Zdeno Chara heads Boston-accented HHOF class

Zdeno Chara s journey in hockey started in Long Island took him to Ottawa and he finished his estimable career in Washington and eventually back where it started on the Island But it was here in Boston where he spent years with the Bruins that he cemented his legend And while he did not give any of his stops in the NHL short shrift his time in Boston where he won a Stanley Cup and a Norris Trophy unsurprisingly stood out in his Hockey Hall of Fame induction speech on Monday night It was where he became an HHOFer and he established his appreciation in his speech Mr Jeremy Jacobs Charlie Jacobs and the entire organization welcomed me and trusted me with the responsibility of leading one of the largest part iconic Original Six franchises announced Chara I want to thank former Bruin GM Peter Chiarelli for believing in me from Day One and giving the opportunity to step into that leadership role When I joined the Boston Bruins in I became part of a squad built on character identity and toughness These values were shaped by legends before me Milt Schmidt John Bucyk Eddie Shore Bobby Orr Terry O Reilly Cam Neely Ray Bourque Don Sweeney and so multiple others It was a ceremony that was heavily accented with Boston hockey Also inducted were Boston University coach Jack Parker former Bruin captain Joe Thornton former Harvard star and Canadian National gang legend Jennifer Botterill and Group USA and former Boston Blades and Boston Pride performer Brianna Decker Chicago Blackhawk Duncan Keith and Buffalo Sabres Vancouver Canucks New Jersey Devils Toronto Maple Leaf star Alexander Mogilny were also inducted Canadian women s company coach Daniele Sauvageau also went into the Hall in the builder s category with Parker Introduced by his idol Detroit Red Wings great Nicklas Lidstrom Chara spoke about how special it was to be part of the squad that ended the Bruins -year Cup drought in Being named captain was a tremendous honor I was incredibly proud to lead such an amazing group of teammates to the Stanley Cup championship noted Chara We all requested the same thing We battled along with each other for months and we knew we had the club to do so We had a very tight group of players in that room a bunch of guys who didn t want to disappoint their teammates We desired to go hard each and every night I can tell you everyone on that Bruins association knew their role We had a very very special company We stuck up for each other played for each other sacrificed our bodies and refused to let the bench down We had a great relationship with each other but also a great relationship with our fans And Boston loves their Bruins So thank you fans Chara ran down the litany teammates on that squad Mark Recchi David Krejci Milan Lucic Andrew Ference Chris Kelly Shawn Thornton and more But he gave a special thanks to Patrice Bergeron One of the greatest leaders and people I have ever met and played with My longest teammate my co-captain Bergy I could dependably count on you announced Chara You established me and helped me to become a better leader athlete and more importantly a better person On a personal note Chara thanked his parents Veronika and Zdenek an Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler and Zdeno s first coach And he gave a heartfelt thanks to his wife Tatiana You allowed me to chase this career for so a large number of years announced Chara While I selfishly rested before the next workout the next event or after long travels you were the one doing everything at home You are the reason I m standing here tonight This honor is more yours than mine I was the physically playing the sport I love but you are the heart and soul of our family the one who kept everything moving forward and you gave us the greatest gift of all our three beautiful children Elliz Ben and Zack Chara s career spanned almost two and half decades beginning while Wayne Gretzky was still playing and ending in the age of David Pastrnak As much as he left his mark on the meeting it left its mark on him I gave everything I had to this championship and it gave me more than I could have ever imagined I am forever grateful for this opportunity stated Chara Hockey is and will perpetually be the greatest event Parker meanwhile flashed his usual sense of humor and humility This is an incredible honor beyond the scope of my imagination to tell you the truth reported Parker I also congratulate my fellow inductees I m sitting with you guys wondering what I m doing here Parker recalled growing up in hoops-mad Somerville wanting to be a basketball participant until his twin brother Bob who died a year and half ago decided to go a different passage into hockey Jack followed suit taking up the sport and playing at Catholic Memorial and then Boston University under coach Jack Kelley whom he called the most of significant person in his life outside of his family He described his coaching career as accidental He was named head coach when he was years old in after Leon Abbott was fired Two days later he got a call from Kelley who ad moved on to the Whalers of the then-WHA I disclosed I know one thing about this I will not stay on this job for years like you did stated Parker And I was right I stayed He owed his success and longevity to the university which reliably yearned to be competitive in hockey and gave him the tools to be so his multiple assistants over the years and of discipline the players We consistently had a philosophy You want to win get off the bus with the best players And we got off the bus majority of the time with the best players announced Parker Terrific college hockey players Lots that went on to play in the NHL lots that went on to the Olympics And the guys who didn t go that far were still terrific in their roles at Boston University Thornton was the first overall pick of the Bruins in and grew into a star here before being traded to San Jose in a shocking agreement in He would be known more as a Shark than a Bruin in the end but his years in Boston were importantly formative I remember how strong the Bruins alumni was and how I was instantly accepted by them Bobby Orr Wayne Cashman Gerry Cheevers Ken Hodge Derek Sanderson and Tommy Johnson Everyone was just so kind to me They golfed with me had lunch with me taught me how to be a man Wayne Cashman we still talk weekly and it s inevitably the highlight of my week I love you revealed Thornton grinning through his tears throughout his speech But there was no one bigger in my time with the Bruins than Johnny Bucyk As a young kid years old the Chief really took me under his wing and he helped me through my first insufficient years Chiefer you taught me how to give back to the contest that I love