Roenick, Hatcher tapped for U.S. Hall of Fame
Former Flyers Jeremy Roenick and Derian Hatcher will both be inducted in the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in October, USA Hockey announced today.
Two more players with Flyers ties will be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in October, USA Hockey announced today.
Former Flyers Jeremy Roenick and Derian Hatcher will join three others in the Hall's 2010 induction class. John LeClair and Tony Amonte were inducted last December in Boston. In all, the Hall – located in Eveleth, Minn. – has 143 members.
Roenick and Hatcher will be inducted in a ceremony in Buffalo on Oct. 21.
Roenick, 40, spent three of his 20 NHL seasons in Philadelphia. In 2008, while with the San Jose Sharks, Roenick passed current Flyers assistant coach Joe Mullen for second on the all-time scoring list for American-born players with 503 goals. Roenick trails only Mike Modano in that category. He finished his career in 2009 with a total of 513 goals and 703 assists (sixth most assists among American-born players).
Roenick, a Boston native, was a nine-time NHL All-Star and skated in two Olympic Games (Nagano and Salt Lake City). Recently, the outgoing Roenick has worked as a commentator for NBC Sports and covered the Vancouver Olympics and the Stanley Cup finals. He resides in Scottsdale, Ariz., with his wife Tracy and two kids.
Hatcher, 38, spent the last three seasons of his career with the Flyers – including most of the 2005-06 season as team captain. His career cut short by vicious knee injuries, Hatcher currently serves as the Flyers' player development coach. At 6-5, Hatcher is remembered for his nastiness and physical intimidation.
Hatcher captained the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup in 1999. Overall, Hatcher posted almost five times as many penalty minutes (1581) as he did points (331) over 1,045 games. Hatcher, born in Sterling Heights, Mich., was a two-time Olympian and played in one NHL All-Star Game. He resides in Haddonfield with his wife, Heather, and five kids.
Neither player is eligible yet for the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, though Roenick is a surefire first-ballot player.
Hatcher and Roenick were never teammates in Philadelphia – Roenick left as Hatcher came after the lockout – but we don't expect any hostility at the induction ceremony. In the back of his mind, Roenick may remember when Hatcher broke his jaw with this vicious elbow in the late '90's: