Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Night is a Culmination of a Great Career

Hockey Hall of Fame Weekend culminated with Induction night as the 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame Class took their place amongst hockey legends on Monday night.

It was a long weekend for those getting inducted, as the class included Henrik Lundqvist, Mike Vernon, Tom Barrasso, Pierre Turgeon, Caroline Ouellette, Ken Hitchcock, and Pierre Lacroix.

The common theme of the weekend has been sacrifice and what it takes to get to this night. But it is a culmination of their careers.

“Big change. Mine was in Ottawa, and it wasn’t like this, with television and everything,” said Hockey Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman told Full Press Hockey. “So I got it in 91. You know, what’s that, over 30 years ago? So it was a lot different at that time, but still, your families come, and it means a lot to everybody that sacrificed for your behalf.”

But it is not just about the players going in like Lundqvist, Barrasso, Vernon, Ouellette, and Turgeon, but the coaches and general managers like Hitchcock and Lacroix. Those are the guys who sacrifice the most to get to this point, as Mike Modano told Full Press Hockey.

“I mean, he, you know, a lot of coaches in general sacrifice a lot of their, their life, their time, commitment, just to be the best, and you hope that at some point that pays off to have moments like this,” Mike Modano said to Full Press Hockey. “So a lot of these guys do it just for the love of the game, just to have a good enjoy that lifestyle. Enjoy being a coach of an NHL team and be one of the lucky few that can do it.”

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And throughout the weekend, that is all you heard from the players— what it took to get to this point. Not only what they did but what everyone did along the way. And getting to this nice is a tough journey. There is only a select view to get that call from Lanny McDonald. This year’s class has seven members entering the Hockey Hall of Fame.

And as Pierre Turgeon and Henrik Lundqvist told Full Press Hockey earlier in the weekend, “It is about enjoying the weekend and soaking it all in.”

But when the night actually comes, the nerves come back because there is excitement in the air. It is about all the hard work they have put in and it is a special night for everyone.

“It’s exciting. It’s nerve-wracking, but it’s exciting to be, you know, have this moment,” Modano told Full Press Hockey. “This is kind of a culmination of a lot of things, you know,  this is kind of the, the epic point of your career, you know, this is kind of where you feel like you’re complete. You know, you get into here, you know, there’s nowhere else to go, but you know, above this, so it’s a special feeling to be a part of that group. And being here is something that you know, is forever.”

It was truly a special night for the inductees who went into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Each inductee acknowledged those who helped along their journey to get to this point.

It is not an easy road to get to this point. It truly is a culmination of their entire life’s journey and hard work on and off the ice. This is what makes Hockey Hall of Fame Induction night so special. It is the stories of those who got these people to this point.

Yes, as we have mentioned, the inductees have to sacrifice a lot to get here, but it is their families who sacrifice more. That is why Hockey Hall of Fame Induction night’s theme is culmination.