Motivation Quote by Ed Belfour

A goalie’s “I” is usually an invitation to superstition, blame, or mythology. Ed Belfour dodges all three with the kind of humility that also happens to be great PR: “I’ve been real fortunate to be on a lot of great teams.” It’s the classic athlete’s deflection line, but in a sport that treats the netminder like a lone gunslinger, it lands with extra force. Hockey fans love the narrative of the hot goalie stealing series; Belfour—who absolutely had those stretches—turns the spotlight back toward the five skaters and the system.

“Real fortunate” does two jobs at once. It softens the ego without denying excellence, and it tells you he understands the randomness baked into careers: drafts, trades, injuries, front-office competence, the right defense corps in front of you. Greatness in the NHL isn’t just talent; it’s being placed in an ecosystem that can translate talent into wins. A goalie can be a difference-maker, but he can’t clear rebounds, win faceoffs, or kill penalties alone. Belfour’s line quietly pushes back against the highlight-reel version of legacy.

The context is a long résumé across multiple franchises and eras, where “team” is both literal and political. This is what athletes say when they’re protecting relationships, respecting teammates, and acknowledging that championships are collective labor. It’s modest, sure, but it’s also a savvy reframing: if you want to praise Belfour, you have to praise his teams too—and that’s exactly the point.