St. Louis Blues Well Represented at 2020 MAC Awards

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The St. Louis Blues may not have been in action at the time, but they were well-represented at the 2020 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Awards. For the first time in 50 years, the voting process expanded beyond just MAC members, allowing a wider audience to participate—something that certainly benefited the Blues.

St. Louis has long been known as a baseball-first city, where an offseason baseball story often overshadows even an in-season hockey headline. However, Blues fans have become increasingly active in voting, as seen when they helped David Perron earn a last-minute All-Star selection in 2020. This year, their enthusiasm resulted in a strong Blues presence in the MAC Top 50 St. Louis Sports Personalities of the Last 50 Years.

Blues Dominate the List
The Blues secured 13 spots on the prestigious list, including the No. 1 ranking, highlighting their impact on the city's sports culture.

The top honor went to Brett Hull, a player synonymous with the Blues franchise. Beyond his on-ice dominance, Hull's personality perfectly fit the spirit of the award. While St. Louis Cardinals players have traditionally been more reserved in their public personas, Hull was a charismatic, outspoken figure who resonated deeply with fans.

Hull's tenure with the Blues wasn't without drama—his publicized clashes with coach Mike Keenan ultimately led to his departure—but his loyalty to teammates, fiery attitude, and record-breaking performances made him a beloved icon. Hull is not only the franchise's all-time leading goal scorer, but he also ranks fourth in NHL history in goals scored. Without his presence, some argue that the Blues may not have remained in St. Louis, let alone built the legacy they have today.

Top Blues Players on the MAC List:
While the Cardinals dominated the Top 10, securing seven spots, the Blues still made a strong impact, with Ryan O'Reilly cracking the Top 10 despite playing only two seasons in St. Louis at the time. Winning a Stanley Cup certainly helps elevate a player's status, and O'Reilly's signature championship hat may have sealed the deal.

Here's where notable Blues players landed:
https://www.stlouisfanshop.com/124-Cardinals_Ben_Deluzio_Jersey.
Top Blues Representatives on the MAC Top 50 List:
🏆 #1 - Brett Hull (Blues' all-time leading goal scorer)
🔹 #8 - Ryan O'Reilly (Stanley Cup champion, Conn Smythe winner)
🔹 #11 - Alex Pietrangelo (Blues' first Cup-winning captain)
🔹 #14 - Vladimir Tarasenko (Superstar winger, 2019 Cup hero)
🔹 #15 - Craig Berube (Head coach of the 2019 Stanley Cup team)
🔹 #17 - Al MacInnis (Hall of Fame defenseman, Norris Trophy winner)
🔹 #23 - Bernie Federko (Blues' all-time points leader)
🔹 #26 - Chris Pronger (Hall of Fame defenseman, Hart Trophy winner)
🔹 #30 - Bob Plager (Blues' legendary enforcer and leader)
🔹 #31 - Jordan Binnington (Stanley Cup-winning goaltender)
🔹 #33 - Kelly Chase (Fan-favorite enforcer)
🔹 #34 - Brendan Shanahan (Hall of Famer, former Blues star)
🔹 #42 - Curtis Joseph (Star goaltender of the '90s)
🔹 #43 - Garry Unger (Blues' ironman and top goal-scorer of the '70s)
🔹 #50 - Keith Tkachuk (Blues power forward and fan favorite)

Blues' Growing Legacy in St. Louis
The Cardinals still reign supreme in St. Louis sports, but the fact that the Blues secured 13 spots on the list is a testament to the team's growing impact on the city.

Notably, Ken Wilson, the legendary Blues broadcaster, did not make the list—a decision that some longtime fans may find surprising. Additionally, some early Blues legends were overlooked, likely due to the online voting skewing toward a younger audience.

Still, the strong presence of Blues players in the Top 50 shows just how far hockey has come in St. Louis. From Brett Hull's era to the 2019 Stanley Cup run, the Blues continue to shape the city's sports identity.

Who Else Should Have Made the List?
Do you agree with the rankings? Were any Blues legends left out? Let us know your thoughts!