TORONTO — In a season with little to celebrate, the Toronto Maple Leafs honoured veteran defenceman Eric Brewer on Monday for reaching the 1,000-game milestone in the NHL.
The Leafs and NHL presented the 35-year-old Brewer with a silver stick, Rolex watch and Tiffany crystal prior to the game against the Minnesota Wild. A $10,000 charitable donation was also made in his name.
His wife Rebecca, two daughters, and parents were on hand for the ceremony which included a video tribute.
He is the 300th NHLer to play 1,000 games.
Brewer actually played his 1,000th game Saturday in Ottawa, logging 22 minutes 10 seconds in a 5-3 loss to the Senators.
Taken fifth overall by the New York Islanders in the 1997 NHL draft, the native of Vernon, B.C., played 69 games for the Isles before stints with Edmonton (315 games), St. Louis (332 games), Tampa Bay (246 games) and Anaheim (eight games).
He had played 991 NHL games before coming to Toronto at the trade deadline earlier this month along with a fifth-round draft pick in a deal that sent defenceman Korbinian Holzer to the Ducks.
The 16-year-veteran is the 22nd player to skate in their 1,00th NHL game as a Leaf. The last player to reach the plateau in a Toronto uniform was Brad May.
Brewer collected 75 goals, 192 assists and 786 penalty minutes over his 1,000 games.
His trophy case already includes gold medals from the Olympics (2002), world championships (2003, ’04 and ’07) and World Cup of Hockey (2004).
