Rogie Vachon needed a moment. He nearly needed a tissue. He was that emotional.
In the middle of answering a question about what the honor of getting inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame means to him, the 71-year-old former goalie who waited more than 30 years for the honor starting talking about his late wife, Nicole, and nearly broke down.
"It doesn't get any better than this," Vachon said. "The only regret that I have is my wife just passed away."
It was at that moment when Vachon paused. Nicole, his wife of 44 years, died in February from brain cancer. Vachon said she battled it for four months.
"I wish she could be here," Vachon said. "I miss her, but I've got my kid, my grandkids, and you have to move on. This is a great honor, but I wish she was here. I think about her every day. I know she's in the right place, but I wish she'd be here."
Vachon was then asked what Nicole would have said if she were by his side on June 27, when he received the call from Hall of Fame chairman Lanny McDonald informing him that 34 years after he retired, he was going into the Hall.
"She would say, 'It's about time that you made it,'" Vachon said. "We waited over 30 years for this and finally, finally we're in."