VANCOUVER — Kirk McLean was not born in B.C., nor did he spend his development years in the province. It was a trade by Pat Quinn that brought him west in 1987 and it was performance as a Vancouver Canucks goalie that made him a local hero, especially in 1994 when he and his mates came within one game of winning the Stanley Cup.

Now McLean, 47, is headed for his rightful spot in the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame. He will be inducted July 25 in Penticton along with defenceman Pat Price, a native of Nelson, and B.C. amateur hockey executive Bill Ennos, a former UBC Thunderbird.

The 2004 Memorial Cup champion Kelowna Rockets, led by Shea Weber, were named to the Hall in the team category. The announcements were made Thursday at Rogers Arena by selection committee chairman Bernie Pascall.

“It was completely out of the blue,” said McLean, who is from Toronto. “It really is a proud moment and certainly a great honour. I consider myself B.C. born and bred, to be honest with you. I've lived more than half my life here so it is home and I am a proud Vancouverite. I (feel) completely a part of this province's hockey heritage.”

McLean spent 10 and a half seasons tending the Canuck nets and still holds franchise records for most games played (516), most playoff appearances (68) and most playoff victories (34). He was a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist and was a Canuck from 1987 until being dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 3, 1998 during the Mike Keenan reign of error. McLean then drifted to the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers before calling it a career in 2001. But his heart, he emphasized, never left Vancouver.

“Even when I was traded from here, I considered myself a Canuck through and through,” McLean said. “My heart was always here. It was tough for me to leave. I've always kept my home here and I always wanted to finish my last year here but just couldn't do that.

“Now I'm here on an ambassador-type deal and I'm glad I have my foot back in the door. I've always wanted that since the day I retired. It's just taken about 12 years to do so.”

His best time as a Canuck was an easy one for him.

“Obviously the '94 Canuck playoff run that we had, which is 20 years ago this year, was very special in my career,” he said. “That would definitely be the highlight.”

Weber, in Vancouver to play against the Canucks, represented the Rockets at Thursday's announcement.

“It's special,” said Weber, captain of the Nashville Predators and a member of Team Canada for the Sochi Olympics. “Obviously we were very fortunate that year to host the Mem Cup and win it. It was a lot of fun. It was something I had never seen in that building and in the city. It was an amazing time.”

Ennos, 61, played junior for the Vancouver Nats before joining the UBC program led by Bob Hindmarch. He's been an executive with B.C. amateur hockey since 1980 in various positions and is currently associate director-programs.

“I find it a little overwhelming for a person like myself to be put in this class of individual,” Ennos said.

Price, 58, was a first-round pick of the New York Islanders in 1975, a year after being taken first overall in the 1974 WHA draft by the Vancouver Blazers. Price had 261 points in 726 NHL games with the Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Quebec Nordiques, New York Rangers and Minnesota North Stars.

“I'm very appreciative of everybody who made this day possible,” said Price.

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