At 5-foot-8 and 170-pounds, the now 52-year-old Burnaby, BC, native had to fight for everything he earned throughout his hockey career, which spanned an impressive 1,137 games in the NHL.

The underdog will be fighting back tears tonight as he's inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame.

Ronning, the 134th overall pick in the 1984 NHL Draft, played six seasons in Vancouver from 1990-91 to 1995-96; in 366 games, the feisty centre had 112 goals and 216 assists. He still owns the Canucks record for most points in a period with five (3-2-5), collected April 15, 1993, in the 3rd period in Los Angeles.

He came to Vancouver alongside Sergio Momesso, Geoff Courtnall, Robert Dirk and a fifth round pick (Brian Loney) in 1992, a trade that paved the way for the Canucks Stanley Cup run in 1994. Some of those same teammates will be in attendance as Ronning, already a member of the BC Hockey Hall of Fame, becomes the eighth member of the Canucks bestowed with BC's highest sporting honour.

"I feel very privileged to be put into the Hall of Fame," said Ronning, before taking part in the 2018 Canucks Alumni Golf Classic at Richmond Country Club last Monday. "I always dreamed of playing for my hometown Vancouver Canucks and that came true. As a young kid growing up in Burnaby, I never expected something like that to happen, but it was a great honour."

Video: NEWS | Ronning Inducted Into BC Sports Hall of Fame

Ronning said coming to the Canucks was a blessing because he got to play under Pat Quinn, who "gave a small guy an opportunity to play the game and show what I could do."

Ronning made the most of his time in Vancouver becoming an instant fan favourite for his aggressive, hard-nosed, never-back-down style of play, paired with consistent offence. The undersized gritty forward packed a punch and he reveled being overlooked.

"I was always the smallest kid on the street and the smallest kid playing the game," he said. "I had so many doubters that I look back and I'm very proud I stuck it out. If I can pass on anything to another kid out there, a boy or girl who is trying to reach their dreams, it's to go for it, play with passion and good things will happen."

Ronning's Hall of Fame induction is proof of that.

He joins fellow athletes Josh Dueck (Para-Alpine Skiing), Marielle Thompson (Ski Cross), Glen Jackson (Football) and Ryan Dempster (Baseball), coach/builders Tom Johnson - Swimming, Alex McKechnie - Sports Medicine and Rob Schick - Hockey, the 1991 Canadian Men's National Rugby team, 1900-18 Rossland Ladies Ice Hockey Team and media member Tony Gallagher as 2018 inductees.