Mr. Speaker, it is with great privilege that I rise today and salute a recent milestone attained by a gentleman born and raised in West Guilford in Haliburton county, Mr. Bernie Nicholls.
A few weeks ago Mr. Nicholls became the 39th player in the history of the National Hockey League to attain 1,000 points in scoring. He has joined the elites in the game: Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau, Bobby Hull, Stan Makita and others who have reached the millennium mark and beyond in the NHL.
Bernie has achieved this level while enduring a great number of changes in his life both professionally and at home. He started his career in Los Angeles, was traded to the New York Rangers where he played for a short time, was moved to Edmonton and is now with his current team, the New Jersey Devils. Add to this movement from team to team the loss of a child this past fall.
That Bernie has been able to play this long and with such high skill is a testament to the perseverance, ability and commitment to hockey. He recognizes that his family obligations are first and foremost in his mind.