Henrik Lundqvist is inducted into the Hall of Fame
toronto. Now it’s official.
Henrik Lundqvist has earned his place in hockey history — forever.
Last night, he was first presented with a sparkling Hall of Fame ring and then was presented in an on-ice ceremony before the Toronto Maple Leafs’ home game against Calgary.
“It feels like my last hockey duel, and I’m really grateful to be a part of this,” the 41-year-old goalkeeping legend tells Sportbladet.
In an official sense, only Henrik Lundqvist was named among the saints of hockey at the big ceremony at Allen Lambert Galleria on Tuesday night, but this year’s seven Hall of Fame members are being celebrated all weekend long and they really shined last night in the bright lights of Canada.
They first gathered in the Great Hall of the Hall of Fame Museum itself in downtown Toronto and were given their copies of the stunning rings that only hockey’s greatest legends could place on their fingers, then they were taken to the Scotiabank Ice Rink. Ceremony before the Toronto Maple Leafs home game against the Calgary Flames.
“Very special”
– If the code falls? Yes, at least we’re halfway there, says a happy Hinky, showing off the exclusive ring when we meet him in the middle of the hype.
– It’s very special to walk around the hall and see all the names. An incredible amount of them inspired me when I started playing hockey, and now being in the same group is great.
The Manhattan icon — the all-time record holder in New York Rangers history — is being used for accolades. Last year, for example, he was able to see his shirt raised to the ceiling, to truly incredible applause. But this does not detract from the importance of this honor.
-I consider it the icing on the cake. It feels like my last welcome to hockey, and I’m so happy and grateful to be a part of this.
With him to Toronto he brings friends and family, including his twin brother Joel,
– Yes, this is just the beginning of a great weekend. Things are going to happen tonight and throughout Saturday and Sunday and it’s going to be incredibly fun.
1/3Photograph: Cole Burston/AP
“You can tell what type of shape you are in.”
The program includes, for example, an exhibition match on Sunday, with and against other Hall of Fame legends — including Peter Forsberg, who will also be on the ice in Toronto last night.
– We’ll see what you’re like then, Hinky smiles.
– Like I said, we’ve got some late nights ahead of us, hehe. But it will be fun. I’ve been on the ice twice and the body feels and feels like it’s holding up.
Others inducted into the Hall of Fame over a busy weekend in Toronto were goaltenders Tom Barrasso and Mike Vernon, former scoring king Pierre Turgeon, pioneer and star Caroline Ouellette, coach Ken Hitchcock, and former Colorado general manager Pierre Lacroix (inducted posthumously).