Roenick emotionally reveals that ex-Sharks GM Wilson ‘really saved my life’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Jeremy Roenick thanked former Sharks general manager Doug Wilson during an emotional speech at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The former NHL center explained how Wilson gave him a lifeline in his career.
“In the summer of 2007, my career came to a standstill,” Roenick said. “Four goals short of 500. And there were no calls on January 1. There were no calls on August 1. Depression and heavy drinking had set in. I was in Idaho with my family and my angel called. Doug Wilson, my first NHL teammate and the GM of the San Jose Sharks. He asked me to come visit him in San Jose and I flew out the next day.
The best American player of his generation, Roenick courted controversy during his career with the Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers because of his outspoken nature. That, combined with drinking problems, put Roenick in a dangerous situation toward the end of his career. Wilson, his former teammate in Chicago, was willing to help his old friend.
“He saw the desperation on my face while I was on the golf course,” Roenick explained. “And he asked me if I wanted to come play for the Sharks. I said, ‘absolutely.’ “Okay,” he said, but I have three rules. One that you have to play for the league minimum. Second, no media unless we ask you to, which is very difficult. And number three: no alcohol. I threw out the beer I had in my hand and immediately shook his hand.
“And I scored my 500e goal three months later. Thank you, Doug Wilson, for being a great friend, but more importantly, for being a friend when I needed it most. I wouldn’t be here, and I mean not here [on stage]if it wasn’t for you. You really saved my life.”
Roenick is the third American-born player in NHL history to score more than 500 goals and record 700 assists, achieving both milestones with the Sharks during his two seasons with the team.
Wilson was at the helm of San Jose’s front office from 2003 to 2022, transforming the franchise into perennial playoff contenders, including an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2016.
For Roenick, Wilson’s lifeline helped him complete his professional hockey career on his terms, which now include a permanent spot in the Hall of Fame.
