TORONTO, Ont. – The Hockey Hall of Fame welcomed four new members: Mats Sundin, Joe Sakic, Pavel Bure and Adam Oates were inducted in the player category.

The former star NHL forwards were presented with their Hall of Fame member rings at a news conference Monday morning.

Buffalo Sabres play-by-play voice Rick Jeanneret and Globe and Mail columnist Roy MacGregor were also honoured.

Jeanneret received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster and MacGregor received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for excellence in hockey journalism.

Sundin, a former Toronto Maple Leafs captain who played for the team for 13 seasons, said this has been a very special time for him.

“Just joining the likes of all around us here, and be a part of this great tradition and history; very humbled,” Sundin said.

A formal induction ceremony was held in the evening.

In Toronto, Sundin was introduced by long-time rival and fellow Swede Daniel Alfredsson, who called Sundin the greatest player in this country’s history.

You can watch the full induction speeches at NHL.com.

Sundin thanked the fans, and gave them a glimpse into how his career started — playing hockey everyday with his brothers.

“On the driveway, in the basement, sometimes with grandma in net and sometimes our mum had to play in net. The next thing you know, you’re part of a hockey team,” he said.

He never won a Stanley Cup, and also wonders what could have been had the last lockout been avoided because the Leafs had made it to the playoffs six consecutive times prior to that.