Jeremy Roenick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jeremy Roenick |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 2024 | |||
Roenick in December 2011
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| Born | January 17, 1970 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Center | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Chicago Blackhawks Kölner Haie Phoenix Coyotes Philadelphia Flyers Los Angeles Kings San Jose Sharks |
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| National team |  United States |
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| NHL Draft | 8th overall, 1988 Chicago Blackhawks |
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| Playing career | 1988–2009 | ||
| Website | roenicklife.com | ||
Jeremy Shaffer Roenick (born January 17, 1970) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played for 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Fans knew him for his skill, tough playing style, and outspoken personality. In 2024, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Roenick was drafted 8th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He played for them from 1988 to 1996. He later played for the Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks. He also played for Team USA in the Olympics and other tournaments.
On November 10, 2007, Roenick scored his 500th career goal. He was only the third American-born player to reach this milestone, after Joe Mullen and Mike Modano. After retiring in 2009, he worked as a hockey analyst for NBC Sports from 2010 to 2020.
Contents
Hockey Career
Early Years and Junior Hockey
Jeremy Roenick started playing hockey when he was just four years old. His family moved often, so he played for many different teams as a kid. At age 14, he played for the New Jersey Rockets, a top youth team. He had to fly from his home in Virginia to New Jersey every week for games.
Later, Roenick attended Thayer Academy in Massachusetts. He played on a line with future NHL star Tony Amonte. His amazing performance at Thayer got him noticed by the NHL. The Chicago Blackhawks drafted him eighth overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.
Before joining the NHL, he played one season for the Hull Olympiques in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He also starred for the United States at the 1989 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was the top scorer in the tournament and set a record for the most points by an American player, which stood for 21 years.
Chicago Blackhawks (1988–1996)
Roenick made his NHL debut on October 6, 1988. In his first full season (1989–90), he scored 26 goals. The Blackhawks' trust in him was so high that they traded star player Denis Savard for defenseman Chris Chelios.
From 1991 to 1994, Roenick became one of the NHL's top players. He scored over 100 points in two straight seasons. In the 1991–92 season, he scored 53 goals and led the Blackhawks to the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals. They lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Roenick had proven he was a superstar.
He continued to be a leader for the Blackhawks, known for his scoring and tough play. He played in four NHL All-Star Games during his time in Chicago.
Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles
Phoenix Coyotes (1996–2001)
In 1996, Roenick was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes. He chose the number 97, becoming the first player in NHL history to wear it. He was the team's leading scorer several times and played in two more All-Star Games.
Philadelphia Flyers (2001–2005)
Roenick signed with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2001. In his first season, he led the team in points and was named team MVP. On February 12, 2004, he suffered a serious injury when a puck hit him in the face. He broke his jaw and had a concussion. Many thought his career was over, but he returned to play just over a month later. He helped the Flyers reach the Eastern Conference Finals that year.
Los Angeles Kings (2005–2006)
After the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the Flyers traded Roenick to the Los Angeles Kings. He had a difficult season in Los Angeles, scoring only 22 points. He struggled with injuries and the effects of his previous concussion.
Final Years and Retirement
Return to Phoenix (2006–2007)
Roenick returned to the Phoenix Coyotes for one season. He scored 28 points in 70 games. During this time, he dealt with a back injury and also supported his daughter, who was diagnosed with a kidney illness.
San Jose Sharks (2007–2009)
Many thought Roenick would retire, but he signed with the San Jose Sharks for the 2007–08 season. On November 10, 2007, he scored his 500th career goal against his old team, the Coyotes. It was a major achievement for an American player. He played one more season with the Sharks before retiring.
On August 6, 2009, Roenick announced his retirement from hockey. He finished his career with 513 goals and 703 assists for 1,216 points in 1,363 games.
Personality and Post-Hockey Career
A Fan Favorite
Roenick was famous for his outgoing personality and for being great with fans. He always took time to sign autographs and talk with people. He remembered a time when hockey legend Gordie Howe playfully threw snow on his head as a kid. That small moment made a big impact on him, and he tried to create similar positive memories for young fans.
He was also known for speaking his mind, which sometimes led to disagreements. In the 1996 playoffs, he and goalie Patrick Roy had a famous war of words. After Roy made a comment, Roenick joked about Roy's equipment. Roy replied, "I cannot really hear what Jeremy says because I've got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears."
Life After Hockey
After retiring, Roenick became a media personality. He worked as a hockey analyst for TSN in Canada and later for NBC Sports in the U.S. He was known for his emotional and honest commentary.
In 2019, NBC suspended and later fired Roenick for making inappropriate comments about his coworkers. Roenick later filed a lawsuit against NBC, stating he was treated unfairly.
He has also appeared on TV shows like Battle of the Blades and had small acting roles in shows like Bones and Leverage.
Personal Life
Roenick and his wife, Tracy, have two children, Brandi and Brett. The family lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. Tracy is a skilled equestrian rider and trainer.
Roenick is a supporter of the Republican Party. In 2016, he supported Donald Trump for president.
Awards and Achievements
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing United States |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| Winter Olympics | ||
| Silver | 2002 Salt Lake City | |
- Played in 9 NHL All-Star Games (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004)
- 1991 Canada Cup – All-Tournament Team
- Scored his 500th career goal on November 10, 2007. He was the third American-born player to do so.
- Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2024.
Career Statistics
Regular Season and Playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1986–87 | Thayer Academy | HS-Prep | 24 | 21 | 34 | 55 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Thayer Academy | HS-Prep | 24 | 34 | 50 | 84 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Hull Olympiques | QMJHL | 28 | 34 | 36 | 70 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 6 | ||
| 1988–89 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 20 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | ||
| 1989–90 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 78 | 26 | 40 | 66 | 54 | 20 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 8 | ||
| 1990–91 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 79 | 41 | 53 | 94 | 80 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | ||
| 1991–92 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 80 | 53 | 50 | 103 | 98 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 12 | ||
| 1992–93 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 84 | 50 | 57 | 107 | 86 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1993–94 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 84 | 46 | 61 | 107 | 125 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 1994–95 | Kölner Haie | DEL | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 33 | 10 | 24 | 34 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 16 | ||
| 1995–96 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 66 | 32 | 35 | 67 | 109 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 2 | ||
| 1996–97 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 72 | 29 | 40 | 69 | 115 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 1997–98 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 79 | 24 | 32 | 56 | 103 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 4 | ||
| 1998–99 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 78 | 24 | 48 | 72 | 130 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1999–00 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 75 | 34 | 44 | 78 | 102 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | ||
| 2000–01 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 80 | 30 | 46 | 76 | 114 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 75 | 21 | 46 | 67 | 74 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | ||
| 2002–03 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 79 | 27 | 32 | 59 | 75 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 | ||
| 2003–04 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 62 | 19 | 28 | 47 | 62 | 18 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 8 | ||
| 2005–06 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 58 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 70 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 69 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 26 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2008–09 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 42 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | ||
| NHL totals | 1,363 | 513 | 703 | 1,216 | 1,463 | 154 | 53 | 69 | 122 | 115 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | United States | WJC | 7 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 | |
| 1989 | United States | WJC | 7 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 0 | |
| 1991 | United States | WC | 9 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 8 | |
| 1991 | United States | CC | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | |
| 1998 | United States | OLY | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| 2002 | United States | OLY | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 14 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 4 | |||
| Senior totals | 27 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 20 | |||
See also
- List of NHL players with 1000 games played
- List of NHL players with 1000 points
- List of NHL players with 500 goals
- List of NHL players with 50 goal seasons
- List of NHL players with 100 point seasons
