INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Joé Juneau ’91 has been selected as one of six recipients of the prestigious NCAA Silver Anniversary Award for his collegiate and professional achievements. The Silver Anniversary Award annually recognizes distinguished individuals on the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of their college athletics careers.
Joining Juneau as 2015 recipients are Abby Cheng, Chris Howard, Russell Maryland, Dikembe Mutombo, and Steve Smith. The NCAA will recognize the honorees at the Honors Celebration during the 2016 NCAA Convention on Jan. 15 in San Antonio.
Juneau, an aeronautical engineering major from Pont-Rouge, Que., who spoke very little English upon arrival to campus, enjoyed a tremendous collegiate career before having an outstanding tenure in the National Hockey League. Among his on-ice accomplishments while at Rensselaer were:
Scoring 69 goals with 144 assists for 213 points in 124 games … He also had 57 penalties for 157 minutes
Serving as captain in 1990-91
Leading the team in assists all four years (29, 23, 52, 40)
Leading the team in points all four years (45, 35, 70, 63)
Leading ECAC Hockey in points in 1989-90 (70 in 34 games, including 50 in 22 league games)
Ranking third (52 in 1989-90) and eighth (40 in 1990-91) in school history for single season assists
Ranking second in school history for career assists
Ranking fifth in school history for career points
Selection to the league’s All-Rookie Team in 1987-88
Earning All-League First Team in 1989-90, All-League Second Team in 1990-91 and All-League Honorable Mention in 1987-88
Earning National All-America First Team in 1989-90 and National All-America Second Team in 1990-91
Being named a Hobey Baker Award finalist in 1989-90 and 1990-91
Being named to the ECAC Hockey All-Decade Team of the 1990s
Earning Rensselaer’s Male Freshman Athlete of the Year in 1988
Earning Rensselaer’s Male Career Athlete of the Year in 1990
Being drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft
Playing for Team Canada in 1990, 1991 and in the 1992 Olympics, where he won a silver medal while leading the tournament in scoring with 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists) in nine games
Rensselaer Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005
Rensselaer Hockey Ring of Honor in 2005
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Honorary Degree in 2005
ECAC Hockey Top 50 Player of All-Time in 2010
University of Ottawa Honorary Degree in 2011
Professionally, Juneau had a distinguished 13-year NHL career, during which he:
Played for Boston, Washington, Buffalo, Ottawa, Phoenix and Montreal
Amassed 156 goals and 416 assists for 572 points in 828 games … He also had 272 penalty minutes
Scored 25 goals with 54 assists in 112 career playoff games
Registered 70 assists and 102 points in 1992-93 with the Bruins – both team rookie records and NHL record for assists by a left wing
Was named to the 1993 All-Rookie Team
Finished second in voting for 1993 Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL’s top rookie, behind only Teemu Selanne
Jacques Beauchamp Trophy, presented annually to the player having been instrumental in the team’s success without any particular honor as chosen by sports journalists of Montreal, in 2002
Two Stanley Cup Finals appearances
Since retiring following the 2003-04 season, Juneau has been active as a humanitarian, working with the youths of the Canadian Arctic, creating the Nunavik Youth Hockey Development Program, which encourages academic progress and provides Inuit children with avenues to play and enjoy the sport of hockey. Ten years later, Juneau remains active as an instructor, coach, educator, coordinator and director of the program, which has had more than 500 participants.
He has also served his native Canada in a variety of ways, including as Assistant Chef de Mission for the Canadian Olympic Team at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Additionally, he has been awarded:
Honorary member of the Order of Quebec’s Social Workers, for defending and promoting values of equity and social justice in the exercise of its functions (June 2010)
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, an acknowledgement to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her service to the country, and to pay tribute by the same means to outstanding Canadians who have built and continue to build the nation through the services they provide, as well and their achievements and contributions. (March 2013)
The title and role of Honorary Witness with respect to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, with a mandate to explore the history of ‘Indians’ residential schools in Canada. Juneau and others agreed to join the work of reconciliation following the unfortunate legacy of those residential schools, considering all the injustice and wrongs caused to Aboriginal people for over 150 years in Canada. (March 2013)
The Medal of Honor of the Quebec National Assembly, a distinction awarded by the president to individuals from different backgrounds who, through their career, their work or their commitment, have deserved the recognition of all members of the National Assembly. (November 2013)
The medal of Cavalier of the National Order of Quebec, a tribute by the Premier of Quebec to outstanding individuals who, through their achievements, values ??and ideals, marked the evolution and influence of Quebec. The National Order of Quebec is the highest and most prestigious distinction awarded by the Quebec government. (June 2014)
