Latest news with #JenniferBotterill
New York Times
31-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Hockey Hall of Fame tiers: Which active NHL players boosted their cases?
For sports fans who enjoy debates, there is perhaps no better topic than the Hall of Fame. It's a subjective honor, in hockey's case decided by an 18-member committee consisting of executives, journalists and former players. For election, players are eligible three years after their retirement from any hockey league, and they must receive at least 14 of 18 committee votes. This summer, the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto announced that it had elected eight new members to be inducted in November: Jennifer Botterill, Zdeno Chara, Brianna Decker, Duncan Keith, Alexander Mogilny and Joe Thornton as players and Jack Parker and Danièle Sauvageau as builders. Advertisement Last year, I went through current NHL players and evaluated their Hall of Fame cases alongside the great Eric Duhatschek, a former committee member who was a writer for The Athletic before retiring in November. We sorted the players into tiers based on their likelihood of induction, focusing solely on those who had played a minimum of five years, had appeared in a 2023-24 game and were under contract for 2024-25. With another regular season, an international tournament and a playoff cycle all complete, it's time to re-evaluate our rankings. First, some parameters: • Once again, I'm limiting this project to players who have logged at least five seasons. Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard could be in a similar article in a few years, but it's simply too early to evaluate their careers through this lens. • This focuses solely on players who are under contract for next season. Jonathan Toews is included since he signed with Winnipeg, as is Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who is under contract for next season but announced in June that he is unlikely to play again due to injury. Joe Pavelski is not, however, since he retired after 2023-24 and is no longer under contract. Neither is Nicklas Backstrom (though we will get to him later). • I've incorporated a couple new tiers to try to make the project more complete. • Non-newcomers in each tier are sorted by position (forwards, then defensemen, then goalies) with the player who has the most points first. Goalies are ordered by wins. • Players whose tiers have changed from last year are italicized and listed at the bottom of their category. Now, here's how the tiers currently shake out, followed by analysis of each newcomer. For analysis of everyone else, check out last year's installment. Tier 1: They could retire today and make it Sidney Crosby Alex Ovechkin Evgeni Malkin Patrick Kane Anze Kopitar Steven Stamkos Connor McDavid Nathan MacKinnon Nikita Kucherov Erik Karlsson Victor Hedman Drew Doughty Sergei Bobrovsky Jonathan Quick Andrei Vasilevskiy Leon Draisaitl Tier 1.5 (new): Almost there — if not already a lock Brad Marchand Jonathan Toews Brent Burns Aleksander Barkov Connor Hellebuyck Advertisement Tier 2: Right on the cusp Auston Matthews Kris Letang Roman Josi Alex Pietrangelo Tier 2.5 (new): Crossing the blue line John Tavares Corey Perry Tier 3: Outside shots Claude Giroux Jamie Benn Ryan O'Reilly John Carlson Tier 4: On track Artemi Panarin David Pastrňák Mikko Rantanen Matthew Tkachuk Quinn Hughes Tier 5: Check back in a few years Mitch Marner Brayden Point Sebastian Aho Jack Eichel Jack Hughes Adam Fox Charlie McAvoy Miro Heiskanen Igor Shesterkin Kirill Kaprizov Evan Bouchard Leon Draisaitl (2024-25 ranking: Tier 2) Marc-André Fleury graduated from this tier by retiring, and Draisaitl is the only new entry. At this point, he's done enough to join teammate Connor McDavid in this category of locks. Draisaitl was excellent in 2024-25 for Edmonton, narrowly missing out on his second-career Hart Trophy; instead he merely finished second and led the league in goals. To make the Hall as a skater with fewer than 800 games played, a player has to be at the level of past inductees Peter Forsberg, Eric Lindros and Pavel Bure. Well, Draisaitl has already scored more goals than Forsberg and Lindros, and he has at least 76 points more than all of them. His resume at this point is undeniable, especially after a 2025 playoffs in which he scored four overtime goals and led all players in points with 33. The Oilers reached their second-consecutive Stanley Cup Final but once again fell to Florida. Still only 29, he'll continue to make himself more of a sure thing over the coming years. He's on pace to be not just a Hall of Famer but also one who makes it on the first ballot. Auston Matthews — the league's leading goal-scorer since his debut in 2016 — falls in the same conversation as Draisaitl: skaters under 30 whose peaks have been so high that they might already have amassed Hall of Fame credentials. But Matthews' resume is a little less convincing than Draisaitl's, mainly because he has seen less postseason success. Draisaitl has 52 goals and 114 points in 96 playoff games — a 