Jeremy Roenick endorses Keith Tkachuk for Hockey Hall of Fame in induction speech
On a night where the hockey universe honored the career of Jeremy Roenick, it was the newest Hockey Hall of Famer who put the spotlight on a former teammate.
During his induction speech at the Hall of Fame in Toronto on Monday night, the 54-year-old Roenick reflected on a lifetime in the game, including his time playing for the Phoenix Coyotes, where he spent six seasons, scoring 152 goals and 227 assists for 379 points in 454 regular-season games.
Jeremy Roenick makes his pitch for Big Walt’s induction into the HHOF! 🏆🙌 pic.twitter.com/pBWxq38snz
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 12, 2024
“(In Phoenix) I got to play with the legend himself, Keith Tkachuk: the most intimidating, confident and vocal person I ever met … well other than myself, I guess I could say,” Roenick said. “‘Big Walt,’ as we called him, had two rules: Give Walt the puck, and remember, give Walt the puck.
“Nobody challenged his teammates or took care of trainers better than Big Walt, and I’m very confident that someday soon, he’ll be doing the same thing I’m doing. I love you, Walt.”
Tkachuk, 52, scored 538 goals and 527 assists for 1,065 points in 1,201 regular-season games with the Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues and Coyotes. He is among the highest scoring players in NHL history to not be in the Hall of Fame.
Roenick continued reminiscing on his career, thanking the likes of Chris Chelios, Bill Wirtz and Doug Wilson.
“I love this game. It’s been such a huge part of my life for most of my life and this is the best way I can finally find to end this chapter of my life,” Roenick said.
Roenick played 20 NHL seasons, scoring 513 goals and 703 assists for 1,216 points in 1,363 career regular-season games with the Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks.
His best offensive years came as a member of the Blackhawks, where he produced two 50-goal campaigns, as well as three 100-point seasons.
The Boston, Mass., native never won a Stanley Cup, appearing in just one Stanley Cup Final with the Blackhawks in 1992 and two other Conference Finals in 1990 with the Blackhawks and 2004 with the Flyers.