Their accents and homelands differed, but the six men inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday expressed a common affection for the family and friends who helped them reach the pinnacle of their sport.

"Hockey is one language spoken passionately all over the world," Commissioner Gary Bettman said during the telecast of the ceremony in Toronto, words especially appropriate for the remarkable 2014 class.

Three Canadians — former Kings defenseman Rob Blake, the late coach Pat Burns and longtime referee Bill McCreary — were honored alongside two-time world and Olympic champion Peter Forsberg of Sweden, 1998 Olympic gold medalist Dominik Hasek of the Czech Republic and all-time American-born goals leader Mike Modano. Burns, a three-time coach of the year honoree who died of cancer in 2010, was represented by his widow, Line, and son, Jason.

Every speech expressed heartfelt gratitude for the support that buoyed them along the way. Blake, now the Kings' assistant general manager, spoke of being shaped by growing up on a farm and the pride his family took in its labor.

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