The 1994–1995 season was shortened due to a strike. However, many players thought the strike would begin in the spring of 1994 — including the Chicago Blackhawks, who had a certain Jeremy Roenick on the team. In an interview, he recalls how they decided to celebrate what they believed was an early vacation…
The NHL has seen a few strikes in the past, most recently the 2012–2013 season, which was also shortened. But we all remember the 2004–2005 season, which was completely canceled, and of course, the shortened 1994–1995 season. Still, neither the players nor the league were sure exactly when the strike would begin. Something Jeremy Roenick took advantage of.
Went up to Canada
In a 2019 interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Jeremy Roenick — then a member of the Chicago Blackhawks — told the story of how the team mistakenly thought the strike was starting early.
“It was in ’94. We were gonna lock out — the players were gonna stop playing before the playoffs. That was gonna be our way of having the upper hand,” Roenick recalled.
Jeremy Roenick played drunk
“So we’re playing in Detroit. And we’re waiting for 12 o’clock to roll around, because at 12 o’clock, they were supposed to shut the season down. It was the last game of the season. So a bunch of us go across the border to Windsor. We’re at a bar, we’re boozing, we’re waiting for 12 o’clock. 12 o’clock comes — nothing. No call. 3 o’clock — still no call. Finally, one of the teammates gets a call from the league. Now we’re 25 or 30 guys in, four hours deep. Next thing you know, the NHL calls and says, ‘We’re gonna strike tomorrow,’” Jeremy Roenick said.
“We went straight into Joe Louis Arena. We walk in, Mike Keenan sees us, and he just shakes his head. But we tied, 3–3, and I had a goal and an assist,” Roenick laughed.
You just gotta love him! You can watch the interview below.
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