Hockey Hall of Fame Welcomes Class of 2024 with Legendary Inductees

On Monday, the Hockey Hall of Fame hosted its induction ceremony for the Class of 2024, introducing a new set of members who have shaped the sport for years.

The class this year features Pavel Datsyuk, Shea Weber, Jeremy Roenick, Natalie Darwitz, Krissy Wendell-Pohl, Colin Campbell, and David Poile.

In his address, Weber expressed gratitude to the two teams he represented, the Nashville Predators and the Montreal Canadiens. He also made a joke about his fellow inductee, Poile, who traded him from the Predators to the Canadiens in 2016.

“I’d like to thank David Poile, Barry Trotz and the Predators for giving me a chance to live out my childhood dream in a city I now consider a second home, Trotzy and David, I’m forever grateful for the lessons in life, hockey and leadership you guys shared with me. I would also like to thank Mark Bergevin, Jeff Molson and the Montreal Canadians for giving me a chance to play in the most passionate hockey city I think I’ve ever seen. I think I should be thanking David Poile for that too.” :Weber said.

Weber’s previous two teams expressed their affection for him before his induction:

“Krissy’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen play the game. Krissy and I also couldn’t be more opposite off the ice, She was so social, I was quiet. She shot before games, I napped. We played 10 years together, most of them as linemates, but most importantly, we were good friends off the ice. There’s no way I would be here without Krissy, so it’s fitting we’re entering the Hall of Fame together.” : Darwitz said.

Wendell-Pohl discussed everything her parents provided for her during her career, including assistance in managing the challenges of being a woman in the sport:

On Monday, a duo from the Detroit Red Wings was inducted into the Hall of Fame: Datsyuk and Campbell. Datsyuk played 14 years in Detroit during the time Campbell served as a player and a coach for the Red Wings.

A number of players who competed alongside and against Datsyuk expressed great admiration for the iconic forward:

Datsyuk demonstrated comparable respect for the opponents he faced:

Roenick expressed his passion for the sport in his address, amusing fans and evoking various feelings. He recounted a tale about a moment prior to the NHL draft that was truly priceless:

Poile, who enjoyed a successful career as an executive with the Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals, took a moment to express his gratitude for his wife.

“I could not have asked for or found a better teammate in life than my wife, Elizabeth, who has been with me every step of the way, I was able to score the hat trick of life – who you marry and share your journey with, the job you have and the places you live. Elizabeth and I have been on a team from Atlanta to Calgary to Washington and ultimately to Nashville. She’s been the rock of our family throughout our shared hockey journey.” : he said.

Image Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images