Retired Anaheim Ducks star Teemu Selanne had his No. 8 jersey retried yesterday in Anaheim. Selanne, who retired at the end of last season after a 21 year NHL career and leading the Ducks to a Stanley Cup in 2007, said emotions, ran high.

“Actually the toughest part of keeping the emotions was when I was walking down the stairs,” Selanne said, referring to his entrance through a cordon of high-fiving fans. “The whole thing just hit so hard — plus I have to concentrate so I don’t fall down those. What a night. It’s very special.”

Born July 3, 1970 in Helsinki, Finland, Selanne started his NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets and got off to a fast start scoring 76 goals and amassing 132 points in a season which saw him accomplish the rare feat of stating the All-Star Game as a rookie and winning the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year.

He would play three more years in Winnipeg, be traded to Anaheim in 1995 where he would play 5 ½ season before a three stretch in San Jose and one season in Colorado before going back to the Ducks in 2005 where he would spend his final 9 seasons and lead the Ducks to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007 over the Ottawa Senators in five games.

Selanne’s next stop will be to the Hall of Fame in Toronto. He ranks 11th in career goals (684), 15th in points (1,457), third in power play goals (255) and made 10 All-Star Teams.