Emotions Run High at Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The Hockey Hall of Fame was packed, but thoughts of the newest inductees were with a few absent family and friends in four remarkable speeches.
Tears of joy and sadness flowed, as the late coach and exec Pat Quinn was remembered by daughter Kalli, accepting his plaque from Bob Clarke. The great goalie Rogie Vachon tried to hold it together, his decades-long wait for an invite coming too late for his wife of 45 years, Nicole, who passed in February.
There was magnificent Russian winger Sergei Makarov, publicity shy, but getting through his entire script in English on national TV, hitting all the right notes. Finally, Eric Lindros, the debate of his Hall worthiness put to bed at last, thanking his oft-criticized parents for watching his back and wife, Kina Lamarche, for teaching him about “letting go of negative feelings”. He ended by calling brother Brett to the podium, a career more star-crossed by injuries than his own.
