Luc Robitaille makes a splash at L.A. City Hall

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The Los Angeles City Council today honored former hockey great and L.A. Kings executive Luc Robitaille, praising his Hall of Fame career and the work he’s done for children and families in need both in Southern California and Hurricane Katrina-ravaged New Orleans.

Councilman Greig Smith thanked Robitaille not only for being one of the King’s most prolific scorers, but for working with at-risk children at an ice rink in the San Fernando Valley, saying he provided positive activities and alternatives they otherwise would not see.

‘That’s what separates the great players from the not-so-great players. They’re willing to give back to the communities they worked in and are stars in,’ Smith said.

Robitaille played for the Kings for 14 of his 19 NHL seasons and during his career scored 668 goals and racked up 1,394 points, the most ever by a left wing in NHL history.

A ninth-round draft pick in 1984, he was inducted into the hockey Hall of Fame earlier this month.

‘I was very fortunate to live my dream,’ the soft-spoken Robitaille told the council at City Hall after receiving an official proclamation from the city. “It’s been a great ride to live in Los Angeles.’

Robitaille retired as a player in 2006 and now serves as the Kings’ president of business operations.

After receiving the City Council honor, Robitaille made another big splash at City Hall. He adopted the city’s “dog of the week,’’ a mutt from the city animal shelter that Councilman Herb Wesson brought in to encourage pet adoptions.

-- Phil Willon