Jeremy Roenick discloses 'embarrassing' moment at Starbucks after receiving Hall of Fame call

Former NHLer and Hall of Fame class of 2024 inductee Jeremy Roenick is considered one of the best players of his generation. Roenick recently shared his experience of tearing up while at a Starbucks as he received the news of his HOF induction.

While speaking with NHL media, the former Chicago Blackhawks center described the moment at a Starbucks when he got the call about his Hockey Hall of Fame induction. He said he couldn't pay for his coffee because he was so emotional, with tears in his eyes and the barista noticed.

“I couldn’t give them my money, couldn’t get my coffee. The guy was looking at me with tears in my eyes. It was kind of embarrassing but also one of the greatest moments ever,” Roenick said.

“I had just gotten out of the gym and saw a 416 number and I froze. This is crazy for me," he added.

It was NHL legend Lanny McDonald who called JR to inform him that he had been elected for the HOF class of 2024. Roenick said he was audibly emotional during the call.

“So are you laughing or crying? Or you just don't believe us?” McDonald asked him over the phone.

In response, Jeremy Roenick confirmed that he was indeed crying.

“No, I'm crying. Because I'm so happy. I can't thank you enough. I can't thank you enough,” he said.

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Jeremy Roenick believed he wouldn’t get HOF honor

While speaking with NHL media, Roenick explained that waiting for his NHL Hall of Fame induction for so long made the moment much more meaningful to him. He said:

“When you wait for it, and I waited for it, never knowing it would happen, it means more because it hit me really, really hard. The tears came and I didn’t expect to have that much of an emotional reaction, but I did.”

He admitted that it hit him really hard emotionally because at some point he believed he would not receive the honors after all.

Entering the league in 1988, JR scored 1,216 points across his iconic NHL career. His time in Chicago made him a Blackhawks icon, although he would play for a few more clubs later in his career until retiring from the league in 2009.

This year, Jeremy Roenick is set to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame alongside former NHL stars Pavel Datsyuk and Shea Weber. Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl from the U.S. women’s national team will also be inducted in the class of 2024. Former general manager David Poile and current NHL executive Colin Campbell will be inducted in the Builder category.

The induction ceremony will take place on Nov. 11, 2024, at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada.