Jeremy Roenick, who spent 20 years in the NHL, was hit by the emotion of the moment as he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Monday.
The 54-year-old Boston native was joined in the Class of 2024 by ex-NHL players Pavel Datsyuk and Shea Weber, women’s stars Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl, and executives Colin Campbell and David Poile.
Roenick composed himself at the start of his speech before saying, “I love this game. It’s been such a huge part of my life for most of my life and this is the best way I can finally find to end this chapter of my life.”
Roenick compiled a total of 513 goals with 703 assists with the Chicago Blackhawks (1988-89 to 1995-96), the Phoenix Coyotes (1996-97 to 2000-01 and 2006-07), the Philadelphia Flyers (2001-02 to 2003-04), the Los Angeles Kings (2005-06) and the San Jose Sharks (2007-08 and 2008-09).
Only Brett Hull, Mike Modano and Keith Tkachuk scored more goals in the NHL than Roenick among U.S.-born players.
Datsyuk, a 46-year-old Russian, spent all 14 seasons of his NHL seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. He logged 918 points (314 goals, 604 assists) and was part of Stanley Cup-winning sides in 2002 and 2008. Datsyuk also captured an Olympic gold medal in 2018 and was a four-time recipient of the Lady Byng Trophy, given for gentlemanly conduct.
“As I stand here today, I realize that being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame is tremendous honor, the honor I couldn’t even dream of, but this moment is not mine alone. It is shared with all of you,” Datsyuk said Monday.
Weber, a 39-year-old British Columbia native, played with the Nashville Predators from 2005-06 to 2015-16 and then with the Montreal Canadiens from 2016-17 to 2020-21. The defenseman posted 589 points (224 goals, 365 assists) in the NHL and won gold with Canada in 2010 and 2014.
“I want to thank all those players who demonstrated the importance of hard work and dedication,” Weber said Monday. “By passing on your knowledge to the next generation, you’re ensuring that the spirit of this game continues to thrive.
“It’s also when the coaches and staff teach you the nuances of the game. They challenge you to get better every day.”
Darwitz notched the winning goal for Minnesota in the 2005 NCAA championship game against Harvard. She played for the United States at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Olympics.
“I wasn’t your everyday little girl, and somehow my mom was on to me,” Darwitz said Monday. “Despite some obvious distraction techniques on her part, in the name of tap dancing classes and shopping trips, she knew where my heart was, and on my fifth birthday, my blonde French braid strolled into the hockey rink.”
Wendell-Pohl, another Golden Gophers great, captured the Patty Kazmaier Award for the top female college hockey player in 2005. She was selected the MVP of the 2005 IIHF World Championships, when the U.S. team won its first gold medal, and she was the captain of the 2006 Olympic team.
“I feel so fortunate that hockey has allowed me to represent not only my hometown, my state but my country,” Wendell-Pohl said. “Playing in the Olympics was never why I started playing hockey but I am beyond grateful to have been blessed and had the opportunity to wear the red, white and blue.”
Campbell has been a player, coach and executive across a 52-year hockey career, and he has been the senior executive vice president for the NHL’s hockey operations, officiating and central scouting departments for 25 years. Campbell won a Stanley Cup as associate coach of the New York Rangers in 1994.
Poile retired as general manager of the Nashville Predators in 2023 after becoming the winningest and longest-tenured general manager in league history. He was GM of the Washington Capitals from 1982-97, then served in the same role in Nashville for 27 years.
–Field Level Media
