As a child in Finland, Teemu Selanne dreamed of playing for his country’s national team. Reaching the NHL was a fantasy. “NHL felt like too far. I didn’t believe I’m going to ever make it,” he said.
Dave Andreychuk was told he was too slow to succeed in the NHL. Mark Recchi and Paul Kariya, each 5-foot-10, were told they were too small to thrive as professionals. Danielle Goyette had great talent but there was little support for female hockey players when she grew up in Quebec.
Ignoring the odds and the doubters, all five enjoyed outstanding careers that led to their induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday in Toronto.