The Hockey Hall of Fame inducted members of its prestigious Class of 2023 on Monday evening, honoring several important hockey players and builders for Quebec.
Three representatives of the Province of La Belle have joined the Pantheon, namely Pierre Turgeon, Caroline Ouellette and Pierre Lacroix. Numerous legends were able to express their love and admiration for her in a very sober ceremony punctuated by several inspiring speeches.
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Turgeon came on stage first and was greeted by his former teammate Al MacInnis. The two men played together for the St. Louis Blues between 1996 and 2001.
The Rouyn-Noranda native, who scored 1,327 career points but never won the Stanley Cup, had to wait a long time to be chosen. His long career ended in 2006-2007, when he notably wore the uniform of the Buffalo Sabers and the New York Islanders.
The Montreal Canadiens will pay tribute to their former captain ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Calgary Flames by naming him the 60th member of their Ring of Honor.
Ouellette believes in it
Caroline Ouellette also received her plaque from a friend and teammate. The Quebec forward was joined by retired goalkeeper Kim St-Pierre, with whom she won three Olympic gold medals. The Montrealer added another to her collection in Sochi in 2014.
She wanted to thank those who allowed her to forge her own path, while sending a message of hope for the future regarding the new women’s league that will soon begin operations.
“I am grateful to all the women who came before me and fought for a better future for all of us. I believe that the PWHL will help promote women’s hockey and advance it around the world,” Ouellette said in her speech.
Pierre Lacroix was posthumously inducted and honored by several friends, including Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy, but also his grandson Max. The former general manager of the Colorado Avalanche and the Quebec Nordiques won the Cup twice.
“I am inducted in the company of a group of incredible people, great players and my nemesis, one of the best builders in the world, Pierre Lacroix,” said former coach Ken Hitchcock, also part of this class and who was inducted by Bob Gainey.
The new Hall of Famers also include former goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist, Mike Vernon and Tom Barrasso.