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Henrik Lundqvist gives emotional speech as he leads 2023 class into Hockey Hall of Fame

Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist thanked his family in a moving acceptance speech as he led a goalie-heavy class into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Kyle Cantlon
·Writer
·2 min read
Henrik Lundqvist, Mike Vernon, Tom Barrasso, Pierre Turgeon, Caroline Ouellete, Ken Hitchcock and the late Pierre Lacroix were officially inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

"The King" was just enshrined into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Legendary New York Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist headlined the goalie-heavy 2023 HOF class inducted on Monday, one that also includes Mike Vernon and Tom Barrasso. It's the first time three goaltenders have entered The Hall together in more than six decades.

Upon his induction, Lundqvist took to the podium and delivered one of the more moving acceptance speeches in some time — tearing up as he thanked his family for all they did to support and push him along before, during and after his decorated NHL career.

Lundqvist, who won the Vezina Trophy in 2012 as the league's top 'tender, sits sixth all-time among NHL goalies in wins (459), ninth in games (887) and 17th in shutouts with 64. The "late-bloomer" was a seventh-round pick at the 2000 NHL draft before eventually leading the Rangers to two Eastern Conference final appearances (2012, 2015) and a 2014 Stanley Cup final berth — Where New York fell to the Los Angeles Kings in five games.

His crowning non-NHL hockey moment was capturing an Olympic gold medal in 2006 with Sweden.

Though Lundqvist was a shoo-in the second he retired, fellow goalie-fraternity brothers Barrasso and Vernon had to wait a bit longer to get the call. Vernon, who won a Stanley Cup with his hometown Calgary Flames in 1989 and again in 1997 (along with a Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP) with the Detroit Red Wings — has been eligible since 2005.

"I strapped my pads on at the age of five. I never took them off," Vernon said of his love for the game during his induction speech.

Barrasso, meanwhile, has been eligible for the HOF since 2006. The 1992 and 1993 Cup winner as part of those legendary Penguins teams knows, much like Lundqvist, that family and a support system plays a pivotal role in any pro athlete's path.

"No one gets here alone," Barrasso said amid his induction. "You need love, you need support. And most importantly, you need opportunity from people along the way in your journey."

Along with Lundqvist, Vernon and Barrasso, Pierre Turgeon, Caroline Ouellete, Ken Hitchcock and the late Pierre Lacroix rounded out the 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame class.