The Hockey Hall of Fame introduced its class of 2024 Tuesday, with three NHL legends — Jeremy Roenick, Shea Weber, and Pavel Datsyuk — headlining the group of seven inductees.
Mike Gartner, chair of the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee, made the announcement Tuesday in Toronto at the selection committee’s annual meeting.
Roenick finished his 20-year NHL career as the second-highest American born goal scorer in the league’s history. Roenick scored 513 goals and 703 assists in 1,363 games for the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks. He has been eligible for the Hall of Fame since 2012 and passed over each year since.
“I’m so happy, I can’t thank everyone who was behind this honour enough,” Roenick said in a press release issued by the Hall of Fame. “I’m at a loss for words and I’m never at a loss for words. Getting over this last hockey hurdle means so much to me.”
File Picture: 24 Nov 1995: Jeremy Roenick #27 of the Chicago Blackhawks moves the puck past an opponent during the game against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim at The Pond in Anaheim, California. Roenick was… File Picture: 24 Nov 1995: Jeremy Roenick #27 of the Chicago Blackhawks moves the puck past an opponent during the game against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim at The Pond in Anaheim, California. Roenick was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
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Weber was known for his booming slapshot as a defenseman, winning the All-Star Game’s hardest shot competition four times. He scored 224 goals in 1,038 regular season games for the Nashville Predators and Montreal Canadiens from 2005-21.
Weber collected gold medals while representing Canada at every level: Olympic (twice), world championship, world juniors, and World Cup of Hockey. He was also a Memorial Cup champ in 2004 with Kelowna.
Datsyuk left his career in the KHL to join the Detroit Red Wings in 2001 and was instrumental to the team’s success over the next 14 seasons, including two Stanley Cup championships. He tallied 314 goals and 604 assists in 953 games and won four Lady Byng trophies.
In international play, Datsyuk competed for Russia at the Olympics in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 (where he was team captain), and 2018. He won Olympic gold in 2018.
“I have been lucky in my hockey life to this point,” Datsyuk said in a statement released by the Hall of Fame. “I would like to thank all of the people who have helped me along my way.”
The class also includes the first two U.S.-born women’s players in history: Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl.
Wendell-Pohl represented Team USA in 147 total games from 1999-2007, racking up 106 goals. Her six IIHF World Championships include the United States’ first-ever gold medal win at the 2005 tournament, for which she was MVP. Wendell-Pohl also represented the United States at the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Games, serving as captain in 2006.
Darwitz led the Minnesota Golden Gophers to the 2005 NCAA championship, scoring the winning goal in the championship game against Harvard. Internationally, she played for the United States at the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Olympic Games.
The final two inductees both fell in the “builder” category: longtime Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals general manager David Poile, and 25-year NHL executive Colin Campbell.
Read more: NHL News: Arizona Coyotes Owner Won’t Pursue New Expansion Team, Per Report
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