Q. Welcome Jeremy Roenick here to the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Quite the round today, especially the way you closed it out. I think you went birdie, birdie maybe or birdie, birdie, par. But can you just talk about closing in on the lead and you're sitting pretty in P1.
JEREMY ROENICK: Yeah, it was tough out there. Got a little slow so we were out there playing, in a groove, and then it got really slow. The golf course kind of shut down and I kind of got out of my rhythm.
But then everything kind of opened up and I finished really strong. Finished with birdie, birdie, par. Had a chance to make par on 18.
You know, it's where I want to be. I made two doubles today and doubles I wouldn't normally make. I think a lot of people are making shots, making bad moves that they wouldn't normally make.
I'm happy where I am. I'm good.
Q. It's a pretty known fact that a lot of hockey players are very good golfers. Do you think that has something to do with the way the hockey season plays out?
JEREMY ROENICK: Yeah.
Q. What's the thought process?
JEREMY ROENICK: Yeah, it's definitely the seasonal challenge, right? So we can play golf in the summer. It's a lot of hand-eye coordination, the hip rotation. There is a lot of similarities between the hockey swing and the golf swing.
So for us, we like when nobody is beating us up over the golf ball it's a nice feeling. No problem.
Q. You've played in this tournament a few times. What's one of the things you enjoy about coming here and working with Hilton Grand Vacations and just the overall week?
JEREMY ROENICK: I think number one, I think Hilton Grand Vacations, they bring one of the greatest experiences for all of us celebrities, for all of us who like to compete. We like to play golf. We like to play hard and do the things that we love to do.
Hilton Grand Vacations, not only do they put a great competitive level on the golf course, but they bring people in to the entertainment aspect. I don't think anybody does it better than Hilton Grand Vacations. They really don't.
I mean, it's a great weekend, whether it's watching concerts and doing the things at the hotel or out here on the golf course. They make sure everybody is involved with their organization has a great time. For me, I'm just proud to be a part of it.
Q. You mentioned doing things better than everyone else. Recently you were just honored as a new member of the Pro Hockey Hall of Fame. Can you discuss those feelings, what it was like to be on that stage during your induction?
JEREMY ROENICK: Yeah, I was -- it was pretty unbelievable. As you can see, I get emotional whenever I think about being a Hall of Famer, right? And there is an expectation to being an Hall of Famer and there is a really cool entity to hearing that name associated with your name.
So I'm just really proud. I'm really honored. Grateful that I could be involved in that club. I will do everything I can to make sure that I keep up the standards that the Hall of Fame has. That's all I can ask of myself.
Just really grateful to be a part of that whole group.
Q. You get very emotional talking about it. Can you take us behind the scenes. What was it like being there at the Hall of Fame? Who did you have a chance to interact with and chat with? What was the whole thing like?
JEREMY ROENICK: I don't think I can explain it to the magnitude that I think it needs. I'm so thankful that I got Chelly to give me my plaque. I had my family that was next to me.
Yeah, it's very small group. It's a very small group. To be a part of that group is very humbling to me. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be part of that group. I'm going to make sure that I do what I can do to make sure that that standard a lived up to.
Q. Can you talk a little bit about some of your mentors in the game of hockey?
JEREMY ROENICK: Denis Savard, Steve Larmer, Michel Goulet, Chris Chelios, guys that got me there. Tony Amonte, you know, soon to be Hall of Famers, Keith Tkachuk and Joe Thornton. These are the guys that I played with that made me better and made me a Hall of Famer.
So I can't wait until they get up on that stage and have that opportunity to speak of the great things, what it's like to be a professional hockey player. There is a lot that goes into it.
I'm very thankful to have the guys that I have been a part of. They know it. I know it. You know, whether Chicago Black Hawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, doesn't matter. I'm very privileged to be a part of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Not everybody on the Hockey Hall of Fame is on the Stanley Cup. It's a privilege to be on -- have a Hall of Fame ring. Really is.
Q. Coming back though this tournament here, Joe Pavelski is playing for the first time. Have you had a chance to watch him play golf and what do you think of his game?
JEREMY ROENICK: Yeah, I don't like him. I don't like Joe Pavelski. Joe, you can start making bogeys when you want to make bogeys right now. So I got Joe Pavelski into Tahoe; now he's here. He's the best hockey golfer there is. I'm going do everything I can to get his mind off his game. He's too good. I'm going to beat him.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports