Jeremy Roenick

Jeremy Roenick, "J.R.", as he is called by fans and friends, is a professional hockey player, a nine-time NHL All Star, a two-time Olympian, a sports broadcaster, an insurance spokesman, a video game star, an actor, a clothing line (Muze) producer, and a golf course owner. He is, by far, one of the most visible and vocal hockey players ever. He has been investigated for gambling twice, voiced his negative opinions about the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team choices, blasted fans who made their displeasure with the hockey teams during the 2004-05 NHL lockout known, and referred to the 2010 Russian Olympic Hockey Team mode of playing as "Eurotrash."

Roenick began his professional hockey career in 1988 right out of Thayer Academy in Braintree, MA, a private college prep high school, when he was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks. Over his 20 year stint with the NHL, he played for the Blackhawks, the Phoenix Coyotes, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Los Angeles Kings, and finally for the San Jose Sharks.

Although Roenick has never played for the Stanley Cup, he was the third U.S. born hockey player to score 500 goals, and has scored over 1,000 points. Upon his retirement in 2009, he had a total of 513 goals, 1,216 points, and played in 1,363 games. Add to that his playoff stats in which he scored 53 goals, 122 points, and played in 154 playoff games.http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=rm-roenick080509

During his NHL days, he endured some very serious injuries, one of which was a shattered jaw with a concussion on February 12, 2004 that he received when he was knocked unconscious by slap shot to the face off the stick of New York Rangers, Boris Mironov.http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/02/26/roeinck0226.html

Roenick's supporters have always tried to make sure that his abilities would not go unnoticed from the numerous articles advocating his induction into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame to the San Jose Sharks fans who petitioned that he be a contestant on "Dancing With the Stars" following a preseason dance Roenick performed on the ice prior to the game.

Chicago Blackhawks

Jeremy Roenick was so impressive while he was at the Thayer Academy, that he was drafted in the 1988 NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks who selected him 8th overall. In 1989 he made his NHL debut, and in 1991 was selected for the first time for the NHL All-Star Game. He played for the Blackhawks for eight seasons, from 1988-1996. During his tenure with the Blackhawks, he played played in 524 games, with 267 goals and 329 assists.http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=47701

In his first season with the Blackhawks, the team made it into the semifinals for the Stanley Cup. In a game against the St. Louis Blues, Roenick took exception with Glen Featherstone. After verbally abusing each other and each taking a few shoves, Featherstone crosschecked Roenick in the mouth breaking his front teeth. Roenick, maybe compelled by the folly of youth or the desire to impress the coach and his teammates, continued to play and when he returned to the ice after serving his minor penalty, scored a powerplay goal.

In 1991-92 season, the Blackhawks made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins who swept Chicago in 4 games. Hockey greats, Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux were on the Penguin roster. In the 18 playoff games that he played, he scored 12 goals, and 10 assists.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/features/si_stanley_cup/1992/

Phoenix Coyotes

Roenick was traded o the Phoenix Coyotes on August 16, 1996 as a restricted free agent when the New York Islander General Manager, Mike Milbury couldn't reach an agreement with the Blackhawks. Roenick was traded to the Coyotes for Aleksei Zhamnov, Craig Mills, and Phoenix's first-round selection in the NHL draft.http://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/17/sports/a-roenick-trade-is-made-but-not-to-isles.html

During the 5 seasons that he played for Phoenix this time, he became the only player in NHL history to lead his team in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes in two different seasons (1999-00 and 2000-01).http://arizonarubber.com He also accumulated 100 points or more per season in Phoenix. He played a total of 384 games for the Coyotes from 1996-2001, scored 141 goals, had 210 assists for a total of 351 points.http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11396

Philadelphia Flyers

After spending five seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes, Roenick became a free agent in 2001 and was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers. He played in 216 games for the Flyers in three seasons racking up 67 more goals, 106 assists, for a total of 173 points. The Flyers made the playoffs those three seasons and Roenick played in 36 games, had 7 goals and 14 assists. Roenick played in his 1,000th NHL games while he was with Philadelphia in 2002.

And it was with Philly that he took the slap shot to the face from Boris Mironov in February 2004 and suffered his ninth concussion and a shattered jaw. There was a lot of speculation as to whether Roenick would return to the ice following that injury. But he did return with less than two weeks left in the regular season. The Flyers went on to the playoffs, going as far as the Eastern Conference Championship which they lost to Tampa Bay. Roenick played in 18 games of the playoffs, scored 4 goals and 9 assists.http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11396/ref.

In August of 2004, Roenick confirmed that he had been a client of National Sports Consultants for years and had been betting on sports for a number of years. There is no rule in the NHL which forbids players from betting on other team sports other than hockey. Although Roenick was not guilty of any illegal activity, and was not being investigated, law enforcement officials reported his dealing to the Philadelphia Inquirer.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/16/sports/sports-briefing-hockey-flyers-roenick-paid-for-betting-tips.html

Los Angeles Kings

Following the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Roenick was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. He played only one season with the Kings. He played in 58 games, scored only 9 goals and had 13 assists. Kings fans were not happy with Roenick's performance and many believe that Roenick didn't apply himself there. Depending on who you ask, various reasons for his lack-luster play existed. According to Roenick, he was having problems getting his skates sharpened correctly, causing him to perform poorly and he had come to L.A. completely out of shape in protest of the lockout. The fans felt that these explanations were just a lame attempt to hide his displeasure with being on the Kings team. He was blamed for causing dissension among the players, and for the firing of head coach, Andy Murray and general manager, Dave Taylor.http://frozenroyalty.net/2009/08/07/jeremy-roenick-one-black-mark-on-an-otherwise-stellar-career/

Phoenix Coyotes and San Jose Sharks

In the summer of 2006, Roanick went back to the Phoenix Coyotes as a free agent. His play improved somewhat, but it was still not that great. He played in 70 games with 11 goals and 17 assists, for 28 points.

Following an errant report that Roanick had retired in 2007, Roenick signed with the San Jose Sharks for two seasons. In that time, he played in 111 games, had 18 goals, and 28 assists, for a total of 46 points. It was with the Sharks that Roenick made his 500th career goal. The Sharks also made it to the playoffs in which he played 18 games, with 2 goals and 4 assists.

He announced his retirement on August 6, 2009.*http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11396

• January 17, 1970: Born

• 1988: Selected 8th overall by Chicago Blackhawks in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft

• 1989: Makes pro debut with Chicago Blackhawks

• 1991: Makes first of nine career NHL All-Star Game appearances

• 1992: Led Chicago to the Stanley Cup Finals

• 1996: Helped Team USA win the first World Cup of Hockey

• 1996: Traded to the Phoenix Coyotes

• 2001: Signed as free agent with the Philadelphia Flyers

• 2005: Traded to the Los Angeles Kings

• 2006: Signed as free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes

• 2007: Announced retirement

• 2007: Un-retired and signed with the San Jose Sharks

• 2009: Officially retired