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Photo Credit: Hockey Hall of Fame/Twitter
Seven new members are set to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee announced five players and two builders who will officially be inducted at a ceremony on November 9th.
Bill Hay and Peter Karmanos Jr. will be inducted as builders, and Sergei Fedorov, Phil Housley, Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Pronger, and Angela Ruggeiro will be inducted as players.
Hay was the first NCAA graduate to play in the NHL. His contributions in hockey span from the grassroots to the NHL. He served as President and COO of Hockey Canada, President and CEO of the Calgary Flames, and Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
NEWS: #Canes CEO & Owner Peter Karmanos Jr. selected for @HockeyHallFame. Details: http://t.co/MQKbNPn7gb #HHoF pic.twitter.com/WMla0F2SaR
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) June 29, 2015
Karmanos has helped enable the success of dozens of American hockey teams and thousands of players. The Detroit native captured a Stanley Cup as CEO, owner, and governor of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. He is currently the owner of the Hurricanes and the ECHL’s Florida Everblades.
Fedorov is one of two former Detroit Red Wings inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2015. He was the first Russian player to score 1,000 points, and he finished his 19-year NHL career with a total of 1,179 points in 1,248 games. He won three Stanley Cups with the Red Wings and he won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player in 1994. Fedorov also played for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals.
Congrats Nick and Sergei! #Classof2015 pic.twitter.com/Z4hffgjlIR
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 29, 2015
“I have always played hockey because I loved it, not because I wanted to win awards,” Fedorov said. “But now that my career is over, I realize how special it is to be recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame. I am truly honoured to be an inductee.”
Housley ranks second all-time in scoring among American players, and is the third-highest scoring defenseman with 1,232 points in 1,495 games. He played in seven All-Star games during his 23-year career. He played eight seasons with the Buffalo Sabres before stints with the Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Congrats to #Sabres alum @philhousley6 on being named an inductee for the Hockey Hall of Fame, Class of 2015! #HHOF pic.twitter.com/IlG8n2zkyO
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) June 29, 2015
Lidstrom won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman seven times, trailing only Bobby Orr for most all-time. He won four Stanley Cups with the Red Wings and an Olympic gold medal with Team Sweden in 2006. Lidstrom played all 20 of his NHL seasons with the Red Wings, where he served as captain for six seasons, and was the first European captain to win the Stanley Cup. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and was named to 12 All-Star games. Lidstrom had 1,142 points in 1,564 career games. Lidstrom’s number five jersey was retired by the Red Wings in 2014.
“During my hockey career I was always focused on the next game or the next season, so I never allowed myself to imagine I’d be hearing from the Hockey Hall of Fame,” said Lidstrom. “I took a lot of pride in being dedicated to the game, so it means a great deal to me to be recognized by those who know the game best.”
Congratulations to 7x Team Canada alum, Chris Pronger, named as a 2015 #HHOF inductee. #Classof2015 pic.twitter.com/81SN3kmVyH
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) June 29, 2015
Pronger is known as one of the fiercest competitors to ever play defence. He won both the Hart Memorial Trophy and James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2000. He won two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada in 2002 and 2010, and a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. Pronger is still under contract and was recently traded to the Arizona Coyotes, although he has not played since 2011 due to post-concussion syndrome. Pronger had 680 points and 1,590 penalty minutes in 1,167 games with the Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blue, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and Philadelphia Flyers.
Ruggiero is the only female inducted of 2015. She was the youngest member of Team U.S.A. that captured the first ever Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey in 1998. Ruggiero also won two silver medals and one bronze medal at the Olympic Games. She went on to win four gold medals and six silver medals for the United States at the World Championship over her career. She won the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top player in women’s collegiate hockey in 2004 while playing at Harvard University.
Thx to everyone/ tweeps for ur support. Can't believe the incredible honor @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/4rr1AQQrv0
— Angela Ruggiero (@AngelaRuggiero) June 29, 2015
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