Ducks retire Hall of Fame defenceman Niedermayer's No. 27
Scott Niedermayer accomplished a lot during his 18-year NHL career. The Hall of Fame defenceman added one more to the list on Sunday night when he became the ninth player to have his number retired by two teams.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Scott Niedermayer accomplished a lot during his 18-year NHL career. The Hall of Fame
The Anaheim Ducks raised Niedermayer's No. 27 to the rafters at the Honda Center,
The Ducks
Ever the consummate teammate, Niedermayer mentioned every player and coach on the 2007 title team before his number was raised.
The most important teammate though on that club was his brother, Rob. Scott Niedermayer said after the ceremony that the 2003 Stanley Cup Final, where his Devils beat Rob's Ducks in seven games in 2003, put the wheels in motion on trying to play with his younger brother.
"When we were 10 years old we would have loved to beat the heck out of each other in a Stanley Cup game and rub it in. When we were older in 2003 it was a different story," Scott Niedermayer said. "To win a Stanley Cup here exceeded what I thought was going to happen."
Niedermayer won the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is given to the Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, after the Ducks defeated the Ottawa Senators in five games.
"The bigger the game, the better he played. He is the greatest champion of our generation," said former Anaheim great Paul Kariya. "His ability to control the game on
Niedermayer was the first player in hockey history to win a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold medal, World Championship, World Cup, Memorial Cup and World Junior title. He is also the only player to have won a combination of four Stanley Cups and two Olympic gold medals.
Niedermayer is the third player to have his number retired by Anaheim. He joins the No. 8 of Teemu Selanne and Kariya's No. 9.
"It was enjoyable. It was good to sit back and reflect," Niedermayer said.
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Joe Reedy, The Associated Press