Bruins’ Jacobs heading to the Hockey Hall of Fame

When the Hockey Hall of Fame announced its 2017 induction class, one name on the list raised some eyebrows: Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs. Inducted into the “builders” category of the Hall, Jacobs will be in Toronto later this year when he, along with Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya, Mark Recchi, Dave Andreychuk, Danielle Goyette and Clare Drake are also inducted.

Aside from owning a successful NHL team since 1975, there’s little that Jacobs has done for the game of hockey that might qualify him as a Hall of Famer worth builder. Many fans feel that he’s indirectly responsible for the league’s lockouts in 2005, and in 2012. He’s been chairman of the NHL’s Board of Governor’s since 2007 and to most hockey fans he represents the corporate greed that has taken over the game. Around Boston he’s famous for removing water fountains from TD Garden so that patrons are forced to purchase water when thirsty at the game. Moves like this, along with the litany of other tight-fisted stances that dot his time as Bruins owner show that he clearly cares more about the bottom line then he does the sport.

For better or worse, another Boston Bruin is in the Hall of Fame. Just don’t expect Boston sports fans to throw Mr. Jacobs a party like they did for Ray Bourque.