Next month Jeremy Roenick, who had a stellar 20-year career in the NHL but is most known for his time with the Chicago Blackhawks, will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Ahead of his being inducted, he made a stop in Weyburn last night, where he spoke as part of a fundraiser for the Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings.
Roenick shared stories from throughout his career, from joining the Blackhawks as an 18-year-old fresh out of high school and meeting teammate Al Secord, to the time he ended up stuck in a blizzard in Calgary on a road trip, to what it was like playing for Mike Keenan. He kept the crowd engaged and answered every question they had for him.
For Roenick, the sport of hockey is important, as is the community around it. Taking part in fundraisers such as this one is one of the ways he continues to give back to the fans, something he did throughout his playing career and continues to do to this day.
“The more that we can bond together as a community, a hockey community, and do things to help each other – raise money, help whether the kids, whether it’s the junior teams or whatever – I think it’s very important to show good spirit in the sports world, especially the hockey world because I don’t think there’s any better people than hockey people,” Roenick said just before the dinner.
The packed crowd at McKenna Hall didn’t just hear from Roenick, but a pair of local hockey legends. Former Red Wings head coach Dwight McMillan and former Red Wings captain Preston Shupe took part in a question and answer with emcee Michael Ball. McMillan kept the crowd engaged with stories covering his storied career behind the bench, while Shupe talked about not only his time playing for McMillan but his professional career, which saw him play in France, Hungary, and Belgium.
The evening, which was emceed by Michael Ball, also included a live auction and a silent auction. The auction was conducted by Winston Bailey, and he got the night started off by auctioning where Roenick would sit for the meal. The winner of the auction also received a signed Chicago Blackhawks jersey.
While Roenick took the time to talk to as many of the fans that were at the dinner as possible, he did make some time for the Red Wings themselves before the evening got underway.
So, what advice did he pass along?
“What didn’t I say,” Roenick chuckled. “We had a question and answer, kind of fun hot stove in there, and the kids had an opportunity to ask me a lot about my career, a lot about what made me successful, and what it was like being a pro and some of the characteristics it takes to be successful, and it was a really fun time.”
The trip to Weyburn was the first time he had been to the Opportunity City, but Roenick pointed out he has been to Saskatchewan many times in the past, including stops in Regina, Moose Jaw, and Regina.
“I really enjoy this province; it’s a hockey hotbed,” Roenick said. “People are great, I think it’s very humble. It’s not the most tree-infested, or hill-infested; it’s very windy and cold, but the people are definitely nice, humble, and they’re hockey fans, and they’re extremely respectful and I’ve always loved coming up.”
The Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are scheduled to be held on the weekend of November 8th to 11th. In addition to Roenick, the 2024 class will include Pavel Datsyuk, Shea Weber, Colin Campbell, David Poile, Natalie Darwitz, and Krissy Wendell.
