In the 1992 Stanley Cup Final, the Chicago Blackhawks squared off against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Hawks were trailing 2-0 as the series shifted to Chicago Stadium.
Center Jeremy Roenick failed to get a shot on goal in a Game 2 loss in Pittsburgh and was benched for a majority of the second and third periods with Steve Larmer in favor for Mike Peluso and Stu Grimson. This was an attempt by coach Mike Keenan to bring some muscle on the ice against the Penguins defense.
After the game, Roenick said he wasn’t a fan of the move, calling it unfair. Notably, there wasn’t any sign of wear and tear to the forward. That would change two days later when Roenick appeared with a cast on his right arm from his thumb to elbow. Keenan said doctors feared that the center suffered a broken thumb that affected his play, but he would not miss Game 3.
The Hawks lost 1-0 in Game 3 and 6-5 in Game 4, capping a Penguins sweep. Roenick scored two goals in the finale.
As Roenick reminisced on his favorite Hawks memories, the 1992 Stanley Cup Final was the first thing to come to mind. He remembered the cast on his arm, as well as how it wasn’t really needed.
“Well, I did hurt my hand, not enough for a cast, but Mike Keenan was always a visual yeller,” Roenick said. “He wanted to try to get the referees to maybe get a little influence onto our side, so he complained to the referees with showing maybe a little false information about what was going on to try to make them feel bad. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.”
As the Hawks begin their centennial season Tuesday, Roenick is keeping a close tab on the team for which he played for eight seasons.
“I’m going to be around the arena a lot this year and come in and and help with the team a little bit and hopefully they can have a better season,” Roenick said. “And I know myself, Cheli (Chris Chelios) and Sav (Denis Savard) can be a big part of their growth.
Roenick is a fan of the roster the Hawks are building under coach Jeff Blashill.
“I like some of the moves they made in the offseason, I like another year of (Connor) Bedard growing and understanding and get more confidence,” Roenick said. “I think they’re not going to finish last, but I just hope that they have a chance to make the playoffs this year.
“Naz (Frank Nazar) is going to be good, I’m looking forward to watching Naz this year, I think he’s a dynamite player. (Spencer) Knight is a big-time goaltender. I’ll be looking forward to seeing him take grab at those reins and put himself up on on that pedestal as a really good No. 1 goalie.”
Roenick spent 20 years in the NHL with five teams, finishing with 513 goals (No. 43 all time), 703 assists (No. 61), 1,216 points (No. 48) and a plus-153 rating in 1,363 games. He was a nine-time All-Star, two-time Olympian and one of 48 players in the 500-goals club.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2024. When Roenick got the call — after a 12-year wait — he called it a surprise.
“It was the first year where I didn’t think about it, didn’t expect it or really didn’t even care if it came or not,” Roenick said. “I was in a really good part of my life and then was just crazy how I saw missed calls on my phone, and I called back and it said it’s the Hockey Hall of Fame, press 1 for tickets, press 2 for tours (and) I’m like, why is Hockey Hall of Fame calling?
“Then it’s like ‘Oh, my God, it’s that time.” I totally froze up and became speechless when they called back and there’s not too many times where I’m actually speechless. (The) Hockey Hall of Fame call was one that I will never forget,”
On Sept. 29, Roenick added another accomplishment: an invite to the 40th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner. He and fellow athletes such as Albert Pujols, Dominique Wilkins, Warren Moon were honored in New York, with proceeds going to the Buoniconti Fund to help find a cure for paralysis.
“I’m really happy that other people see my career and are willing to share them with the world,” Roenick said. “To be in New York for such a huge gala for the Buoniconti Foundation, that’s a special gift for me.”
When he does make his Chicago appearance, he’ll be celebrated at by different generations of the Hawks faithful. You might even catch him at the “Pope’s Table” at Aurelio’s in Homewood.
“Whenever you can have Pope Leo love your pizza, that is a bonus,” Roenick said.