Smithtown native Chris Higgins played 14 years in the NHL and spent many early mornings as a kid skating at The Rinx in Hauppauge. It was fitting that Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame President Chris Vaccaro presented the induction plaque to Higgins at his hometown rink.

In town on vacation from his job as the director of player personnel for the Vancouver Canucks, Chris was surrounded by his family and youth coach as we took photos and reminisced about his impact on the game that continues today.

He was selected in the first round by Montreal – his favorite team as a kid – in 2002 and later played for the Rangers, Calgary, Florida, and the final six years of his career in Vancouver. He scored 165 goals in 711 games and played in 75 playoff games.

He was traveling for work in May when we held the formal induction ceremony.