Bret “The Hitman” Hart sends a powerful message to Jarome Iginla.

It is always interesting when two icons from what appear to be 2 completely different parts of the world show you that they really are not all that different after all.

Last week the National Hockey League paid tribute to one of the greatest players to play in the National Hockey League, both on and off the ice, in recent memory when former Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla saw his jersey raised to the rafters. The Calgary Flames organization retired the number 12 up to the rafters at the Saddledome, an honor that is certainly deserved for a great player, a great captain, and by all accounts a great human being as well.

As you would expect the event had some serious star power involved with many of Iginla's former teammates coming out to pay tribute to a player who likely had a tremendous impact on all of their careers. That being said though this is a retirement ceremony that is being broadcast on television and as a result there are time constraints and not everyone was able to make it out to the event itself and be a part of it. 

One such person appears to have been none other than Calgary, Alberta legend Bret "The Hitman" Hart. Hart took to social media this week and sent a powerful and emotional message to Iginla to pay respect to his incredible career and to congratulate him on the honor he received this week. Now you may be wondering how in the world Bret Hart and Iginla came to be connected, and you need look no further than Iginla's incredible character off the ice for the answer to your question.

According to Hart himself when Hart suffered a major stroke over 15 years ago now one of the people who came to visit him in hospital was Iginla, who was accompanied by his wife at the time. Iginla gave Hart an autographed jersey and wished him well, something that clearly touched The Hitman who published a picture of himself wearing the jersey alongside his message to Iginla. 

Here is hearts unedited and in full:

Jarome Iginla gave me this jersey a week after I had my stroke in 2002.  I’ve always treasured it because it meant so much that he and his wife visited me in the hospital during such a challenging time in my life. Congratulations on the jersey retirement and thank you for so many great seasons. All the best to you, Kara, and your family.  Bret.

One more example of the quality human being that Iginla is, and one that only reinforces the fact that the Flames made the right decision in honoring him.

[pub]