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ADAM OATES JERSEY RETIRED
IN PRE-GAME CEREMONY
The full text of the statement read by the "Voice of the Waxers", Andy Herrington, as presented during the pregame ceremony that retired Oates' number 10 follows: Tonight we are honouring Adam Oates, a past Markham Waxer Captain. A prolific scorer and playmaker, he started his route to superstardom in Markham. He scored 112 goals and 143 assists for 255 points in his two-year Waxer career. In 1981-82 he was part of the most prolific line in Markham Waxer history. Teaming with Steve Thomas and Bill Atkinson, they combined for 151 goals and 351 scoring points. He set two Ontario Junior Hockey League and Markham Waxer records in his second season when he tallied 106 assists and 161 points. After two seasons in a Markham Waxer uniform Adam attended RPI (Rennsaeler Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY) on a scholarship. He played three years for the RPI Engineers racking up 216 points. He holds three RPI records for most points in a single season (91), most assists in a single season (60) and most assists in a career (150). He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Red Wings on June 28, 1985. He played four years in Detroit racking up 199 points before moving to St. Louis where he really broke out. He had two seasons of 100 plus points in a row then in the middle of his third year, he was traded to Boston. He scored 286 points in a Blues uniform. 1992-93 was his best year statistically when he scored 45 goals and 97 assists for a total of 142 points. He followed that up with another 100 point plus season and he ranked third overall in the 1993-94 scoring race. He continued to play in Boston averaging over a point per game until he was traded to the Washington Capitals nearing the end of the 1996-97 campaign. He was the Bruins leading scorer at the time of the trade and had tallied 499 career points placing him 13th on the Bruins career points list. He has scored 103 points as a Capital, 15 points so far this season (an injury plagued year). Adam is ranked 3rd in the NHL in winning face-off percentage. Adam has reached the 20-goal plateau six times, the 100-point mark four times and is a four-time finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy. He is the 47th player and the 15th fastest player to reach 1000 career points. He reached the 800-career assist plateau earlier this season and is 4th in all-time career assists. He ranks 13th in career post-season assists and 20th in career playoff points. He tallied his 100th career post-season assist in Game Four of the Stanley Cup Finals versus Detroit last year. He has five All Star appearances and holds the following All Star Game records: Most Assists in a single period (4); Tied with Wayne Gretzky and others for Most Career Assists (12); Tied with Gretzky and Mike Gartner for Most Points in one period (4). He currently sits with 283 goals and 804 assists for a total 1087 points in 929 regular season games (1.17 points per game). Please stand and honour 5'11", 180 pound, right-handed centreman, now with the Washington Capitals wearing #77, but as a Markham Waxer he wore #10, Adam Oates. Joining us this evening, helping us honour Adam are his parents Loretta and David Oates, Adam's sisters Michelle Oates, Laurel Delmas and husband Ron Delmas and two children Dominic and Raquel, Markham Waxer linemate and current Maple Leaf Steve Thomas and his daughter Lauren. Representing the Waxers is past president Lewis Hollett, current President Don Bremner and representing Markham Minor Hockey is President Bill Jefferson.
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