Canucks icon Roberto Luongo was the star of the show before Thursday's clash against the Florida Panthers, as he was inducted into Vancouver's Ring of Honour.
Luongo is the eighth Canuck to earn the distinction, joining Orland Kurtenbach, Kirk McLean, Thomas Gradin, Harold Snepsts, Pat Quinn, Mattias Ohlund, and Alex Burrows. The organization has also retired the numbers of six players.
Many of Luongo's former teammates were on hand for the ceremony. Henrik and Daniel Sedin presented their former netminder with a jersey featuring a captain's "C," symbolizing his run as the Canucks' leader for two seasons.
Then, Vancouver fans serenaded him with a vintage "Luuuuu" chant before the banner was dropped.
A franchise icon forever etched in Rogers Arena. 💙 pic.twitter.com/zyjsrpp4P9
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 15, 2023
Kevin Bieksa also narrated an emotional video tribute.
“You were more than a goalie. You were our confidence, our edge, our pocket aces, and our hope that we could reach our goals.”
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 15, 2023
Celebrating you tonight, Roberto Luongo. pic.twitter.com/x60ZYtNpTf
The Canucks acquired Luongo from the Panthers before the 2006-07 season, and he went on to become the club's all-time wins leader (252) while owning a .919 save percentage across 448 games. He was a Vezina Trophy finalist twice in Vancouver and played a key role in helping the club reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2011 while also winning the Presidents' Trophy in back-to-back seasons.
"I want to thank you guys," Luongo said during a speech, per The Athletic's Thomas Drance. "It wasn't always rainbows and butterflies; there were some harder times. But those times made me who I am today ... and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart."
Luongo was traded back to Florida during the 2013-14 campaign and finished his career in 2019. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022.