44-goal, 120-point pace for an 82-game season — whereas Matthews has 26 goals and 59 points in 68 games: a 31-goal, 71-point pace. Advertisement Of the two players under 30 in last year's Tier 2 ('Right on the cusp'), Draisaitl has separated himself. Brad Marchand (2024-25: Tier 2) Perhaps no one raised their stock more this season than the Panthers winger, almost entirely because of what happened in the playoffs. His regular season was respectable for a 37-year-old but not legendary: He finished with 51 points, as well as a gold medal with Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, adding to the World Cup of Hockey and world championship golds already in his trophy case. Notably, the Bruins traded him to Florida at the trade deadline, putting Marchand in position for a legendary postseason run. Marchand was one of the Panthers' best players as they won their second-consecutive Stanley Cup. He finished with 10 goals in 23 games, two of which came in overtime. His first was in Game 3 against Toronto when his team was in danger of going down 3-0 in the series, and his second came against Edmonton in the Cup Final. Marchand is now up to 66 career playoff goals, tied with Denis Savard and Joe Nieuwendyk for 23rd all-time. Savard and Nieuwendyk are already in the Hall of Fame, and only four of the players ahead of them are neither already in nor locks when they become eligible: Claude Lemieux, Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau and Esa Tikkanen. At the start of free agency, Marchand signed a six-year extension in Florida with a $5.25 million annual cap hit. He should fly past 1,000 next season, sitting at 980 now, and with 424 career goals, he has a shot at breaking into the 500 club in the coming years too. Except for Patrik Eliáš, every NHL player in history with at least 1,000 points and two Stanley Cups is either in the Hall of Fame or not yet eligible for induction. Marchand also finished top-10 in Hart Trophy voting four times, so he was widely considered an elite player at his peak. The Panthers are set to remain contenders in the coming years, so Marchand should have plenty of time to add to his postseason statistics — and maybe even add another Stanley Cup. If he's not a lock yet, he's in position to be very soon. Jonathan Toews (2024-25: not ranked) Toews didn't make last year's tiers because he had not played in 2023-24 and was not under contract for 2024-25. Now that the center has signed with the Jets, I'm counting him as eligible. His box-score stats don't scream 'Hall of Famer' on the surface, but he captained three Blackhawks teams to Stanley Cups, earned a Conn Smythe and also won a Selke. He's part of the Triple Gold Club — meaning he's won a Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold (two in his case) and a world championship — and feels bound for induction. He has a chance to add to his case with Winnipeg. Advertisement One potential factor for when the committee considers Toews' candidacy: He was the captain of Chicago in 2010, the year it won its first Stanley Cup of the 21st century but also the year former Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich allegedly sexually assaulted then-player Kyle Beach. The Athletic's Mark Lazarus wrote in 2022 about how the scandal impacted Toews' legacy. His teammate from that era, Keith, will be enshrined in the Hall in November. Aleksander Barkov (2024-25: Tier 4) Only six players have won the Selke Trophy three or more times: Patrice Bergeron, Bob Gainey, Guy Carbonneau, Pavel Datsyuk, Jere Lehtinen and now Barkov. Of the rest, four are either in the Hall of Fame or will be when they are eligible (Bergeron). Lehtinen, who played 875 games but was not the level of offensive threat as Barkov, is the only one on the outside looking in. Barkov has now captained two teams to Stanley Cup wins, plus another to a Final appearance. Between that and his hardware (three Selkes, a King Clancy and a Lady Byng), it's hard to envision him not getting in, especially with how the Panthers are set up to continue being a force. He's still only 29 and has scored at better than a point-per-game pace each of the past five seasons. If he's not a lock yet, he's very, very close. Brent Burns (2024-25: Tier 2) Last year we had Burns in 'Right on the cusp,' but this feels fair. He's part of the reason I added this tier. With a Norris Trophy, three end-of-season All-Star teams, nearly 1,500 NHL games played and several international medals to his name, the defenseman, who signed with the Avalanche this offseason, probably has already done enough to warrant induction. It's just not enough of a sure thing to move him into the top tier. Connor Hellebuyck (2024-25: Tier 4) Hellebuyck's past season is difficult to evaluate. He was brilliant in the regular season, becoming the first goaltender to win the Hart Trophy since Carey Price in 2015, then had a rocky playoffs for the Jets. He's posted a sub-.900 save percentage in each the past three postseasons, including sub-.870 in the past two. That's not all his fault, but it has nevertheless been a