Former Flyer Jeremy Roenick to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Roenick's 1,216 career points had been the most of any player not yet inducted and is fourth-most of any American-born NHL player.
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Jeremy Roenick’s wait is over.
The Hockey Hall of Fame announced its 2024 induction class on Tuesday, and the former Flyer made the cut, after being eligible since 2012. His 1,216 career points had been the most of any player not yet inducted and rank fourth all-time among American-born NHL players.
Roenick was in a Starbucks drive-through when he heard the news, he told media in a conference call on Tuesday.
“I couldn’t take my coffee and the guy was looking at me with the tears in my eyes, and I couldn’t talk, and it was kind of embarrassing, but it was also one of the greatest moments ever,” he said. “I am very, very appreciative and grateful. And I’d just gotten out of the gym, and literally saw a 416 number [a Toronto area code] and I froze.”
Roenick, a Boston native, played for the Flyers from 2001 to 2004, also suiting up for the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks during his 21-year career. He recorded 173 points in 216 games with the Flyers, leading the team over his first two seasons with the club.
Roenick helped the Flyers to the playoffs in each of the three seasons he played for them, including an Eastern Conference finals appearance in 2004.
“This is crazy for me, but I know I probably should have been more humble in my career,” Roenick said. “Obviously I had a lot of a lot of tough parts of my career, but also also a lot of great parts of my career. This is the most I’ve ever felt humbled. The last four months of my life has been very different for me, and a change of path. And this really puts a cherry on top of my 2024.”
Pavel Datsyuk and Shea Weber were named to the Hall in their first year of eligibility.
When asked about his recollections of playing against Datsyuk and the Detroit Red Wings in the early 2000s, Roenick revealed he almost took a very different path.
“I was probably five seconds away from signing a contract in Detroit in 2001, and instead signed with Philly,” he said.
Former U.S. women’s national team players Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl also were named to the class, marking the first class to feature two women.
Colin Campbell, the league’s director of hockey operations, and David Poile, former president and GM of the Nashville Predators, will be inducted as builders.