The Hockey Hall of Fame got a lot bigger Tuesday, as former Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara was elected in his first season of eligibility.

Nearly 30 years after he was drafted, nearly 30 years after few believed that the extremely tall third-round pick would amount to much, Chara has cemented his legacy. He was a player who made himself what he became, who used his strength and his will and his work ethic to fashion a career that will go down among the all-time greats.

A one-time Norris Trophy winner (2009) and captain of the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team, Chara finished with the most games ever played by a defensemen (1,680).