tough look for one of the game's best at his position. Even with some playoff struggles, Hellebuyck's accolades can't be overlooked. He has three Vezina Trophies, and every other goalie with that many is already in except for Michel Larocque. The criteria for the Vezina was different in the 1970s when Larocque won: It went to the goalies on the team that allowed the fewest goals, so he was a joint winner all four times despite never being the starter. So essentially there's no precedent for a goalie with Hellebuyck's accomplishments missing the Hall. Cale Makar (2024-25: Tier 4) The Avalanche defenseman is the only new inclusion in this tier. Bumping him up might feel a bit dramatic, considering he's only played 395 games. But by winning a second Norris Trophy and scoring 30 goals this past season — the first blueliner to do so since 2008-09 — he's continued to build an impossible-to-ignore resume. He now has a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe, two Norrises, a Calder and has made five end-of-season All-Star teams. He picked up an international gold medal, too, by helping Canada to a 4 Nations Face-Off win, assisting on McDavid's overtime goal in the gold medal game for good measure. Advertisement Even if Makar had average showings the next three seasons (hard to fathom because he's still in his prime) and decided to retire after (hard to fathom because he's only 26), he'd still be Hall of Fame worthy. He's a rare player who appears bound for heights rarely seen by a defenseman. John Tavares (2024-25: Tier 3) Tavares, who turns 35 in September, put together a 38-goal season for the Maple Leafs in 2024-25, tied for the second most in his career. Suddenly the center is only six goals shy of 500, and he inked a new four-year extension in Toronto. He'll reach 600 goals if he averages 26.5 goals per year over that contract, which feels feasible given how last season went. Every player with 600 goals is either in the Hall of Fame or a lock to make it when they become eligible. Tavares has been durable throughout his career, which if continued will allow him to accumulate statistics to further bolster his resume before retirement. His peak is notable, too. He's twice finished top-three in Hart Trophy voting, and over a seven-season span from 2012-13 to 2018-19 his 235 goals were second to only Ovechkin. He also had 507 points in that stretch, ranking fifth. He has not yet captured a Stanley Cup, but he did win an Olympic gold in 2014. Corey Perry (2024-25: Tier 3) Perry is one of the trickier players to evaluate in this exercise. He has a Hart Trophy (2010-11) but has only appeared on ballots one other season. Now 40, he has scored 448 goals and seems likely to finish his career shy of 500. He needs 65 points to reach 1,000, but he hasn't scored more than 30 in the past three seasons. Yet Perry keeps hanging around and contributing to strong teams. In his quest for a second Stanley Cup, after winning in 2007 with Anaheim, he has been a runner-up in five of the past six seasons with four different teams. Most recently, he scored 10 playoff goals for Edmonton, helping the Oilers reach a second-consecutive Stanley Cup Final. With a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold and world championship gold, Perry is also a member of the Triple Gold Club, which the committee will surely value. Perry signed with the Kings this summer and is entering his 21st season. The committee someday will have to decide if his Hart is enough to validate his peak and if his accumulated career achievements are enough to overcome strong but not elite counting statistics. At this point he feels like at least a coin flip to make the Hall. There's no one new in this tier, so I'll take a moment to address one of the most frequent complaints from last year's comment section: the omission of Backstrom, the longtime Capitals center who is now ineligible since he signed in Sweden. Advertisement If I needed to put Backstrom in a tier, it would be this one. But it's frankly too hard to see a world in which he gets in. That should not take away from his greatness. He won a Stanley Cup in 2018, played a part in so many Ovechkin goals and won a world championship gold and Olympic silver. Still, he never won an individual trophy, only had 80 points three times and only appeared on Hart ballots twice. He's a great player who should always get a hero's welcome in Washington, but he's not quite at Hall-of-Fame level. Matthew Tkachuk (2024-25: Tier 5) As shown by Bobrovsky, Marchand and Barkov, winning Stanley Cups helps with this exercise. Tkachuk now has two rings, along with 69 points in 67 playoff games over the past three seasons. Pair that with two 100-point seasons and two end-of-season All-Star teams, and the 27-year-old is on track to reach the Hall. Tkachuk's playoff achievements are the trump card over Marner, whom I also considered bumping into this tier. Eichel also has a case to move up, but he probably needs another season like 2024-25 before I move him into that range. Maybe next summer. Quinn Hughes (2024-25: Tier 