Emotions Flow for Robinson Induction : Hockey: King coach, former Canadien player overwhelmed during Hall of Fame acceptance speech.

Three minutes 45 seconds into Larry Robinson’s written acceptance speech at the Hockey Hall of Fame, Jeannette Robinson knew her husband was about to veer wildly off what had been a precise plan.

Because he hadn’t yet mentioned Jeannette and their children, Jeffrey and Rachelle.

“To my lovely wife,” Robinson said, his voice cracking. He paused and brought his hand to his eyes. But it couldn’t stop the tears from streaming in front of the small gathering at the Hall of Fame and a national TV audience Monday night.

The cameras panned to his teary-eyed wife, who tried to help him by sending a small kiss. He then grew even more emotional, saying: “I knew I was going to do this. To Jeannette and my two great kids, Jeffrey and Rachelle. I love you, thank you.”

Earlier tributes in Montreal and Saturday in Los Angeles hardly seemed to draw a flicker of emotion. But Monday was different as Robinson, lauded for his stoic, impenetrable style as a Montreal Canadien defenseman for 17 seasons, brought down a house full of hockey legends with a touching display of sweet vulnerability.

“I don’t seem like an emotional person,” said Robinson, in his first season as the Kings’ coach. “But I played on emotion; that was part of my game and it was to my benefit. I was probably the first guy to cry at “Old Yeller.” I may try to put on a front, but it’s not all that it’s made up to be.”

Said Jeannette Robinson: “I’m glad it’s over. I felt so helpless.”

For Robinson, the night had a “This Is Your Life” aura, along with the warmth of a large family reunion. About 14 family members were on hand to watch his induction. The other five inductees were the late Fred (Bun) Cook, who played with the Rangers; media members Brian McFarlane and Jack Gatecliff, Florida Panther President Bill Torrey and former International Ice Hockey Federation President Gunther Sabetzki in the builders’ category.

Those close to Robinson were not surprised he was overwhelmed. “That’s his whole life there,” King President Rogie Vachon said. Robinson’s sister-in-law Theresa Jones spoke about the mood in the room when Jeannette sent him a kiss from the front row. “That was so emotional; we had people behind us and they actually turned around and they were all wiping tears. Everybody melted,” Jones said.

So did Robinson. “It made me worse,” he said. “You try to catch your breath. As a coach you’re supposed to be in control of your emotions and you try to count to three. Maybe I should have thought of the stupid plays that my players did.”

That probably wouldn’t have helped banish the thoughts of how his wife has supported him during their 25-year marriage. How he worked for a local cola bottler at 19 to support his wife and young son while trying to play junior hockey. “We ate a lot of Kraft food dinners,” Robinson said. “For us, a big night was pork chops and a cheap bottle of wine.”

All these years later, he is forever in the company of hockey’s legends.

“Now I can come visit and see myself,” Robinson said. “And even after I’m gone, my kids, they can see what I tried to spend some 20 years to build.”