Jeremy Roenick heads USA 2010 Hall of Fame class
Thursday, 07.22.2010 / 2:00 PM / U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
By Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer
A few weeks ago, NBC Sports commentator Jeremy Roenick was an emotional wreck on live television when his former team, the Chicago Blackhawks, snapped their 49-year Stanley Cup drought.
He was the same way at the news conference announcing his retirement last summer — so one can only imagine his state of mind three months from now when he stands before family and friends to discuss his induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
Roenick headlines a fantastic Hall of Fame class for 2010 — a group that oozes charisma, strength and leadership.
The honorees, announced Thursday, include Roenick; Derian and Kevin Hatcher; Art Berglund; and Dr. George Nagobads. The 38th U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction dinner and ceremony will be held Oct. 21, at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.
“I grew up a small kid, but I really loved the game of hockey,” Roenick said during a conference call announcing the Class of 2010. “In 1980, watching Mike Eruzione score probably the most important goal in U.S. history, I wanted to be an Olympian and a professional hockey player and be Mike Eruzione. I wanted to achieve greatness like that. That’s what U.S. hockey has done for a lot of kids.”
Upon announcing his retirement, Roenick, who represented the U.S. at two World Junior Championships and two Olympics and played in nine NHL All-Star games, quickly became one of the League’s most outspoken television analysts. The Boston native is the second former Blackhawk to be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in as many years — Tony Amonte was honored in 2009.
Roenick retired from the NHL with 513 goals and 703 assists for 1,216 points in 1,363 regular-season games with Chicago, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Jose. Among U.S.-born players, only Mike Modano (557) and Keith Tkachuk (538) have scored more goals. With the Blackhawks from 1988-96, Roenick scored 267 goals, seventh all-time in the Original Six franchise’s history. He twice scored more than 50 goals and made appeared in the Stanley Cup Final with the Hawks in 1992. Roenick had 53 goals and 69 assists in 154 Stanley Cup Playoff games; his 6 goals in Game 7s are tied for second all-time.
