BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
Hartford, CT – It was a special moment for one of the most diverse groups ever selected had their names called.
43-year-old Greenwich resident, Martin St. Louis, who ended his 1,137 NHL game career with 1,033 points. He ended his career as a member of the New York Rangers. St. Louis was visiting with his father and his family, except for his eldest son, at a cottage in Quebec when the call came.
“I’m very thankful to the committee for selecting me. It was not a sprint to get in,” St. Louis said. “I’m glad that I’m in. For me to join the great players that are in now is unbelievable.”
As a player, St. Louis was the epitome of determination when he and his friend and collegiate linemate, Eric Perrin, were in Vermont playing in the ECACHL they were an unstoppable duo, yet he went undrafted.
St. Louis signed a free agent deal with the Calgary Flames. After three years in American Hockey League in Saint John, New Brunswick, he got some time with the big club. He parted ways with the Flames and moved on to the Tampa Bay Lightning which would become his gateway to this incredible day. He won a Stanley Cup in 2003-04, the last one before the year long lockout.
In his first season splitting time between Cleveland (IHL) and Saint John, St. Louis ruined the Wolf Pack’s Calder Cup goal that year. He and another Marty, the retired Marty Murray, derailed them in the semifinals knocking them off in six games. St. Louis had 20 points in 15 playoff games.
The size issue was always used against him, but he holds no bitterness. In fact, it was a motivating factor for him.
“When people tried to discourage me along the way, that’s just life,” St. Louis commented. “I definitely used that as motivation in trying to prove people wrong. My players, the ones I admired were Mats Naslund (Montreal), Theo Fluery (Calgary), and Doug Gilmour. He was maybe 5’10.”
82-year-old Willie O’Ree is the NHL’s Diversity Ambassador for the last 20 years. O’Ree became the first black player in NHL history on January 17, 1956 in a game played at the Montreal Forum. He played on the first New Haven Nighthawks team in 1972 and was inducted in the “Builder’s Category” capping a year of celebration for him.
Back on November 3rd in Springfield, O’Ree was inducted into the Springfield Hockey Hall of Fame. Two weeks ago he was able to present the initial “Willie’ O’Ree Community Service Award” to the Humboldt Broncos in Las Vegas. Then the call came from Lanny McDonald at his home in San Diego.
“I was crying and laughing I have no words…its been a great year to be alive. I had a nervous feeling all day. I was pacing around the house for the last four hours. I’m very joyful to have to be here to enjoy this with my family,” In 2008, the Fredericton, New Brunswick native received the Order of Canada for his service to hockey.
O’Ree played until he was 43 and even more amazing, he did it with one eye. He was hit with a puck early in his career when playing in the old Western Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls. His time in San Diego were the last nine years of his playing career. He also played for the Los Angeles Blades (WHL) who were the forerunners to the Los Angels Kings, who came into the NHL as an expansion team in 1970.
In the 1960-61 O’Ree played his one and only full NHL season with Boston. There wasn’t another black player until 1974 when Mike Marson played for the expansion Washington Capitals. Today’s NHL has 27 players of color playing in the league. Among them are Seth Jones of the Columbus Blue Jackets and there are many more who have had careers and retired who came after Marson, players like Grant Fuhr, Kevin Weekes, and Anson Carter.
When playing with the Quebec Aces of the Quebec Hockey League, a minor pro circuit that was in business for six years in the 1950’s, O’Ree got the call. He wasn’t even aware of the history of his playing that game
“I didn’t know until I read the paper the next day that I had been the first black man or player of color in the NHL,” said O’Ree.
Martin Brodeur, 46, is currently the Assistant GM of the St. Louis Blues. He was a lock to be inducted. Brodeur is the holder of 12 NHL records. Among them are his 691 wins, far ahead of second place Patrick Roy’s total of 552. After a career with the New Jersey Devils, Brodeur’s battles with the Rangers during the 1990’s and early 21st will be talked about by future generations.
Brodeur was at the St. Louis Blues prospects camp seated in the stands next to another legend with HHOF credentials and Stanley Cup rings, Larry Robinson when he received his call.
“It was exciting! Even though there’s a lot of talk, until you get the phone call from the proper people, it’s something you always think, ‘What’s going to happen? How’s it going to happen?’” Brodeur said, “Guys all day were asking, ‘You get the call? You get the call?’“
Jayna Hefford, 41, is the only woman of the group. She was among the early pioneers of developing women’s hockey. From her hometown in Kingston, Ontario, to her time at the University of Toronto to the international ice stage, Hefford represented Canada while winning four Olympic gold medals and an astounding seven IIHF championships.
“I have chills and am very proud. I am happy for this incredible honor. I especially want to share it with my family. I was home and have three kids and they weren’t here right now, so I did get time to reflect and its emotional. You remember all those people who helped you along the way,” Hefford, for whom the CWHL (Canadian Women’s Hockey League) Player of the Year Award is named after, stated.
Alexander Yakushev, who played on some of the great Soviet Red Army teams in the 1960’s and 1970’s, was reached by McDonald in Russia. Despite being age 71, he was outside playing in a hockey game.
“When we finally got a hold of him,” McDonald, the Chairman of the Selection Committee said, “He was playing a game and he said he won the game and got his call. It’s a great day.”
Bettman, 66, has been the face of the management side of the NHL for 25 years. Clearly, he’s had a tremendous impact on the league. Bettman came from the NBA as a non-traditional hockey guy and has overseen a tremendous makeover of the NHL. His first thoughts weren’t of himself.
“When I received the call from Lanny and John Davidson, I was literally speechless,” Bettman said. “I really wasn’t focused on whether this was happening now. I was really focused on whether Willie O’Ree was going to be selected, because that to me, it was a very important act for the Hall to take. I’m delighted Willie is going to be going in and I’m going to be going in with him.”
He also was in the midst of another celebration. When his cell phone rang
“I was at a retirement luncheon with 25 people for Frank Brown (NHL PR Director, and a former New York Post NHL beat writer from the 1970’s and 1980’s) and it was a surreal feeling, but I am very grateful for the vote from the committee.”
The formal induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame is Monday, November 12th on Yonge Street in Toronto and caps a weekend of festivities.
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