Congratulations! LUC ROBITAILLE - #20

<i>by Michael Zampelli</i>

<img src="/images/lucsmall.jpg" align=right border=0>The first thing that comes to mind when I think back on Luc Robitaille is his effectiveness as a pure goal scorer. If there ever was a player that epitimized the word "sniper" it was Luc, who could fire quickly and with deadly accuracy.

From the fan perspective, I think of the number of TIMELY goals scored by Robitaille that sent me home from the GW Forum hoarse from cheering. It seemed like whenever the Kings needed that late goal to tie up a game, it was always 'Lucky' who brought the crowd to it's feet with the clutch goals that were scored when all the chips were on the table.

He was also a pleasure to meet in person and was always very kind to the fans, especially the kids. I've even heard stories of him showing up in Hermosa Beach to play roller hockey with the locals in the summer. The times that I met him at charity events or whatever, he was always interested in what I was having autographed and the things I had to say.
Have you ever seen the guy without a smile on his face?

Anyways, I just would like to congratulate Luc on his outstanding career and getting his jersey raised to the rafters. I'm also glad to hear that he is still part of the organization and will still be around the team and the fans.

If anyone else wants to chime in, your thoughts are welcome. Who knows, maybe he'll read it. ;)

Good post RR!
Luc IS the KINGS and always will be as far as I'm concerned. As a king's fan that started following the team in about 1992 when I was about 12-13 years old. He was one of my idols... I'll be there a week from tomorrow with my #20 jersey on. It will be a great night! A well deserved honor for my all time favorite player! It's tough to say goodbye to such a great player, but it's nice to know that he'll be a part of this organization for many years to come. Come on king's fans let's here it! LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Definitely a class act. I'll always be a fan.

Luc will go down in history as one of my favorite, if not THE favorite LA King. Many of his goals were pure slop, but boy sometimes they were timed perfectly. I made a Luuuuuc!! Mii on my Nintendo and he's on my baseball team.

I really hope they can somehow raise it for one evening. (How many players have you seen cry having their jersey raised?) It's a lot more dramatic than to just remove some black tarp covering an already hung jersey.

Anyway, Luc will always be the King of Kings. I don't think there's anyone, not even Anze, who can take that from him. Luc was the first to embrace the fans and think of himself as one of them. He's a guy anyone around the league could cheer for because of his goodwill and light-heartedness. Luc fits in with Wayne in the aspect that they were better human beings, and friendlier people than they ever were hockey players. That'll put Luc #1 in my book.

I met him at Tip A King last year, and he actually took a couple of minutes to talk with me and my wife, even though his line was huge. I told him I lived in Saskatchewan, and we flew down to LA to the event and to get married. He was talking about how he had a cousin in Manitoba working in a mine or something. Anyways, I am flying down to LA for his retirement, courtesy of my family, and I will probably won't be the only one crying. Congrats Luc, we love ya.

I remember a true "lucky" goal he scored, throwing the puck down the boards from the blue line. It bounced off the half wall as the goalie was going behind the net. The puck made a beeline straight for the net - GOAL!

Lots of great memories of Luc, and the few times I've met him he always had time to sign "just one more autograph" or to take "just one more picture". Class act all around!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by randygood0130

Luc will go down in history as one of my favorite, if not THE favorite LA King. Many of his goals were pure slop, but boy sometimes they were timed perfectly. I made a Luuuuuc!! Mii on my Nintendo and he's on my baseball team.

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Ooooh, I have to do that!

When I think of Luc I remember his first season. That year was my first year working down at the ice level of the GW forum. During the pre-season I was talking with a lot of hockey officials and other fans in the know and all anybody could talk about was Jimmy Carson. So opening night comes around and I'm looking forward to seeing this new American pheonom and who scores the first goal? Some French-Canadian whose name I couldn't even pronounce. It seemed like every game after that, after a goal was scored, the anouncer would anounce Luc's name as the scorer or the assister. Robitaille, Robitaille, Robitaille. I learned to pronounce it after that. He has been my all-time favorite King ever since. And the best part? He came up through the organization.

Luc is a class act and a helluva player. Miss seeing him on the ice.