5) Hughes, however, has done enough to join this grouping after another season as a Norris finalist. If the Canucks defenseman keeps playing at the level he's shown the past two seasons, he will eventually be elected. Kirill Kaprizov (2024-25: Not ranked) Last year's parameters dictated that a player needed to play five years before he was considered. Everything else felt too soon. Kaprizov has now played five seasons, and he's established himself as one of the game's most electrifying talents. He might've won the Hart Trophy this season had he not gotten hurt. Kaprizov did not come over to the U.S. until he was 23, so his counting stats are behind those of other players his age. But if his peak continues, he'll certainly be a potential Hall of Famer. Evan Bouchard (2024-25: Not ranked) Bouchard is one of the more polarizing players in hockey. He's a brilliant offensive player, even when not on the ice with McDavid and Draisaitl, but is prone to defensive lapses. Still only 25, his hopes could depend on if Edmonton gets over the hump and wins the Stanley Cup in the coming years. Advertisement Other questions to consider: If Florida continues its dominance and wins multiple more Cups, could Sam Reinhart or even a defenseman such as Gustav Forsling push their way into the Hall of Fame picture? And with best-on-best Olympics returning, which players — Panthers or not — will seize the opportunity to improve their cases? (Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Andy Devlin/NHLI, Claus Andersen, Steph Chambers,)
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hockey Hall of Fame 2025 class: Who made it in?
The Hockey Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2025, with longtime NHL stars Zdeno Chara and Joe Thornton among the new inductees. Chara, Duncan Keith, and Thornton were all eligible for the first time, meeting Hockey Hall of Fame rules that require a candidate to have not played a single professional or international hockey game for three full seasons. The trio are joined by another former NHL star who got the nod: 2000 Stanley Cup winner Alexander Mogilny. From the world of women's hockey, Canadian three-time Olympic gold medalist Jennifer Botterill and U.S. gold medalist Brianna Decker will join them in the Hockey Hall of Fame, which is located in Toronto. Botterill and Decker take the total number of women's players in the Hall of Fame up to 12, with the first inductees only being named in 2010. Here is what to know about the Hockey Hall of Fame's 2025 inductees: 2025 NHL Draft: First-round order and how to watch two-day event Hockey Hall of Fame: Who was inducted in Class of 2025? The 2025 inductees into the Hockey Hall of Fame include four men's players: Zdeno Chara, Duncan Keith, Alexander Mogilny, and Joe Thornton. Jennifer Botterill and Brianna Decker are the two women inducted in this year's class, with Hall of Fame rules stipulating that a maximum of four men's players and two women's players can get the honor in a given year. There are also two more entrants from the Builders category, with Jack Parker and Daniele Sauvageau honored for their contributions to the sport. Zdeno Chara: Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman's stats, career Zdeno Chara's 24-season NHL career included 14 seasons with the Boston Bruins, where he served as captain for his entire run with the team. Here is where he spent his time in the league: New York Islanders (1997-2001, 2021-22) Ottawa Senators (2001-06) Boston Bruins (2006-2020) Washington Capitals (2020-21) Honors: Stanley Cup champion: 2010-11 (Boston Bruins) Eastern Conference champion: 2010-11, 2012-13, 2018-19 (all with Boston Bruins) Norris Trophy winner: 2008-09 (Boston Bruins) All-time NHL leader in games played by a defenseman with 1,680 Six-time NHL All-Star (2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-12) Tallest NHL player ever (Chara stands at 6-foot-9) Stats: Games played: 1,680 (200 more playoff games) Regular season: 680 points (209 goals, 471 assists) Playoffs: 70 points (18 goals, 52 assists) Joe Thornton: Hockey Hall of Fame center's stats, career Joe Thornton's NHL career was also 24 seasons long, the majority of which were spent in a San Jose Sharks sweater. Here are the teams he played for across those years: Boston Bruins (1997-2005) San Jose Sharks (2005-2020) Toronto Maple Leafs (2020-21) Florida Panthers (2021-22) Honors: Olympic gold medalist: 2010 (Canada) World Cup of Hockey gold medal: 2004, 2016 (Canada) Hart Trophy winner: 2005-06 (Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks) Art Ross Trophy winner: 2005-06 (Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks) Only player to ever change teams during a season and win the Hart Memorial and Art Ross trophies Six-time NHL All-Star (2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09) Stats: Games played: 1,714 (sixth all-time) (187 more playoff games) Regular season: 1,539 points (430 goals, 1,109 assists) Playoffs: 134 points (32 goals, 102 assists) Duncan Keith: Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman's stats, career