from Frank Brown at NHL.com,

Tonight, on the red carpet at Meridian Hall, I will confront the collision of a dream come true and a nightmare turned real.

Just as players refuse to touch the Stanley Cup until they've won it, I always had felt that, on Induction Monday, the red carpet should be reserved for people who had achieved the ultimate hockey honor: Hall of Fame recognition.

On Nov. 18, 2019, thanks to the voters of the Pro Hockey Writers' Association, my reservation came through. I had been chosen by my peers to become the 61st recipient of the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award, presented "in recognition of distinguished members of the newspaper profession whose words have brought honour to journalism and to hockey."

I received a black Media Honouree blazer and a replica of the plaque that will reside permanently in the Hall. Receiving the Ferguson comes with an added perk, a meaningful one to me: The Hall invites you back every year.

To cap the proudest day of my career, I walked on the red carpet -- my wife Nancy's right hand clasped firmly in my left, although I'm not certain my feet, or Nancy's, ever really touched the ground.

Three days short of two years later, I will walk the red carpet alone. A purple silk pocket square will emerge above the Hall of Fame patch on my blazer. A purple "Cancer Stinks" bracelet will ride snugly on my left wrist.

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