Longtime NHL star Jeremy Roenick took his share of lumps as a determined forward in hockey’s top league.
As told in this feature story from The Hockey News’ May 12, 1989, edition (Vol. 42, Issue 34), Roenick’s initiation into Stanley Cup playoff hockey included major dental work.
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Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, Roenick engaged in a stick duel with St. Louis Blues tough guy Glen Featherstone in Game 5 of their Norris Division final. Roenick came away from the battle with a different look. Although he was only 19 at the time, Roenick’s robust physical game made him a favorite of Hawks coach Mike Keenan.
“It was a tough call, but the kid lost two teeth,” Keenan said of Roenick’s mishap. “Roenick played a super game. It was his best game of the playoffs. It’s a big jump from junior hockey.”
Game 5 was marred by ice problems due to a power failure, which resulted in a 45-minute delay. Players involved in that game swore up and down that the playing surface made things even tougher than they’d normally face at playoff time.
“The ice was horrendous,” said Blackhawks winger Steve Thomas. “I had about five or six extra pounds just of water. My gloves were soaked.”
ROENICK TAKES IT IN TEETH FOR HAWKS
Vol. 42, No. 34, May 12, 1989
By Mike Perricone
Jeremy Roenick, the Chicago Blackhawks’ promising 19-year-old center, cut his playoff teeth.
Roenick lost parts of two teeth while matching stickwork with Glen Featherstone of the St. Louis Blues in game five of the Norris Division final April 26. But he came back to score the winning goal in the Hawks’ 4-2 victory at St. Louis. The victory gave the surprising Blackhawks a 4-1 win in their best-of-seven Norris Division final. They face Calgary in the Campbell Conference final.
Roenick, called up from Hull of the Quebec League just before the series, was cut for eight stitches when he was nicked in the nose by a skate in the first period. He came back, then got into the fracas with Featherstone.
“We both went after each other,” Roenick said. “It wasn’t really his fault.”
Roenick drew a high-sticking minor, but Featherstone drew a five-minute major and a game misconduct from referee Kerry Fraser. Roenick had to go to the dressing room to have his broken teeth treated with pain-killer.
“It was a tough call, but the kid lost two teeth,” said Hawks’ coach Mike Keenan. “Roenick played a super game. It was his best game of the playoffs. It’s a big jump from junior hockey.”
Roenick came back from the medical room to score the Hawks’ third goal of the game on a tip-in from Steve Thomas. All three Chicago goals came within 2:56 to give the Blackhawks a 3-1 lead they never relinquished.
With both Roenick and Featherstone serving their penalties, Bob Murray and Wayne Presley scored eight seconds apart to break a 47-year-old team record for fastest two goals. The record was set in 1942 when Alex Kaleta and Bill Carse scored 11 seconds apart against Boston.
With the Blues up 3-2 and St. Louis pressing for the tying goal, Keenan called a time out at 7:17 of the third period.
“We had to stay in the present,” Keenan said. “We were getting a little ahead of ourselves. I thought we better re-focus here because we were starting to celebrate mentally a little bit too soon. We had to make sure we were able to win the last 12 minutes of the game.”
Their strategy worked. The Blackhawks outshot the Blues 8-0 after the time out and Thomas scored at 8:23 to seal the victory.
The game was delayed 45 minutes because of a power failure and water had built up on the ice.
“The ice was horrendous,” Thomas said. “I had about five-or-six extra pounds just of water. My gloves were soaked.”
The Hawks finished 16th overall with 66 points. The Flames were first with 117 points. But that hasn’t dampened the Blackhawks’ spirits.
“No one expected us to do it but ourselves,” said goalie Alain Chevrier. “The Flames had the best team overall in the regular season, but anything can happen. Anyone can win.”
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