Duncan Keith had a 17-season NHL career, 16 of which were spent as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks before he concluded his run in pro hockey with the Edmonton Oilers: Chicago Blackhawks (2005-2021) Edmonton Oilers (2021-22) Honors: Three-time Stanley Cup champion: 2009-10, 2012-13, 2014-15 (all Chicago Blackhawks) Two-time Olympic gold medalist: 2010, 2014 (both Canada) Two-time Norris Trophy winner: 2009-10, 2013-14 (both Chicago Blackhawks) Four-time NHL All-Star (2007-08, 2010-11, 2014-15, 2016-17) Stats: Games played: 1,256 (151 more playoff games) Regular season: 646 points (106 goals, 540 assists) Playoffs: 91 points (19 goals, 72 assists) Alexander Mogilny: Hockey Hall of Fame forward's stats, career Alexander Mogilny spent three seasons playing in the Soviet Championship League before coming to the NHL, becoming the first Soviet star to defect in the process. He played 17 seasons for the following teams: Buffalo Sabres (1989-1995) Vancouver Canucks (1995-2000) New Jersey Devils (2000-01, 2005-06) Toronto Maple Leafs (2001-04) Honors: Stanley Cup champion: 1999-2000 (New Jersey Devils) Olympic gold medalist: 1988 (Soviet Union) Lady Byng Trophy winner: 2002-03 (Toronto Maple Leafs) Six-time NHL All-Star (1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 2000-01, 2002-03) One of 30 players ever to be a part of the "Triple Gold Club," for winning a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold medal, and World Championship gold medal Stats: Games played: 990 Regular season: 1,032 points (473 goals, 559 assists) Playoffs: 86 points (39 goals, 47 assists) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hockey Hall of Fame 2025: Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton highlight class
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hall of Fame call 'beyond my ultimate dream,' says Manitoba hockey star Jennifer Botterill
One of Manitoba's most decorated athletes will now be able to call herself a Hockey Hall of Famer. Jennifer Botterill — who was born in Ottawa but raised in Winnipeg — was announced Tuesday as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame's class of 2025. She joins seven others who will become Hall of Fame members at an induction ceremony in Toronto in November. Botterill and Brianna Decker will become the 13th and 14th female players inducted into the hall. "I do feel like it's the ultimate honour of recognition," Botterill told CBC News Tuesday afternoon. "It's the highest recognition you can receive in the sport." Her hall of fame resume is extensive. After graduating from Winnipeg's St. John's-Ravenscourt, she starred on the ice at Harvard University, racking up hundreds of points en route to becoming the only player to win the Patty Kazmaier Award twice — a recognition for the top player in women's NCAA Division 1 hockey. Botterill also collected gold medals at three different winter Olympic Games with Team Canada, and is a five-time world champion, where she won two tournament MVP awards. She played professionally before retiring in 2011 and now works as a television broadcaster, among other ventures. "To be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, I think, is beyond my ultimate dream," she said. Botterill found out about her upcoming induction on Tuesday, while out with her family and parents at West Hawk Lake in eastern Manitoba. Her father, Cal, chuckled as he recounted how difficult it was to reach her when the Hall of Fame came calling. The family was out for a boat ride, he said. "She wasn't answering the phone, so we got a couple of calls from Jason, her brother, saying, 'Tell Jennifer to answer her phone,'" he said with a laugh. When they got to the dock, another call came from Hockey Hall of Fame chairman Lanny McDonald and selection committee chair Ron Francis, Botterill said. After the call, she celebrated with her family, including her husband and daughters, who were jumping up and down on the edge of the dock, she said. "I think my heart … just felt like it was bursting," said Botterill. "I share this with my family, because they've always been so supportive of me on my journey, from a young age to my international career. "And so to have the chance to just literally go over and share the news and share hugs with them … was a beautiful moment for me with those emotions." Botterill has been eligible for the Hall of Fame since 2014, but she said couldn't let herself be consumed by whether the call would come. In past years, Botterill said she was filled with excitement watching the induction of some of her teammates, or people she played against. WATCH | Manitoba star Jennifer Botterill to be inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame: "I was … spending time with my family and not expecting that 'OK, this is going to be the year,' or the call was going to come through," she said. "So I would say I was surprised in a very delightful way when the call came." Cal Botterill echoed some of those thoughts. "I think we felt all along, after we saw what she was accomplishing, that one day she might be a candidate," he said. "But it's still exciting to see her being honoured." Botterill was also part of Sport Manitoba's Hall of Fame class in 2024 and Hockey Manitoba's in 2017. She said she hopes her career will be a source of inspiration and motivation for others. "You never know when that moment might be for a young athlete, to help them to believe in themselves, and what might be possible," she said. "If there is some small way that can provide a little source of inspiration for someone, that would be the ultimate honour." Another Winnipegger, defenceman Duncan Keith, who played for Chicago Blackhawks and the Edmonton Oilers, was also named as a Hall of Fame inductee on Tuesday.
