Hockey Hall of Fame Weekend Festivities Underway in Toronto

The city of Toronto is full of electricity as Hockey Hall of Fame Weekend is underway. There is an excitement surrounding the 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame Class.

It is goalie-driven glass led by Henrik Lundqvist, followed by Tom Barrasso and Mike Vernon. In addition to the three goalies heading into the other Hall of Fame, they are joined by Pierre Turgeon and Caroline Ouellette in the Players Category. Then in the Builders’ Category, the Hockey Hall of Fame welcomes head coach Ken Hitchcock and former Colorado Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix.

Festivities got underway Friday afternoon with the ring ceremony in the Great Hall. There was something special in the air. It is like playing your first game as a professional hockey player — the nervous but excited energy fills the room.

“I had goosebumps; like I can’t even sleep right now, I have to get up,” Turgeon said. “I’m so pumped just to be here.”

For others, like Ken Hitchcock, he wanted to make sure he still fit in the hockey circle that he has been out of for some time now.

“I would say uncomfortable, I’m uncomfortable because I’ve been out of the circles and I haven’t been around the circle at all and I just wanted to know that I fit in okay, you know, like, I don’t know I like you when you’re out of it,” Hitchcock said. “And you’re on the outside periphery and you know you like like, the NHL goes on life goes on. And so I just wanted to feel comfortable that I could come back here and enjoy it.”

The point of just enjoying and living in the moment was reiterated by Henrik Lundqvist.

“I’m going to need the weekend to kind of take it all in,” Lundqvist said. “It’s just starting but it will be very special on Monday to be there with family and friends and to share that moment.”

And those entering hockey’s legendary halls and joining the greats on the wall know what this moment means. Those entering the Hockey Hall of Fame could not use the word “exciting” more than they did. And most of all, they all just wanted to embrace this moment.

“You know, just to enjoy every day,” continued Turgeon. “So because the next thing he knows next week is going to be bye and as and we’re going to be Monday or Tuesday and that’s going to be gone. So I’m gonna embrace this time. I love being here. And it’s just a privilege to be a part of this for sure.”

Around Full Press Coverage

NHL: The Edmonton Oilers Defense Continues To Be An Issue

NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL: The Way Too Early NHL Power Rankings

NFL: Best Bets For 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year

Full Press Bets: Early 2022 NFL MVP Odds: Bills’ Josh Allen Favored

PODCAST: Full Press NHL Podcast: Houston, We Have A Problem In Ottawa, New Jersey and Edmonton

This has been months and years in the making for all those going into the Hockey Hall of Fame this weekend. A major theme from everyone on Friday was about the hard work and sacrifice needed to get to this point.

Yes, there have been months of anticipation after they got the call from the famous “Voice” of Lanny McDonald, but the work started long before the call in the summer.

“It’s kind of nice just to have to see they’re recognizing your career,” Turgeon said. “Recognizing what you’ve done and when you were young and thanks a lot of hard work to get there. And you know, you’re you know, you’re working out you’re, you know, training you’re eating well, and all this, you get to a point and then on top of it, you can play with incredible players to help you to be better, you know, and so on. You’re thankful for these guys for sure.”

It is not just the players that are sacrificing. It is the coaches, the general managers, and the families along for the ride. But as Hitchcock stated elegantly, as a  coach, you have to sell the concept of sacrifice.

“You’re selling a concept of sacrifice, Hitchcock said. “Whether we could win the championship or not. I didn’t know but I really felt like if I could convince the players to make the proper sacrifices. And commitment that we could do something special and I really live by that.”

For the family of Pierre Lacroix, it is a weekend of celebration not negativity and what it means for a husband and father to go into this special place.

“It’s big for our family,” Eric Lacroix said. “We’re not going to be negative and say we wish he was here, but of course, it is human nature. I wish he was here. This is a great celebration and we’re here as a family and we’re excited.”

The weekend is only getting started. The Hall of Fame Class was in attendance for the Hall of Fame Game Friday night as the Maple Leafs defeated the Flames in a shootout. There is a Fan Forum on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Legends Classic Game on Sunday, before the Hall of Fame Induction on Monday evening.