Chris Townsend

The 2009 induction class into the Hockey Hall of Fame are as deserving as they come. For those having to vote on who goes in each year, the months leading up to the final decision were not filled with sleepless nights. A no brainer if you will. Any hockey fan will recognize the names, Yzerman, Hull, Leetch, Robitaille, and Lamoriello. These names are associated with a great amount of success and history. Some overcame great odds and others are right where many thought they would be. This class could be argued as one of the top ever and have all the numbers needed to back that up.

I’m not going to go over every individual’s accomplishments over the years because that would be futile. What all these players have in common is that they are winners both on and off the ice. The induction took place last night in Toronto at the Hockey Hall of Fame and each inductee had a few minutes to share their thoughts. What stood out to me was the emotional part of each speech came when these players spoke of family. Every player made sure to mention the early morning practices that had parents up at 5 in the morning, and the number of hours spent behind the wheel driving through snowstorms to play out of town games. They also all paid great tribute to their own families and the sacrifice that they have made in their lives to accommodate pro athletes schedules. In Lou Lamariello’s case who was inducted in the builders category he spoke about family including his grandkids.

What really stood out to me were some the selfless quotes from this induction class. When Brian Leetch spoke about his attitude towards the level he played at he stated “ I didn’t do it as my competitiveness, but rather my responsibility to my teammates.” He gave some much credit to his supporting cast and claims that current Hall of Famer Mark Messier has had the biggest influence in his life outside of his parents.

Brett Hull’s parents were a constant in his speech and also gave kudos to his ex-wife for being a great mother and told the kids the best advice he can give them is to listen to her. Hull’s quote of the night was “Life ain’t worth a damn without friends.” Of course Brett is no fool he also gave credit to his current wife for understanding him.

Steve Yzerman credits his leadership to those around him. “I was molded into the leader of the Detroit Red Wings with help of coaches, players, and friends.” This coming from the man who has served as captain of the same organization for a record 20 years. No other athlete in pro sports has captained the same team for that long.

I was impressed with the builders category and I think it has been a great addition to the Hall. The builders category recognizes the people that you don’t see on the ice or hear on TV. People that work hard behind the scenes to get the job done but receive no recognition for doing it. It is a way to thank the unsung heroes of the game. Lou Lamoriello is certainly deserving of the award. He has been the G.M of the New Jersey Devils since 1987 and in that span has suffered only 2 losing seasons. The Devils captured 3 Stanley Cups from 1995 through 2003. Their teams have been successful through smart drafting and by putting the team, not individuals at the forefront.

Last nights induction was not one of those press conferences after a game where the media was grilling these guys about how to improve or what went wrong. It was not one of those situations where the players are looking for a quick escape. This was there moment in the spotlight where they won’t be interrupted or asked to justify anything, and these men were up there deflecting the credit they worked their entire lives for to the people that helped get them there. Each of these inductees have ton of class and that was proven last night. Clearly these are special athletes in the world of hockey, for it is a team game and these men epitomize what team means. Perhaps that is why we celebrate their induction into the Hall of Fame for the greatest team sport on earth.

Thanks for reading,

Cam Gore