Highlights from Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2022 speeches

TORONTO -- The six members of the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2022 were inducted Monday.

Here are some of the key moments from the induction speeches of Daniel Alfredsson, Roberto Luongo, Riikka Sallinen, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and the family of Herb Carnegie, who was inducted as a Builder, as well as from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's comments.

ROBERTO LUONGO: Honored to join Sedins

Luongo thanked the Hockey Hall of Fame and congratulated his fellow inductees, especially Vancouver Canucks teammates Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

"When I got the call, the first thing I asked was if you guys were in too, because I wanted it so bad to go in with you guys," Luongo said. "Just being your teammate for eight years was such an honor. I'm proud to say that I played with you guys."

Luongo spoke about his grandmother, who played goalie against him with an oven mitt and frying pan; his grandfather, who bought him one of his first sets of goalie pads; his parents, who taught him work ethic; and his brothers, who used to play hockey with him in the basement.

"We destroyed it," Luongo said. "The walls were done."

He spoke of friends, coaches and agents, like the late Gilles Lupien, who told Luongo's parents they needed to be ready for him to leave home.

"I don't know if you guys understand what Italian families are like, but you don't move away when you're 15 years old," Luongo said. "You move away when you get married. Some of my friends are still living at home."

Luongo mentioned billets, trainers and the three NHL teams for which he played. After starting with the New York Islanders (1999-2000), he spent most of his career with the Canucks (2006-14) and Florida Panthers (2000-06, 2013-19).

"Both franchises mean so much to me, and they're both equally important," Luongo said.

After acknowledging his goalie partners and his kids -- daughter Gabriella, 14, and son Gianni, 11 -- Luongo closed by thanking his wife, Gina.

"It's been a long journey," Luongo said. "It's been tough. Like Hank and Danny said, a lot of times you were left on your own, because we were on the road playing cards -- winning at cards, mostly for me.

"You were holding down the fort at home, and as athletes, sometimes we take that a little bit for granted. But I just want to say that I admire you, and I love you so much." -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika

HENRIK SEDIN: Brotherly love

Henrik and Daniel Sedin were linked throughout their NHL careers, since the day the Vancouver Canucks pulled off a trade at the NHL Draft in 1999 to select Daniel at No. 2 and Henrik at No. 3.

But the ongoing debate since they debuted in the NHL on Oct. 5, 2000, has been: Which brother is better?

Henrik, who nearly missed the Hall of Fame induction having recently recovered from COVID-19, offered an answer of sorts.

"It came down to a last-minute decision to attend, but as our coaches always said, 'Henrik at 70 percent is a lot better than Daniel at 100 percent,'" Henrik said jokingly.

Henrik, like his brother, played all 17 of his NHL seasons with Vancouver. In 2010, the forward won both the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as the League scoring leader (112 points; 29 goals, 83 assists), and he was Canucks captain his final eight seasons (2011-18).

He said Daniel inspired him to the accomplishments he attained throughout his career.

"Apart from your on-ice greatness, the thing that made me get to where I am standing here tonight is what you did off the ice," Henrik said. "To know that someone would be in the gym every morning waiting for me, even on the days I felt like taking a day off, that's what made me the player I was. When people ask where confidence comes from, that's where it came from, our preparation."

Henrik thanked Alexandre Burrows, who played 12 seasons (2005-17) with him in Vancouver, several of them as his linemate.

"I'm not sure how we managed to have the success we had," Henrik said. "You spoke French, we communicated like dolphins, but every time we stepped over those boards, we knew we could make a difference."

Ultimately, though, Henrik ended with what he figured would finally put an end to the decades-long debate, but only because Daniel would not have a chance to refute him, having already delivered his speech.

"Because Daniel is not speaking after me, to end the debate [about] who was the better was," Henrik said. "I missed 30 games during my career, and Daniel's production was not the same. In 2010, Daniel missed 20 games with a concussion, I had 11 goals and nine assists. So with Daniel, I was barely a 20-goal scorer. Without him, I would have been a career 45-goal scorer." -- Dave McCarthy

DANIEL SEDIN: 'It took a while, but we got there'

Daniel Sedin said playing in the NHL did not come easy at first, but he and twin brother Henrik persevered and found a way into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The former Vancouver Canucks forward spent much of his speech talking about family, friends, teammates, coaches and executives who helped his pave the way.

Marc Crawford was the first to coach the Sedins in the NHL, and Daniel acknowledged his impact.

