Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs was introduced to hockey at birth.

His lifetime in the sport was recognized last night at the USA Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel in the Seaport district.

Jacobs and renowned hockey scout Bob Crocker were recipients of the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Former NHL goaltender, coach and executive Emile Francis received the Wayne Gretzky International Award.

“In 1940, my father (Louis) had two great events in his life,” said Jacobs. “One, he had a bouncing baby boy named Jeremy and the second was he bought the Syracuse hockey team and moved it to Buffalo. I have been involved in hockey since then and it has been the fabric of my family for the past 75 years. I grew up with the game and I think among my contemporaries I’ve probably seen more hockey than anyone else.

“This experience is over the top in my life. I never anticipated this and it is extraordinarily flattering and extraordinarily humbling when you look at the group I’m associated with.”

Jacobs gave his approval of the offseason changes made by Bruins president Cam Neely and new general manager Don Sweeney. He also expressed his support for coach Claude Julien.

“I think the Bruins are evolving onto a very competitive team and I think you are seeing the wisdom of the some of the calls that were made very early and were tough,” said Jacobs. “I think that Claude has shown his colors, he has just been very strong. I think he has taken the team and changed them and he’s showing his mastery of the game.”

Also, the four inductees in the class of 2015 were former NHLers Chris Drury and Mathieu Schneider, four-time Olympic medalist Angela Ruggiero and USA Hockey board member Ron DeGregorio.

Drury was at the forefront of college-trained Americans that began filling NHL rosters in the 1990s. He was selected by the Quebec Nordiques in the third round of the 1994 draft but elected to play for Jack Parker at Boston University. Drury amassed a school record 214 points, won an NCAA championship in 1995, four straight Beanpots, was a two-time Hockey East Player of the Year and won the Hobey Baker Award in 1998.

“I think it was I stayed four years and got more mature when I jumped into it,” said Drury.

Schneider chose a different but equally effective path to his 21-year professional career. Schneider was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1987 and turned pro at 18.

“My first couple of years in the NHL I had a coach named Jacques Laperriere who taught me how to be a professional and how to play defense in the NHL,” said Schneider. “If it weren’t for him I might have been in the league three, four or five years.”