Hard-nosed, high-energy center played first eight seasons with Chicago, scoring 50 goals twice and reaching 100 points three times.
Former Blackhawk center Jeremy Roenick, a.k.a. "JR," was one of seven individuals elected on Tuesday to the Hockey Hall of Fame by its selection committee.
“I’m so happy, I can’t thank everyone who was behind this honor enough,” said Roenick in a news release from the Hall of Fame. “I’m at a loss for words and I’m never at a loss for words. Getting over this last hockey hurdle means so much to me.”
Jeremy Roenick takes a "last shift" in a pregame ceremony at the United Center in January 2017
USA Today Network
Roenick, from Boston, first joined the Blackhawks in 1988-89 for 20 games. He had been drafted eighth overall in 1988, from the Thayer Academy prep school.
Roenick started the 1988-89 season as an 18-year-old with the Blackhawks, but was sent to the QMJHL Hull Olympiques after three NHL games in October. He returned to Chicago at age 19 in February 1989 and played a total of 20 games that season.
Roenick stuck with the Blackhawks in 1989-90, skating in 78 games and posting 26 goals and 66 points.
Over parts of eight — and seven full — seasons with Chicago, Roenick posted 276 goals and 596 points in 524 games.
He scored a career-high 53 goals as a 22-year-old in the 1991-92 regular season, then added 12 goals and 22 points in the playoffs as the Blackhawks reached the Stanley Cup Final.
Roenick followed up with 50 goals in 1992-23. The high-energy, abuse-absorbing forward topped 100 points three times with Chicago and prospered on coach Mike Keenan's aggressive teams.
Roenick was dealt to the Phoenix Coyotes in August 1996 for a 1997 first-round draft pick and forwards Alexei Zhamnov and Craig Mills. He skated six seasons with the Coyotes, then three with Philadelphia, two with San Jose and one with Los Angeles.
Roenick closed out his 20-year NHL career with 513 goals and 1,216 points in 1,363 regular season games.
When he retired in 2008-09, Roenick was the third-highest American born goal scorer in NHL history, behind Mike Modano and Keith Tkachuk.