"There were lessons to be learned every day," he said. "And trust me, we learned. I think you saw something in us, and we needed to be pushed. With age and experience, I can appreciate that.

"You set big expectations from beginning, and although it took a few years to meet them, thanks for those early lessons and your patience."

Daniel also said that Canucks teammates Markus Naslund and Mattias Ohlund, fellow Swedes, were profoundly helpful as the Sedins struggled to assimilate.

"[They] helped us adjust to life in North America and teach us about the expectations of us as professionals," Daniel said. "We had the chance to learn from two of the best role models and it eventually rubbed off on us. Again, it took a while, but we got there."

Daniel said it was special to be inducted with goalie Roberto Luongo, a Vancouver teammate for eight seasons (2006-13).

"You raised the standards for our team and made everyone believe that average was never an option," Daniel said. "I'm proud to call you a friend."

Daniel saved the best for last, celebrating his brother and the influence he has, and continues to have, on him.

"Henrik, I will only say this once. You've always been a calming influence in my life," Daniel said. "It's made a difference, not only my career as a hockey player, but also as a person.

"In my mind, you are a better hockey player than me, a better person than me. And I say this sincerely, but also knowing that you would stand up here in about 10 minutes. I can't wait to hear what you are going to say about me." -- Shawn P. Roarke

HERB CARNEGIE: 'Stepping outside the box'

Commonly regarded as the best Black player never to play in the NHL, Carnegie would channel his positive energy into making hockey a better game in myriad ways. On Monday, his inspirational, pioneering work was celebrated by his daughter, Bernice, and son, Dale, upon the late center's induction in the Builders category.

"He took the skills he learned from hockey and transposed them into his life-off-ice skills," Bernice said. "He was an entrepreneur, a trailblazer that kept stepping outside the box."

Carnegie's children were introduced by Angela James, a 2010 Hall of Fame inductee who spoke of first learning of their father's legacy in North Toronto, arriving at Centennial Arena one day to find it renamed for Carnegie.

James read through one groundbreaking Carnegie moment after another on her way to being named to board of The Carnegie Initiative.

"He took a very negative experience and instead of giving way to bitterness, he was futuristic and so forward thinking," she said, "offering a solution guided by his examples so that kids like myself and so many others might not experience what he endured."

Dale Carnegie referred to his father's tenacity.

"Adversity defined his character," he said. "Quitting was never an option. He loved that game."

Bernice brought the Meridian Hall Theatre audience to its feet as she closed her acceptance speech with a powerful, strong, timely message.

"I know my father is calling out to all of us to honor the sport he so loved by continuing to do it justice," she said. "We are responsible for making the sport better. We are responsible for ending sexism, gender bias, racism and homophobia.

"We are responsible for making all areas of our lives more accepting and inclusive. This was my father's life work. This is what I learned from him. This is why I'm grateful every day … that he gave me part of his vision and that we can share that with others." -- Dave Stubbs

GARY BETTMAN: 2022 Hall class inspirational

Commissioner Bettman said the depth and breadth of this Hall of Fame class should inspire awe about careers defined by uncommon brilliance, but also prompt reflection about what makes hockey so special.

The Commissioner also stressed that the work to be done to ensure that the game continues to evolve and thrive must remain at the forefront for everyone.

Commissioner Bettman had special words for each of the inductees.

"Roberto Luongo is an icon of not just one, but two, NHL franchises (Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks) and represents the proud tradition of Quebec goaltending that has nurtured and produced so many of the all-time greats, whose names are synonymous with the position, such as [Georges] Vezina, [Jacques] Plante, [Martin] Brodeur and [Patrick] Roy to name only four of countless," the Commissioner said.

Then Commissioner Bettman lauded the three Swedish players who were inducted Monday.

"Henrik and Daniel Sedin, the ninth set of brothers to enter the Hall in the players category, but the first ever inducted together," the Commissioner said. "Add Daniel Alfredsson and we have three of the classiest men and most creative players to ever lace up skates. They remind us of how international our game is and that players from Sweden have done so much to enrich and broaden the game at the NHL level."

Commissioner Bettman also saluted Borje Salming, the legendary defenseman who was the first Swede to play in the NHL. Salming was diagnosed with ALS this year and could not attend the ceremony.

The career of Riikka Sallinen in Finland should be an inspiration to us all, the Commissioner said.

"Her induction highlights the importance of all forms of hockey, particularly the women's game, wherever the game is played," Commissioner Bettman said.

