Calgary’s Swedish center and team captain Mikael Backlund passed a milestone on Thursday night. The game against Utah away was his 1,000th in the NHL, but it ended in a 1–5 loss for Backlund’s Calgary.
Last night was the time for the first game as a 1000 player at home in Calgary. There was a big celebration, with a tribute video on the jumbotron before the game, showing highlights from his career, along with greetings from former teammates.
“It was amazing”
After the video, he received a framed match shirt with the text “Backlund 10000” and a silver club, engraved with his name and a text about having played a thousand matches – while the 16,275 spectators in the arena stood up and gave him a standing ovation ovation.
– It was fantastic. It’s a thing that only happens once, so I tried to take in everything that happened, Backlund told the assembled media corps after the game.
“Wonderful to win”
And unlike in Utah the day before yesterday, Backlund got to celebrate with a victory this evening, as Calgary won 3-0.
– Fantastic to win tonight, so the evening could end on a high. That makes it even more special, he said.
Can he beat Iginla?
35-year-old Backlund now has only one Calgary player ahead of him on the list of most games in the club: Club icon Jarome Iginla. He played 1,220 games for the club.
– It would be pretty cool to beat Jarome. I mean, he was a great player and a Calgary legend,” Backlund said.
Iginla was there and paid tribute to Backlund this evening, and says Calgary Herald that he believes Backlund can break his club record.
– If someone is going to break a record or a milestone, it’s cool if it’s a friend and teammate. So I’m rooting for him, and think he has a lot left, says Iginla.
