Former Penguin Francis Voted Into Hall Of Fame
Matt Bodenschatz | National Hockey League
Jun 29, 12:06 PM | Hype this story!
Ron Francis had an amazing career.
His 1,249 assists (2nd all time), 1,798 points (4th all time), and 1,731 games played (3rd all time) are proof of that.
But the soft-spoken, two-way center rarely found himself in the spotlight, playing during an era of great centers such as Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky.
Now, Francis is getting what he deserves: first ballot selection into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Francis isn’t the lone selection though, and, as his career went, he likely will remain in the shadow of yet another center: Mark Messier.
A member of the dynasty Edmonton Oilers team of the 1980s and one of the NHL’s all-time great leaders, Messier headlines a class that also includes defensemen Scott Stevens and Al MacInnis.
But the true story here is Francis.
Snubbed through his career from making the NHL’s All-Star game, Francis didn’t waver. His devotion was to the game of hockey, not to drawing attention to himself.
A class act personality with world class talent doesn’t come along that often, and I feel privileged to have watched this man play in Pittsburgh for nearly a decade.
So, while the NHL celebrates Messier and his accomplishments, I, along with many Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers fans, will celebrate the career of Francis — a person who deserves the recognition of a superstar, of an all-time great.
Comments
DaBich
Jun 29, 02:57 PM
Matt,you’re the bomb. I mean that. Ron Francis was my fav hockey player…ever…and like you said, he was always overshadowed and overlooked. I had the pleasure of meeting him in person and getting his autograph. Being female (haha) I was struck by his good looks. He’s an incredibly handsome man. I also got his autograph, and that’s something I’ll always treasure. I’ll never forget that day.
Ron was always Mr. Consistent. He was always there, always making the plays, and always NOT in the limelight.
He truly deserves his place in the Hall of Fame. He’s a superstar and person of top calibre.
Nuff said!
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