Hockey Hall of Fame welcomes Thayer’s Jeremy Roenick

Jeremy Roenick ‘88 has achieved so much in the world of hockey, but the game’s highest honor had eluded him … until now. 

Earlier this week the Hockey Hall of Fame named Roenick to its seven-member Class of 2024. The Marshfield native joins four others in the player category: Natalie Darwitz, Pavel Datsyuk, Krissy Wendell-Pohl, and Shea Weber. Colin Campbell and David Poile were both selected in the builder category. 

“I’m so happy,” said Roenick after the announcement was made June 25. “I can’t thank everyone who was behind this honor enough. 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.” 

A nine-time NHL All-Star, the hard-nosed center more than earned the honor. He joined the Chicago Blackhawks in 1989 at age 19 and never looked back, playing eight seasons there before heading to the Phoenix Coyotes. In all, Roenick played 20 NHL seasons for five different teams, amassing 513 goals and 703 assists in 1,363 games. Roenick finished his career as the second-highest American-born goal scorer in NHL history. 

Internationally, Roenick was twice a member of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. He competed at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, and earned a silver medal at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

During Roenick’s playing days at Thayer, varsity hockey games were simply not to be missed. He and his incredibly skilled teammates — which included Tony Amonte ‘89 P ‘16, ‘18, ‘19, ‘23, a fellow silver medalist in 2002 who played 17 NHL seasons and, like Roenick, is a member of the USA Hockey Hall of Fame — won both ISL and NEPSAC championships in 1986 before repeating the feat the following year. Roenick was inducted into Thayer Academy’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2002; both the 1986 and 1987 varsity hockey teams were inducted in 2012. 

Roenick and his wife, Tracy (Vazza) Roenick ‘88, have two children, Brandi and Brett. 

Mike Gartner, chair of the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee, welcomed Roenick and his fellow honorees and congratulated them on their accomplishment. 

“The Hockey Hall of Fame is proud to welcome these hockey legends as honored members,” said Gartner. “Their contributions to the game of hockey are well-documented, and their election to the Hockey Hall of Fame is richly deserved.” 

Induction ceremonies are scheduled for Nov. 11 in Toronto.