Nicole Mortillaro

Jarome Iginla Nicole Mortillaro

There's much more to Jarome Iginla's story than being the first black captain of an NHL team. He is also renowned for his social commitment and generosity off the ice.

Iggy grew up in a single-parent household in St. Albert, Alberta. It was thanks to his grandparents that he started to play hockey. His hard work paid off and, in 1996, at the age of 18, Iggy was drafted into the NHL for the Calgary Flames. He went on to become a multiple-award-winning hockey player and two-time Olympic champion. But he never forgot his struggles in his rise to hockey stardom. Today, he plays an important role for many young hockey-loving Canadians by promoting diversity in hockey.