Roenick grows emotional at Hall of Fame induction

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Jeremy Roenick just can’t stop himself from being emotional.

First, Roenick teared up on national television after the Chicago Blackhawks, one of his former teams, won the Stanley Cup in June. Now, it’s happening all over again as the player known simply as “J.R.” was preparing to be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Shortly after vowing to keep his emotions in check, Roenick’s eyes began to well and his voice cracked when recalling the invite he received to his first USA Hockey camp 25 years ago. And it just so happened that the person who provided that invite, Art Berglund, was being inducted along with Roenick.

“It’s kind of ironic that I’m going in with him now, when he was the first person who ever contacted me,” said Roenick, who became one of the most prolific American-born scorers over his 20-year NHL career. “I can’t believe it’s taken so long for him to go into the Hall because he’s meant so much to USA Hockey. But I’m glad it’s this year.”

Tags: hall of fame, sports, hockey, nhl, roenick