CBC
25-06-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Hall of Fame call 'beyond my ultimate dream,' says Manitoba hockey star Jennifer Botterill
One of Manitoba's most decorated athletes will now be able to call herself a Hockey Hall of Famer. Jennifer Botterill — who was born in Ottawa but raised in Winnipeg — was announced Tuesday as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame's class of 2025. She joins seven others who will become Hall of Fame members at an induction ceremony in Toronto in November. Botterill and Brianna Decker will become the 13th and 14th female players inducted into the hall. "I do feel like it's the ultimate honour of recognition," Botterill told CBC News Tuesday afternoon. "It's the highest recognition you can receive in the sport." Her hall of fame resume is extensive. After graduating from Winnipeg's St. John's-Ravenscourt, she starred on the ice at Harvard University, racking up hundreds of points en route to becoming the only player to win the Patty Kazmaier Award twice — a recognition for the top player in women's NCAA Division 1 hockey. Botterill also collected gold medals at three different winter Olympic Games with Team Canada, and is a five-time world champion, where she won two tournament MVP awards. She played professionally before retiring in 2011 and now works as a television broadcaster, among other ventures. "To be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, I think, is beyond my ultimate dream," she said. 'Tell Jennifer to answer her phone' Botterill found out about her upcoming induction on Tuesday, while out with her family and parents at West Hawk Lake in eastern Manitoba. Her father, Cal, chuckled as he recounted how difficult it was to reach her when the Hall of Fame came calling. The family was out for a boat ride, he said. "She wasn't answering the phone, so we got a couple of calls from Jason, her brother, saying, 'Tell Jennifer to answer her phone,'" he said with a laugh. When they got to the dock, another call came from Hockey Hall of Fame chairman Lanny McDonald and selection committee chair Ron Francis, Botterill said. After the call, she celebrated with her family, including her husband and daughters, who were jumping up and down on the edge of the dock, she said. "I think my heart … just felt like it was bursting," said Botterill. "I share this with my family, because they've always been so supportive of me on my journey, from a young age to my international career. "And so to have the chance to just literally go over and share the news and share hugs with them … was a beautiful moment for me with those emotions." 'Surprised in a very delightful way' Botterill has been eligible for the Hall of Fame since 2014, but she said couldn't let herself be consumed by whether the call would come. In past years, Botterill said she was filled with excitement watching the induction of some of her teammates, or people she played against. WATCH | Manitoba star Jennifer Botterill to be inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame: Manitoba star Jennifer Botterill to be inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame 3 hours ago Duration 1:52 Jennifer Botterill was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame's class of 2025 Tuesday. Winnipeg-born defenceman Duncan Keith is also part of the class. "I was … spending time with my family and not expecting that 'OK, this is going to be the year,' or the call was going to come through," she said. "So I would say I was surprised in a very delightful way when the call came." Cal Botterill echoed some of those thoughts. "I think we felt all along, after we saw what she was accomplishing, that one day she might be a candidate," he said. "But it's still exciting to see her being honoured." Botterill was also part of Sport Manitoba's Hall of Fame class in 2024 and Hockey Manitoba's in 2017. She said she hopes her career will be a source of inspiration and motivation for others. "You never know when that moment might be for a young athlete, to help them to believe in themselves, and what might be possible," she said. "If there is some small way that can provide a little source of inspiration for someone, that would be the ultimate honour." Another Winnipegger, defenceman Duncan Keith, who played for Chicago Blackhawks and the Edmonton Oilers, was also named as a Hall of Fame inductee on Tuesday.
