Patrice Bergeron Inducted Into Hockey Hall of Fame

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Jack Studley Tue, November 10, 2026 at 3:22 AM UTC

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

One of the greatest Boston Bruins is forever etched among the game’s greatest players.

Patrice Bergeron was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night in Toronto. He was joined by Carey Price, Pekka Rinne, Cindy Curley, Keith Tkachuk, and Brian Burke as members of the Class of 2026. He reflected on his journey from a young boy learning to play to a 20-year career with the Bruins.

“To the fans and the City of Boston, thank you for welcoming me and standing behind me throughout my career,” Bergeron said during the induction ceremony on Monday. “It was an absolute privilege to play in front of you for two decades. Thank you for your passion and making this journey so special.”

“The Boston Bruins are more than a hockey team. They’re part of Boston’s identity. It’s built by legends, cherished by generations, and deeply connected to the community. Being part of that history is one of the greatest accomplishments of my life.”

Bergeron singled out two former teammates, Zdeno Chara, who handed him his Hall of Fame plaque, and Brad Marchand. He thanked Chara for his “support, advice, and pushing me every single day to be better,” and reflected on his friendship with Marchand, his longtime linemate. He also thanked many of those who joined him in Toronto on Monday.

Bergeron’s entire 20-year career was spent with the Bruins. He played in 1,294 regular-season games, and his 170 playoff games place him second in franchise history. He won the Selke Trophy a record six times and earned nominations in 12 consecutive seasons, also an NHL record.

“It was obviously very special for me to be a Boston Bruin, and I think it meant a lot,” Bergeron said to reporters in Toronto on Saturday. “Obviously, when a team trusts you and drafts you from the get-go as a 17-year-old kid, and you end up spending over 10 years of your career there, I think obviously it goes without saying that you want to continue on and pursue that and keep helping that team be successful.”

“Both sides, it was loyalty. Obviously, it worked out well, and it ended up being a beautiful city. My kids grew up there. So it was a bit of a no-brainer for me to spend the length of my career in Boston.”

Bergeron made his debut on October 8, 2003. The Bruins drafted him in the second round of the 2003 draft, just months before his debut. The Bruins named him an alternate captain in 2006, and he later wore the captain’s ‘C’ for three seasons until his retirement in 2023.

He recorded 1,040 points (427-613–1,040) in a Bruins sweater, the third-most in franchise history. His 128 playoff points (50-78–128) are tied for the third-most in franchise history. He scored twice in Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, including the game-winner, and helped bring the Stanley Cup back to Boston for the first time since 1972.

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Internationally, Bergeron is a member of the Triple Gold Club. He won an Olympic gold medal, an IIHF World Championship, and the Stanley Cup.

Bergeron and his family have been in Toronto all weekend leading up to the Hall of Fame induction. The Class of 2026 received their Hall of Fame rings on Saturday. Bergeron is the 54th player affiliated with the Boston Bruins to be inducted into the Hall. He said it is both “surreal” and “humbling” to see his name up there and pointed at two Bruins who had already received the honor in Toronto.

“I was looking up at all of the names, and yeah, definitely surreal, definitely humbling,” Bergeron said to reporters in Toronto. “I saw Chief (Johnny Bucyk) over there, I saw Bobby (Orr), that was right in front of me.”

“Yeah, so hard to believe that my name is now up there in this room, so definitely very special.”

The Class of 2026 gathered for a fan forum on Sunday afternoon, fielding questions from a pool of fans. On Sunday night, Bergeron received his Hall of Fame jacket from Ray Bourque. He then dropped the puck ahead of the Hockey Hall of Fame game at Scotiabank Arena.

Multiple Bruins, past and present, joined Bergeron in Toronto for Monday’s induction.

“It actually worked out perfectly to be here for Bergy,” Bruins captain David Pastrnak said on the red carpet on Monday. “I couldn’t be more happy to be here because we all know that he’s the most perfect guy. With the career and person that he is, I couldn’t be more lucky to be his friend, and I’m so super humbled that I can be here tonight and celebrate the night with him. Just seeing (him) get what he deserves today. I think it’s going to kick in later for him, but I’m just super happy that I can be here and share the night with him tonight.”

The Bruins will honor Bergeron on Dec. 1, when his No. 37 is raised to the TD Garden rafters. He will become the 14th player in franchise history to have his number retired by the organization.

“They’ve helped me so much,” Bergeron said about the fans in Boston. “They supported me forever, for my whole career. And the passion that they brought, and yeah, it’s just the support as well, you can feel it all the time. The Bruins mean a lot to me, but obviously, the fans and fan base mean a lot, and the city as well.”

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