‘Why not you?’: HHoF class grateful for those who inspired their journey

TORONTO — The last time Joe Thornton was at the Hockey Hall of Fame, he was celebrating the wedding of then-Sharks teammate Brent Burns†parents.

“Let me tell you, we rocked so hard that night, I didnâ€t think Iâ€d be invited back,†Thornton said from the Hallâ€s podium Monday night before a crowd of family, friends, peers, and fellow hockey royalty.

“But here I am,†he continued. “And this time, I stay forever.â€

And he arrived on the first ballot, no less. That his Hall of Fame plaque was presented on-stage by the legendary Lanny McDonald — iconic moustache meets beloved beard — made the moment all the more meaningful, Thornton calling his induction to the hall “an honour of a lifetime.”

The newly minted inductee, never shy about storytelling and known for delivering a great one-liner, was met with whoops and cheers from those in attendance as he started into his speech, all smiles and teary-eyed. Heâ€d been that way all evening.

As the events got underway earlier Monday night, the camera panned often to Thornton as he soaked up every word spoken by his fellow inductees from his front-row seat, brimming with pride and dabbing often at his eyes. Now, on the podium, that tissue played a prominent role as he strolled down memory lane sharing joyful tales of his life lived in hockey and dishing out heartfelt thank yous like he was back on the ice serving up assists as one of the NHLâ€s all-time greatest playmakers.

Hearing him speak of his career, from first overall pick in Boston to instant icon in San Jose, followed by influential veteran stops in Toronto and Florida to close out his storied career, was a perfect conclusion to a night brimming with gratitude — not just from the eight legends honoured, but for them, too.

Gratitude for Zdeno Chara, who — like Jumbo Joe — was a massive force every time he hit the ice not just for his dominant defence but his leadership; for Duncan Keith, without whose smooth skating and stamina there would be no Chicago Blackhawks dynasty; for Alex Mogilny, as skilled and as thrilling to watch as anyone to play the game, his long-awaited call from the Hall finally arriving this year.

Gratitude was the overwhelming emotion that emanated from the podium as Team Canada legend (and Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster) Jennifer Botterill was honoured. That the three-time Olympic gold medallist was enshrined in the same year as two other legendary hockey women in American star Brianna Decker and longtime coach, manager, and now GM of the PWHLâ€s Montreal Victoire, Danièle Sauvageau, was a perfect way to display just how worthy of the spotlight the womenâ€s game is. (Seeing iconic womenâ€s players from past and present Canadian national teams dotting the audience was inspiring, too, to say the least.)

Joining Sauvageau in the builderâ€s category Monday night was Jack Parker, the face of Boston Universityâ€s hockey program for four decades, and who, despite his decorated resume, humbly quipped, “Iâ€m sitting with you guys, wondering what Iâ€m doing here!â€

In true hockey fashion, all eight inductees in this truly star-studded class spoke at length about the influence of their teammates, right from Day 1 of their respective careers.

Chara remembers his first day in the NHL well, and from the stage Monday night, he shared the wisecrack shouted by forward (and fellow Slovakian) Ziggy Pálffy as Chara first strode into the Islanders†dressing room as a lanky rookie in 1997:

“Who let that basketball player in?†joked Pálffy. The one-liner received a healthy laugh from Chara and his Islanders peers at the time as everyone took in their newest, tallest teammate, and it got a good laugh nearly 30 years later, too, from those in attendance at the Hall of Fame.

Charaâ€s presence on the podium was just as commanding as his presence on the ice over the course of his NHL career that spanned more than two decades. His towering frame, viewed as a setback as a kid growing up around the game in Slovakia, was seen as a tremendous advantage with far-reaching influence — quite literally — that made the six-foot-nine defenceman unmovable when stationed in front of his net and unstoppable when barreling towards that of his opponent.

Amid a sea of thanks to teammates in New York and Ottawa, Boston and Washington, Chara made sure he recognized one in particular.

“I want to single out one player: I want to thank Patrice Bergeron,†he said, his steady delivery never faltering despite the clear emotion with which he spoke. “One of the greatest leaders and people I have ever met and played with. My longest teammate, my co-captain. Bergy, I could always count on you. You showed me and helped me to become a better leader and player, but more importantly, a better person.â€

Keithâ€s shout-out to his teammates in Chicago was a little more light-hearted in tone, though packed full of meaning and gratitude all the same, as he highlighted the importance of a rock-solid defensive partner.

“People often ask me what my favourite moment was, playing in the NHL,†Keith said during his speech. “The Cup wins are definitely the highlights, but getting the opportunity to suit up alongside Brent Seabrook and become the first defensive pairing in the NHL to play 1,000 games together as teammates is right there, too.

“Iâ€m not sure we get that distinction had I not had Brent honking his horn outside my house, calling my phone and making sure I was up and ready to catch the plane,†Keith said as the camera panned to a smiling Seabrook in the crowd, fellow teammate Patrick Sharp taking it all in, too. “But thatâ€s the kind of teammate Brent is, and I was fortunate to ride shotgun alongside him.â€

The man known for logging marathon minutes throughout every Blackhawks†Stanley Cup run also let everyone in on the elite regime that led to so much success.

“My absolute favourite moments mightâ€ve been after games, on the road, just sitting around in either Seabs†room, or Sharpyâ€s room. Weâ€d order chicken fingers, fries, Diet Cokes, and weâ€d been talking about hockey until two or three in the morning, sometimes later,†he said, then added to laughter, “I said I liked to train — I didnâ€t say I had a diet or needed much sleep.â€

When Botterill was called to the stage, she was met with fellow womenâ€s hockey royalty in Jayna Hefford, former Team Canada teammate and executive VP of hockey operations of the PWHL, who presented the four-time Olympian with her plaque. Botterill, it should be noted, is a trailblazer not just for the womenâ€s game but for younger siblings everywhere who dare to buck the road hockey tradition that dictates the youngest in the family must play net. (Where would one of the gameâ€s best goal-scorers be if sheâ€d had to strap on the goalie pads growing up? Thankfully, we need not find out.)

With her three daughters looking on, Botterill also shared a story of a lunchtime chat with her dad when she was 15 and wondering whether she could ever play on the national team — to which his response was simply, “Why not you?â€

It’s a question, she said emphatically, that propelled her throughout her career that followed.

It was only fitting that Botterill was sitting beside Decker on the night both women were enshrined. Though Botterill and Decker never suited up against one another in hockeyâ€s finest rivalry, both are examples of just how much the womenâ€s game has grown, and where itâ€s headed, thanks in no small part to their respective contributions, and that of Sauvageau behind the bench on the gameâ€s biggest stage, too.

And itâ€s only fitting that now, for Botterill and Decker and Sauvageau, and for Parker and Mogilny and Keith and Chara and Jumbo Joe, after an evening of gratitude-fuelled tears and endless thanks for those who shaped their careers, hockey fans can see these eight new names enshrined there. It is there, in hockeyâ€s hallowed Hall, that fans will get the chance to thank them, too.Â

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