Hall of Fame class regales fans with humorous stories from their careers
Biggest nemesis, most memorable moments revealed during forum Q&A session
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There were only four players on the podium: twin brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin, forward Daniel Alfredsson and goalie Roberto Luongo. Riikka Sallinen, a forward with Finland's women's national team, was not present, nor was the late Herb Carnegie, selected by the committee as a Builder.
The Sedins and Alfredsson are Swedish. They almost doubled the Hall of Fame's population from their country. Defensemen Borje Salming and Nicklas Lidstrom and forwards Peter Forsberg and Mats Sundin were the first four Swedes inducted.
"I was surprised there were only four Swedes," Alfredsson said. "I thought there would be more."
Alfredsson believes the 2022 Class is a testament to Swedish hockey and the pipeline that is now primed for more Swedish players to find their way into the Hall.
The three Swedes dominated the proceedings Saturday, talking about their career paths and memorable moments, but the loquacious Luongo held his own, despite being the only Canadian player on the podium.
When the players were asked who was the one player that completely took them off their game, it was Swedes that dominated the discussion.
Henrik Sedin said it was Sundin, the center for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who dominated the Sedins after they joined the NHL in the 2000-01 season.
"He went out of his way to cross-check you," Henrik said. "As a young Swede, I was wondering what he was doing."
Daniel Sedin picked Lidstrom, a mainstay on the Detroit Red Wings blue line.
"He was an overall smart defenseman," Daniel said. "Amazing."
Alfredsson, picked Luongo at first, but also sang the praises of Lidstrom, saying the rangy defenseman often knew what Alfredsson was going to do before he did.
Luongo went off the board with the selection of Dustin Byfuglien, a hybrid defenseman and forward with the Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets.
"He made a living just sitting on my lap during the playoffs," Luongo said.
The fan forum has become one of the highlights of the Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Weekend since it was introduced in 1999, when inductee Wayne Gretzky proposed it during his induction to thank the fans and greet them during one of the most important weekends of his NHL career.
Like the previous iterations of this question-and-answer forum, the inquiries and comments from the audience elicited wonderful responses.
This event was special for two reasons.
The introduction of the four soon to be honored members elicited a standing ovation, the first that Geno Reda, the TSN personality, could remember in his 15-year run as emcee of the event.
Also, the approximately 250 fans got to witness a bit of history when the players signed the Hockey Hall of Fame registry at the end of the Q&A. Traditionally, the register is signed in a private ceremony after the induction ceremony Monday.
It was the unfettered and unfiltered access to the players that resonated most with the fans, especially when the four players shared insider stories about their careers and lives. Sallinen was not on hand because she remained in Finland to attend to her work as a physical therapist.
It didn't take long to see the uniqueness of this session would be special.
The first question was from Reda, asking each player where he was when he received the call about the Hall.
Luongo said he was in his office with the Florida Panthers, afraid that he had been passed over by the selection committee. Alfredsson was at his house, enjoying an anticipatory party with close friends.
But Daniel Sedin admitted he was in the bathroom when the life-changing call came. Henrik, who was called 10 minutes later, was driving his son to a youth soccer tournament.
"How is that for a contrast," Henrik said laughing.
Alfredsson told a great story about his welcome to the NHL moment in the 1995-96 season.
He was playing a preseason game against the Jets and Dave Manson, a 6-2, 220-pound defender famous for his mean streak.
"He said to me, if you touch that puck, I'm going to get you," Alfredsson said. "I took two steps to the side and said, 'You can have it.'"
But it wasn't all humor.
Each player reflected on those that helped them get to this point in their career, be it family members, coaches or teammates.
They also talked about signature moments that impacted them throughout their career.
Of course, this being Toronto, the gold-medal win by Canada, 3-2 in overtime against the United States in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics came up.
Just before Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal, Luongo made an elbow save on Joe Pavelski, who had a clean look after a turnover. The puck fell to the ice and Luongo was ready to freeze it, get the face-off and let his team regroup. Instead, he heard defenseman Scott Niedermayer call for the puck and Luongo ignored his instinct and shoveled the puck into the corner.
Sixteen second later, Crosby scored and Luongo was a national hero, that win a huge part of his Hall of Fame resume.
"I think about the moment all the time, because I have a lot of time," Luongo said, flashing a smile. "It is amazing, every little thing can change the course of history."