The induction of Herb Carnegie as a Builder is both inspiring and infuriating, the Commissioner said.

Carnegie is widely considered the best Black player to never play in the NHL.

"Though he was talented enough, Herb Carnegie never played in the NHL," Commissioner Bettman said. "He never represented his country at the World Championships or Olympic Games, for reasons that are abhorrent and unacceptable.

"We must ensure that no one, no matter the color of your skin, what you believe, or where you come from ever feels unwelcome in a rink or unwanted in hockey." -- Shawn P. Roarke

RIIKKA SALLINEN: 'Now I am one of them'

Sallinen did not attend the ceremony after choosing not to travel to Toronto because of her commitments at the physical therapy practice she runs with her husband, Petteri, in Sweden. But the 49-year-old native of Jyvaskyla, Finland's appreciation for becoming the first European women's player inducted was evident in her recorded interview with TSN's Cheryl Pounder that was played on the Meridian Hall Theatre's large video screen.

"If I think of all the great players who are in Hall of Fame, I have watched a lot or many of them and tried to be as good as they are," Sallinen said. "Then, there are also some Hall of Famers I have played against and now I am one of them. So, I'm so grateful and honored to be a Hall of Famer."

Some of those Hall of Famers Sallinen played against were in the theater, including Cammi Granato and Angela James, who were the first women's players inducted in 2010; 2013 inductee Geraldine Heaney; 2015 inductee Angela Ruggiero; and 2018 inductee Jayna Hefford.

For Sallinen, the highlights included playing in the first IIHF Women's World Championship in Ottawa in 1990 and helping Finland win a bronze medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, the first to feature women's hockey.

"These two experiences were kind of similar for me because when I was a little girl, I couldn't even dream about playing in in World Championships, playing Olympics because there weren't any of these kinds of games," Sallinen said. "But then all of a sudden, I am there and playing against the best ones in the world, against Canada, against the U.S. It was really great."

Sallinen retired in 2003 to focus on her family and start her career in physiotherapy, but returned to play in 2013 and became the oldest player to win an Olympic medal in ice hockey when she helped Finland win bronze again at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics when she was 44. She recalled how her return began as a playful discussion for others while she was a team manager for the Finland national team in 2013.

"I think the other ones were only like joking," she said. "But I take it a little bit too seriously. And here I was again playing." --Tom Gulitti

DANIEL ALFREDSSON: Saluting the face of the Senators

Daniel Alfredsson remembered to bring his speech.

That's a good thing, because his memory hasn't always been great, as he admitted while recalling his first NHL training camp with the Ottawa Senators in Arnprior, Ontario, in 1995.

"I was super excited," he said. "And nervous, really nervous."

How nervous?

"Probably a bit too excited, I guess. Because the first day of practice, I realized I'd left my skates in Sweden."

He eventually found skates to use. And they propelled him to the Hall of Fame, a journey that made him the face of the Senators franchise to this day.

The love affair between Ottawa and Alfredsson remains strong. As he took a pause in his speech, chants of "Alfie, Alfie" could be heard inside the Meridian Hall Theatre.

"I want to thank Ottawa," he said. "From the first day I arrived until now, your support has been amazing. It has meant so much for me and my family. And it still gives me goosebumps to go into that arena to be reminded of all the great memories we created there.

"I was lucky to play in front of such passionate and knowledgeable fans. And I will never forget the 'Alfie' chants."

As if on cue, those chants started up again in the theater.

Alfredsson played for the Senators for 17 seasons (1995-2013) before finishing his NHL career playing the 2013-14 season with the Detroit Red Wings. His 426 goals, 682 assists and 1,108 points are Senators records, and he won the Calder Trophy voted as NHL rookie of the year in 1996, the King Clancy Trophy for leadership and humanitarian work in 2012, and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2013.

But it was always his dream to play for his country. And the fact that he was presented his Hall of Fame plaque by Mats Sundin, his teammate on the gold-medal winning Sweden team at the 2006 Torino Olympics, was a bonus on induction night.

"Thank you, Mats. I can't believe we're friends after all the (Senators-Toronto Maple Leafs) battles we had over the years, but I always looked up to him. He was a star before I even started playing in the Swedish league."

But Alfredsson, class act that he is, saved his most emotional tribute for countryman Borje Salming, the first Swedish player inducted into the Hall, who was diagnosed with ALS this year.

"Thank you, Borje, from all us Swedish players who followed in your footsteps. You're really a true trailblazer. Thank you." -- Mike Zeisberger