A Polarizing Shoe-In To The Hockey HOF
A Tribute to the Career of Jeremy Roenick
Sure, Roenick polarizes people in hockey circles to a degree few other NHLers have in the league's history. Even the THN offices has its share of J.R.-loathers; when we caught wind of his looming announcement last week, there weren't many tears being shed for a player whose best on-ice years ended when his stint as a Philadelphia Flyer did in 2004.
To remember Roenick by his flare for the dramatic and ignoring everything he accomplished in his career isn't fair to this hockey great. Roenick seems to be a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame.
In his prime, Roenick was amongst the best in the league. Scoring more than 50 goals in a season twice and breaking 100 points three times, 9 all-star appearances, two stints with the US Olympic team, and more. The 39th highest point scorer in the history of the sport. These are all very impressive stats.
While many may criticize Roenick for the fact that he never won a Stanley Cup, there are plenty of great history in the history of the sport (and other sports too) who have never gone all the way with their team. This was one of the toughest players to ever play the sport.
Whether he was taking sticks or pucks to the face on a regular basis, playing Game 7 of Phoenix's first round playoff series against St. Louis despite sustaining a broken jaw weeks earlier, or finding a way to carry on after getting absolutely demolished by a check from then-Maple Leaf Darcy Tucker during a 2004 post-season game between Toronto and Philly, Roenick could take virtually whatever an opposing team threw at him and still make an impact.
Even toward the end of his playing days, when he was hurt and/or disinterested in Los Angeles and Phoenix, he still made the most of one final run after his former teammate Doug Wilson took him on as a reclamation project in San Jose in 2007. Roenick led the Sharks with 10 game-winning goals that year and made all those who thought he was finished eat their words.
While playing through all of these injuries was very impressive in and of itself, I was always most impressed with the voice that Roenick represented in pro hockey.
Roenick made so many efforts to increase the popularity of the sport through the course of his career. Even when it meant speaking out against the league's commissioner, Roenick wasn't shy to back down; even if it meant he was hated.
Congratulations on a wonderful career, Jeremy Roenick. Good luck to you in your retirement.
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