Shea Weber was honoured with his Hockey Hall of Fame ring by Lanny McDonald and Mike Gartner during his induction with the 2024 class in Toronto on Friday. The ceremony was captured by photographer Christopher Katsarov for The Canadian Press.
Shea Weber has been officially inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, leading the 2024 class honoured on Monday. Joining him were Pavel Datsyuk, Jeremy Roenick, Natalie Darwitz, and Krissy Wendell in the players’ category. In the builders’ section, David Poile and Colin Campbell were also recognized for their contributions to the sport.
Weber’s career ended earlier than anticipated due to numerous injuries, preventing him from playing since he guided the underdog Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021. Reflecting on his journey during his acceptance speech, the 39-year-old expressed his deep-rooted passion for hockey: “My love for the game remains strong, even if my body didn't hold up as long as I had hoped.”
The British Columbia native amassed 589 points over 1,038 NHL games, playing for both the Canadiens and the Nashville Predators. He added 42 points in 97 playoff matches. “There’s so much to be grateful for in this game,” Weber said, noting that the essence of his memories lies in the simple moments: camaraderie on plane rides, team dinners, and valuable lessons from veteran teammates.
Pavel Datsyuk, known for his incredible skills on the ice, recorded 918 points across 953 games with the Detroit Red Wings and contributed 113 points during 157 playoff games. His time in Detroit was marked by Stanley Cup wins in 2002 and 2008. Datsyuk also earned the Lady Byng Trophy four times and was a three-time winner of the Selke Trophy for his defensive prowess. After leaving the NHL in 2016, Datsyuk played in the KHL and represented Russia in five consecutive Olympic Games, earning a gold medal in 2018 and bronze in 2002. Speaking about his induction, he said, “Being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame is a tremendous honour, one I couldn’t even dream of.”
Jeremy Roenick, a standout forward who tallied 1,216 points in 1,363 NHL games with several teams, including the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers, waited 12 years for his Hall of Fame call. Roenick expressed his lifelong passion for hockey, saying, “I love this game. It’s been such a huge part of my life.”
Krissy Wendell, a trailblazer in women’s hockey, led the U.S. national team as captain to victory at the world championships and played in two Olympic tournaments, securing silver in 2002 and bronze in 2006. For Wendell, the relationships she built were more important than her accolades: “The greatest thing about hockey was not winning championships or medals, but the people that I got to meet along the way.”
Natalie Darwitz, also from Minnesota, represented the U.S. at three Olympic Games and won two silvers and a bronze. She competed in eight world championships and won three golds. Darwitz recalled, “I wasn’t your everyday little girl, and somehow my mom knew. On my fifth birthday, I walked into the hockey rink with my blonde French braids.”
Colin Campbell, who has spent 25 years as the NHL’s senior executive vice president and played roles as both player and coach, was acknowledged for his influence, particularly in implementing centralized video reviews. David Poile, an NHL executive since the 1970s and former GM of the Nashville Predators, was honoured for his decades-long dedication, including the memorable Weber-Subban trade.
