Carey Price and Patrice Bergeron battled it out as rivals for Original Six franchises.
The former NHL stars with strong ties to Quebec also helped Canada succeed on the international stage.
Now the duo will enter the Hockey Hall of Fame together.
Price and Bergeron were among the class of 2026 announced Monday alongside Pekka Rinne, Keith Tkachuk and Cindy Curley in the player category.
Brian Burke, meanwhile, will go in as a builder at the fall induction ceremony.
Price starred with the Montreal Canadiens for 15 seasons, while Bergeron suited up across 19 campaigns for the Boston Bruins.
The No. 5 pick at the 2005 NHL draft, Price won the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Vezina Trophy as its top goaltender in 2015.
“My initial thought was, ‘What a special day,’” he said on a video conference call with reporters. “I just can’t wait until November to be able to spend that day with everyone that I love, and everyone who’s helped me along the way.”
The 38-year-old from Anahim Lake, B.C., finished with a 361-261-79 record, .917 save percentage, 2.51 goals-against average and 49 shutouts across 712 regular-season games in a career that was, at times, hampered by injury.
Price had even better big-moment numbers before a knee issue forced him to stop playing beyond the 2021-22 campaign.
He owned a .919 save percentage, 2.39 GAA and eight shutouts in 92 playoff contests, with his final post-season act perhaps the most impressive — willing the underdog Canadiens on an improbable push to the 2021 Stanley Cup.
“I don’t put much thought into injuries and my career,” Price said. “I always figured that I’d play until my body would tell me it’s time to do something else or somebody told me I wasn’t good enough anymore. I made peace with that as it came along.
“It took a while to get used to not playing, but definitely honoured to be in this induction class, and looking forward to celebrating with everybody.”
A six-time Selke Trophy winner as the NHL’s top defensive forward selected 45th overall at the 2003 draft, Bergeron hoisted hockey’s holy grail with the Bruins in 2011.
The 40-year-old former centre from L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que., registered 427 goals and 613 assists for 1,040 points in 1,294 regular-season games. He added 128 points (50 goals, 78 assists) in 170 playoff contests, including Boston’s run to the 2019 final, before retiring in 2023.
“I’m reminiscing about my family the people that have helped me along the way, and sacrificed so much for me,” Bergeron said. “That phone call was pretty surreal.”
Price, who added the Ted Lindsay Award as the league’s most outstanding player voted on by the NHLPA membership to his trophy case in 2015, and Bergeron enjoyed success side-by-side sporting the red Maple Leaf.
The duo was on Canada’s relentless 2014 team that topped the field at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia, before capturing the World Cup of Hockey two years later.
Bergeron also claimed gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games to go along with a victory at the 2005 world hockey championship.
“Finally being able to play with Patrice in the Olympics was special,” said Price, who was perfect with five wins, two shutouts, a .972 save percentage and a 0.59 GAA in 2014. “A pleasure to be able to be a teammate and not an opponent.”
Bergeron was in his first year of eligibility for induction, while Price was passed over in 2025.
“To have him on our side at the Olympics was obviously great memories,” said Bergeron, who won gold at the 2004 men’s worlds. “Playing against him was a lot different — a lot harder — and it was definitely some great battles.
“As a competitor you always wanted to go against the best, and he was definitely up there.”
Rinne owned a 369-213-75 record playing parts of 15 NHL seasons with the Nashville Predators. The 2018 Vezina-winning goaltender had a .917 save percentage and a 2.43 GAA in 683 games.
“We wouldn’t be here without our teammates,” Rinne said. “They made me a better player, and I’m just so honoured.”
Tkachuk registered 1,065 points (538 goals, 527 assists) in 1,201 contests in 18 NHL campaigns.
“I was shocked,” he said of receiving his call. “You don’t go into your career thinking you’re going to be a Hall of Famer.”
Tkachuk had a busy stretch ahead of Monday after one of his sons, Brady, was traded from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers to play alongside oldest child Matthew less than 24 hours earlier.
“It’s been a great weekend for the Tkachuks,” said the family patriarch.
Curley captained the U.S. women’s team to three silver medals at the world championships in the 1990s.
“It’s been fun to watch,” the trailblazer said of the rise of her sport. “I just can’t wait to see what the future holds for women’s hockey.”
Burke’s long career in NHL management included stops with the Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins following a stint at the league office.
“I hadn’t expected this today, and no one does,” said Burke, who won the Cup with Anaheim in 2007. “No one starts playing hockey and says, ‘Someday I’m going to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame.’
“Unless they’re an idiot.”