Theres NO Crying In Hockey!

Jeremy Roenick played 21 NHL seasons. During those years he became of the best American born hockey players in history. He compiled 513 career goals, 703 assists, for 1,216 total points. Roenick was selected to 9 all star games, played on 2 Olympic teams for the US, winning a Silver medal in 2002, and holds Blackhawks team records for power play goals (24) and game winning tallies (13) in a season. Roenick was known for his hard knose gritty type of play along with a sick wrist shot that goalies couldn't stop because they usually never could see it coming. Jeremy Roenick was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks with the 8th overall selection in the 1988 NHL draft. He was beloved in the original 6 city, Chicago from that season up until his departure following the 1996 campaign. After leaving the Hawks Roenick was a member of the expansion Phoenix Coyotes for 5 seasons before leaving as a free agent and signing with Philadelphia. He spent 3 seasons loved in Philly much the same way he was in Chicago to start his career then traveled across the country to the Los Angeles Kings for 1 season. To round out his career he returned to Phoenix for a charity season to play under friend the great one himself, Wayne Gretzky. Following a bitter departure due to a dispute with that friend/head coach Roenick stayed out west to be a lower line role player for the San Jose Sharks. His Shark tenure was about one thing, winning the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately he chose the Charger like Sharks who continued there playoff struggles and failures with JR on board.

Jeremy Roenick will be a sure fire hall of famer someday but there is one blemish on his resume that will never be corrected. Roenick only reached 1 Stanley Cup Final throughout his 21 seasons, 1992 with Chicago. That Blackhawk team that also included legends like Ed Belfour, a young Dominik Hasek, and another close buddy of his Chris Chelios. Those 3 have something in common with each other separate from JR, at least 1 Stanley Cup title in common from other places. Roenick could not even duplicate fellow Hawk great Denis Savard. Savard spent most of his career in Chicago but actually left a couple seasons before the 92 finals. Fortunately for Savard he would soon get his ring, he was on the 93 Montreal Canadiens. Roenick tried to do the same and truly can say he gave it everything he had but it just was not be. Instead Roenick is the Dan Marino or Charles Barkley of his sport, hall of fame players who reached their sports championship final just once and came up short never obtaining that ring.

JR has become a broadcaster most notably for NBC during weekend NHL games and post-season action including the finals. He worked as an analyst for this years Cup Final between 2 of his former teams. I always thought this had to be hard for Roenick to do, however, I will say he handled himself professionally the whole time. Whatever you think of him as a commentator aside, he did do his job. This until he had to witness the team he will be associated with when enshrined someday, the Blackhawks, win their first Stanley Cup since 1961. He had to endure watching Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews do something he never could, deliver a championship to Chicago. They are still young and could do it again many times over, or maybe not. However, regardless, like Bobby Hull a generation before them they at least did it once. Realizing this Jeremy Roenick broke down. Warning to women and children out there, images in this video may be described as graphic. It's just difficult to watch a legend cry....




Here is another video to try to remember Roenicks funny or should I say creepy side.