether you’re playing, working, whatever it is, you got to do your best, to the best of your abilities.”
No date has been set for the official ceremony.
Pronger notes one of his biggest accomplishments was becoming only the second player in league history to be named the top Defenceman and League MVP in the same year.
Bobby Orr did it in 1969-70 and 1970-71.