Winnipeg Free Press
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipegger Jennifer Botterill gets the call from Hockey Hall of Fame
That Jennifer Botterill found herself enjoying a beautiful summer day at the family cottage at West Hawk Lake when the call from the Hockey Hall of Fame came seems rather appropriate. As Botterill returned from a boat ride, the Winnipegger noticed that someone was trying to get in touch with her. 'I got back and checked my phone and I had all of these misssed calls. I was looking at my phone and the same number came through, moments after I got off the boat. I answered it and it was Lanny McDonald and Ron Francis,' Botterill said Tuesday afternoon after the news became official that she was part of the 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame induction class. Other inductees include Winnipeg-born and Fort Frances, Ont. raised Duncan Keith, Brianna Decker, Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, Alexander Mogilny, Jack Parker and Daniele Sauvageau. 'They shared the news and we had a good chat.' Jeff Vinnick / Hockey Canada Jennifer Botterill was on the Canadian women's hockey team for the 2006 and 2010 Olympics. Jeff Vinnick / Hockey Canada Jennifer Botterill was on the Canadian women's hockey team for the 2006 and 2010 Olympics. The induction ceremony will take place on Nov. 10 in Toronto, where Botterill and Decker will become the 13th and 14th women's players to enter the hallowed hall. Botterill is the first Manitoba woman to receive the distinction and having the chance to share the news with her biggest supporters is something Botterill won't soon forget. 'Lots of tears of joy,' said Botterill, who was joined by her mother Doreen, father Cal, husband Adrian Lomonaco and her three girls, Maya, Brooklynn and Wyllow. 'My girls were jumping up and down next to the water. Just so fitting for me that I am here with my family and get this phone call with the most incredible news. A really fun moment.' Botterill was a multisport athlete who grew up in Wildwood Park and ended up winning provincial championships in five sports: hockey, ringette, volleyball, badminton and basketball. Ultimately, Botterill was drawn to the sport of hockey. 'The one story I often tell is that when I first started playing (hockey), both of my parents said they knew it was something special because they could see my smile through my cage every time I was on the ice,' said Botterill, whose brother Jason played in the NHL and was recently named general manager of the Seattle Kraken. 'They knew pretty early on that this was something I was passionate about, that I absolutely loved playing the game.' Botterill's passion never waned, and by the time she retired from the national team in 2011, her resume included three Olympic gold medals and one silver to go along with five gold medals and another three silvers from the IIHF women's world championship. 'Early on … this was something I was passionate about, that I absolutely loved playing the game.'–Jennifer Botterill Individually, the smooth-skating centre captured most valuable player honours twice (2001 and 2004) at the IIHF women's world championship and she was a prolific scorer for the Harvard Crimson during her four seasons, while earning the Patty Kazmeier award as the top player in women's NCAA hockey twice (2001, 2003). In her final game with the Canadian national team, Botterill set up the game-winning goal from Marie-Philip Poulin in a 2-0 victory over the United States at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Many pundits have wondered why it's taken so long for Botterill to be inducted, given her sparkling resume and all that she's done for the game. That's not something Botterill ever got bogged down with, which is probably one of the reasons she earned an honours degree in psychology from Harvard. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Although Botterill had received messages of support in recent days from friends and colleagues that this call might come, she didn't feel a heightened sense of anticipation. 'It really wasn't on my radar,' said Botterill. 'You're not sure if it's going to happen or it's not, in terms of the timing. I didn't even think about bringing the phone with me on the boat ride. It wasn't where my thought process was.' In recent years, Botterill had chosen to focus on her teammates and friends who had received the call from the Hockey Hall of Fame rather than wonder when — or if — her time would come. 