Joe Juneau was an outstanding hockey player for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1987 to 1991. He was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1988 but chose to continue his college career. During his time at RPI, he led the team in scoring for all four years and holds school records for career assists (144) and points (213). His impressive performance on the ice led to him being named an All-American and a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in both 1990 and 1991. He was also a key member of the Canadian Olympic Team, winning a silver medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics.

Juneau had a long professional career, playing 13 seasons in the NHL. After his time with Team Canada, he joined the Boston Bruins, where he had a standout rookie season in 1992-93, scoring 102 points. He also played for the Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, Phoenix Coyotes, and Montreal Canadiens. Juneau played in 828 NHL games, accumulating 572 career points. He retired from professional hockey in 2004, having reached the Stanley Cup finals with the Capitals in 1998 and the Sabres in 1999.