While Marian Hossa’s selection to the 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class is the one that will stick out most to Blackhawks’ fans, the induction of defenseman Doug Wilson was long overdue. Twenty-four years, to be exact.
In a conference call on Wednesday, Wilson said it was "a pleasant shock" to finally get the call from Hall of Fame chairman Lanny McDonald, but it was his wife who stole the show.
“I can’t even put it into words, because I don’t, first of all, even know if I’m worthy. But I know this, I’m not even a Hall of Famer in my house, it’s my wife,” quipped Wilson.
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After thanking the chairman, Wilson handed the phone to his wife, Kathy Wilson. Once being informed of her husband’s selection to the Hall of Fame, she was so overwhelmed with emotion she could barely speak. Wilson expressed his thankfulness for Kathy, who he called "the heartbeat of our family."
"This as an opportunity for me to thank all the people that have been so kind to me over the years, and how good this game has been to me," Wilson said. "But it starts and ends with my wife. And for you to make this call, Lanny, and for her to hear it from you makes everything worthwhile."
Wilson joins Hossa. Jarome Iginla, Kevin Lowe, Kim St-Pierre and Ken Holland (builder) in the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Wilson spent 14 of his 16 NHL seasons in a Blackhawks uniform and won a Norris Trophy with Chicago.
In those 14 seasons, Wilson amassed 779 points in 938 games before reaching the 1,000-game plateau with the San Jose Sharks and became their first captain in franchise history.