'It's been so much fun to share that with them and to follow along,' said Botterill. 'I was just so authentically happy and surprised to receive that call today. I'm filled with gratitude.' During a conference call Tuesday afternoon, Botterill reminisced about walking to the two outdoor rinks at Wildwood Community Club before her teenage years arrived. Julie Jacobson / The Associated Press files Botterill (centre) leaps over the boards to celebrate Canada winning the gold medal in women's hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Julie Jacobson / The Associated Press files Botterill (centre) leaps over the boards to celebrate Canada winning the gold medal in women's hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics. 'I would literally pack a bag of pucks and put it over your shoulder with your hockey sticks and your skates,' she said. 'Many days were fresh and cool in Winnipeg, but it made for great outdoor rinks. That's where I first fell in love with the sport. Whether it was shooting pucks on my own or a game of pickup hockey. In terms of how far the sport has come and in terms of this amazing honour, I don't think that little girl growing up in Wildwood Park could have imagined this coming to life one day.' When it was first announced that women's hockey was becoming an Olympic sport, Botterill began dreaming of representing her country one day. Her hard work and determination helped Botterill realize that goal at the age of 18, when she was the youngest player suiting up for Canada in Nagano in 1998. Before she was done, Botterill had played 184 international games. 'I still smile as I think back to those conversations expressing my goals and my dreams to my parents and sharing that with them,' said Botterill. 'They provided an environment where Jason and I felt encouraged. And they taught us to believe in ourselves. 'I'm extremely thankful for the family environment I had and the support I had — and the incredible life journey that hockey has provided to me.' A post shared by Jennifer Botterill (@jenbotterill) Botterill has been involved in television broadcasting of the NHL since 2018 when she covered the New York Islanders for MSG. She is currently an analyst on Hockey Night in Canada and Rogers Sportsnet and also covers hockey for the NHL on TNT with Turner Sports / Warner Bros. She's also been heavily involved in broadcasting the women's game and is happy to see the growth of the PWHL. 'It's exciting to see all of the choices for women in the game now,' said Botterill, who was previously inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2024 and Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017. 'To have three girls that have chosen to play the sport and seem to love it — and now, just seeing it through their eyes, is something that's really fulfilling. PHIL HOSSACK/ Free Press files Botterill during the 2010 Olympic Gold medal ceremonies in Vancouver. PHIL HOSSACK/ Free Press files Botterill during the 2010 Olympic Gold medal ceremonies in Vancouver. 'It's fun to reflect on that little girl walking down Section C of Wildwood Park and (see) how far the game has come.' Parker and Sauvageau got in as builders, while the six others were chosen in the player category. Sauvageau shared some thoughts on Botterill's best qualities during Tuesday's conference call. 'There was always a great discussion. It was not just to do things to do them, but why and what is the best way to do it,' said Sauvageau. 'Whenever I have the occasion to see her speak with her hockey analysis, I recognize the young hockey player that put in so much work trying to be the best that she could be. 'She talked about appreciating her teammates and we often say that to be one of the greatest hockey players, you have to also be one of the greatest teammates and that's basically what she has been. And I'm sure that she continues to be in every field that she has touched in her life.' Decker, who played her college hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers and was a star with the U.S. national team, has an immense appreciation for Botterill. 'I looked up to her quite a bit, even though she was always the opponent,' said Decker. 'It's incredible to be part of a class with her. She's done so much for the game and obviously, I'm a little bit younger but at the same time, I tried to pave the way as much as possible — just (like) she has. 'She's a great role model.' X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. 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