Jeremy Roenick has always been one of those polarizing hockey players. He has his lovers, and he has his haters. His haters may even outnumber his lovers. For this reason, Roenick's retirement announcement last year was heavily overlooked.
But focusing on the guy's theatrics and dismissing his contributions because you believe all hockey players ought to be brainless drones with zippers for mouth-holes is a convenient way to overlook the stunning array of on-ice achievements that should make Roenick a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame one day.
In his heyday with the Chicago Blackhawks, Roenick put up two 50-goal seasons and three 100-plus point campaigns. He played in nine all-star games, two Olympic tournaments, one Canada Cup and one World Cup. He retires as the league's third-best American-born scorer of both goals (513) and points (1,216) and is the NHL's 39th-best point-producer of all time.
Roenick's detractors will point to a lack of a Stanley Cup championship as an indictment of his 20-year NHL career, but we all know great players in every team sport who've suffered the same fate. Ascribing weakness to him, ostensibly because he liked to enjoy his life and wouldn't fully submit to the whims of overbearing coaches, is to forget exactly how very tough of a mother J.R. actually was on the ice.
Think back to some of the memories that come to mind. The Game 7 against the Coyotes despite his broken jaw, or his 2004 game against Toronto, played under similar circumstances. Roenick was always willing to play hurt.
Just two seasons ago, the hockey world had written Roenick off as a washed up player who should retire. The Sharks were adventurous enough to give him a chance, and Roenick came through for his team, leading the way with 10 game-winning goals that season.
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.
He was the voice of the NHL for quite some time, telling the league's top guns exactly what they didn't want to hear. As long as it meant good things for the players and the fans, Roenick was willing to say what needed to be said.
Congratulations on a wonderful career, Jeremy Roenick. Good luck to you in your retirement.
But focusing on the guy's theatrics and dismissing his contributions because you believe all hockey players ought to be brainless drones with zippers for mouth-holes is a convenient way to overlook the stunning array of on-ice achievements that should make Roenick a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame one day.
In his heyday with the Chicago Blackhawks, Roenick put up two 50-goal seasons and three 100-plus point campaigns. He played in nine all-star games, two Olympic tournaments, one Canada Cup and one World Cup. He retires as the league's third-best American-born scorer of both goals (513) and points (1,216) and is the NHL's 39th-best point-producer of all time.
Roenick's detractors will point to a lack of a Stanley Cup championship as an indictment of his 20-year NHL career, but we all know great players in every team sport who've suffered the same fate. Ascribing weakness to him, ostensibly because he liked to enjoy his life and wouldn't fully submit to the whims of overbearing coaches, is to forget exactly how very tough of a mother J.R. actually was on the ice.
Think back to some of the memories that come to mind. The Game 7 against the Coyotes despite his broken jaw, or his 2004 game against Toronto, played under similar circumstances. Roenick was always willing to play hurt.
Just two seasons ago, the hockey world had written Roenick off as a washed up player who should retire. The Sharks were adventurous enough to give him a chance, and Roenick came through for his team, leading the way with 10 game-winning goals that season.
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.
He was the voice of the NHL for quite some time, telling the league's top guns exactly what they didn't want to hear. As long as it meant good things for the players and the fans, Roenick was willing to say what needed to be said.
Congratulations on a wonderful career, Jeremy Roenick. Good luck to you in your retirement.
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