Norfolk County native Rob Blake added hockey's greatest prize, the Stanley Cup to his long list of awards June 9, 2001, when his new team, the Colorado Avalanche, beat the New Jersey Devils 3-1 to win the seventh and deciding playoff game.  Rob celebrated the Cup win with his home town the following month with a parade through downtown Simcoe and dance at Talbot Gardens.

The Los Angeles Kings traded Rob, their 12-year veteran all-star defenseman, to Colorado in February 2001.  As captain of the Los Angeles Kings, he was their number one defenseman,  a punishing body-checker with a devastating shot.

Rob grew up on skates. Some of his earliest memories are of his brother Russell and sister Leah pushing him around the frozen pond adjoining their parents' farm just south of Simcoe. He thinks he was two at the time, and isn't sure we should call what he was doing "skating."

His career began with the Simcoe Minor Hockey Association, defending Dwayne Roloson's goal.  Over the years that team won several age group league championships.

Rob played Junior "B" hockey in Brantford and Stratford, then attended Bowling Green University on an athletic scholarship with best friend and one-time L.A. Kings teammate Nelson Emerson.

Drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1990, Rob skipped the farm team, moving directly from Bowling Green to the National Hockey League.  His entire career was spent with the Kings until Colorado acquired him in February 2001.

Rob was a member of the all-rookie team in 1991 and played in his first All-Star game in 1994.  He won the 1997-98 Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL. Rob has two gold medals from World Cup competition and was Best Defenseman at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. 

A resident of Manhattan Beach, California (his wife Brandy's hometown) and Denver, Colorado, Rob  returns to Norfolk in the off-season to visit family and friends. 

While home he aids local charitable organizations through his participation in fund-raising activities -- most notably those of the Norfolk Pros, whose annual golf tournament supports many groups in the community.

Rob was to become a free agent July 1, 2001 but signed on for another stint with the Cup winning Colorado Avalanche. Rob flew from Colorado to Los Angeles to be with his wife Brandy when their first child, son Jack, was born September 25, 2001.

Rob was inducted into our Sports Hall of Recognition in 2000.


Rob and his Olympic Gold Medal were featured at Norfolk County's Breakfast of Champions: Olympic Gold Medal  Cemelbrations, July 13, 2002.

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Original 2000 Profile by Don Stewart