Hockey Hall of Fame class discusses peskiest opponents at Fan Forum

Patrice Bergeron was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday as part of the 2026 class, CBS News reported. Bergeron joined Carey Price, Pekka Rinne, Keith Tkachuk and Cindy Curley in the player category, while Brian Burke was enshrined as a builder, according to CBS News. ESPN reported that Price and Bergeron were among six inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The 41-year-old Bergeron, a record-setting six-time Selke Trophy winner as the NHL's top defensive forward after being selected 45th overall in 2003, helped the Boston Bruins to a Cup victory in 2011, CBS News reported. The center had 1,040 points (427 goals, 613 assists) in 1,294 regular-season games and added 128 points in 170 playoff games before retiring in 2023. He spent all 19 of his NHL seasons with Boston, including the final three as captain.

"I hope my journey inspires future generations to dream big (and) believe in themselves," Bergeron said. "And never stop chasing those dreams."

Several of Bergeron's former teammates were in attendance for his induction on Monday, including Zdeno Chara, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, CBS News reported. The Bruins will retire Bergeron's No. 37 at TD Garden during a ceremony on Dec. 1.

Curley is a Stow, Massachusetts, native who led Providence College to two NCAA titles in the 1980s, then won the silver medal with the United States at the inaugural IIHF Women's Hockey Championships in 1990, according to CBS News. Tkachuk played minors in Massachusetts, then joined Boston University for the 1990-91 season before heading to the NHL. Burke is a Providence native who also served as GM of the Hartford Whalers starting in 1992.

NHL.com reported that the Hockey Hall of Fame class discussed peskiest opponents at a Fan Forum. The New York Times published NHL weekend rankings noting that Patrice Bergeron convinced the writer to put Boston in the Top 5. Stanley Cup of Chowder reported that the Bruins announced details of Bergeron's No. 37 retirement ceremony. TSN published Carey Price's Hockey Hall of Fame induction speech.