If only Rogie Vachon’s election to the Hockey Hall of Fame had happened a year or two ago, when he and wife Nicole could have enjoyed the good news together.
Cruelly, she couldn’t share his joy Monday when the former Kings goaltender got the news that he had told himself would never come. For Vachon, 70 years old and nearly half a lifetime past an outstanding career, it was a wondrous moment but sadly imperfect.
“I wish my wife Nicole would be here,” Vachon said, his voice wavering. “She just passed away in February. I wanted to share this stuff with her but she’s no longer here.