This year’s Hockey Hall of Fame class was announced this week.
Martin Brodeur and Martin St. Louis were tapped to enter the Hall and Soviet player Alexander Yakushev was elected to the Hall.
Jayna Hefford was elected to the Hall of Fame as a representative of women’s hockey in Canada.
“When I received the call today, it was more emotional than I expected, I think maybe even more emotional than some of the medals I have won over the course of my career,” Hefford said on NHL.com. “I think this goes to so many people, family and friends and teammates and coaches along the way.”
Two others will join the class including Willie O’Ree and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman,
Brodeur is the assistant general manager with the St Louis Blues and received his call from the Hall of Fame while watching prospects.
“Even though there’s a lot of talk, until you get the phone call from the proper people you always think what’s going to happen, how it’s going to happen?” Brodeur said on NHL.com. “When the call came, the 416 number from Toronto, I figured that was the number, so I stepped away a little bit and took it all in. It was a pretty exciting time.”
St Louis skated for the Tampa Bay Lighting and won a Stanley Cup there before finishing his career in New York with the Rangers.
“My idol was Mats Naslund. He was a little guy,” St. Louis said of the 5-foot-7 former Montreal Canadiens forward. “When I got older and in college, I watched Theo Fleury, Cliff Ronning and even Dougie Gilmour, who I think is 5-10, a smaller player. Guys inspired me. I always felt like if they’re there, if they’re exceptions, why can’t I be one? I knew it was possible.”
Bettman said he was surprised at his election to the Hall and certainly there will be naysayers. His accomplishments have solid (despite the seemingly endless number of lockouts and walkouts over his tenure as commissioner). The salary cap, stabilization of franchises, expansion of the league, and the outdoor games.
“I’m proud of the fact that at the League level and at the club level both on and off the ice there are hundreds, if not thousands of people that are committed to and have been working very hard to grow the game at all levels,” Commissioner Bettman said. “There are more people now involved in hockey, watching hockey, fans of hockey, not just at the NHL level but at all levels. … To see that impact grow geographically and in sheer numbers has been very rewarding for everyone associated with the game.”
While Bettman was a surprise for his election, O’Ree was a surprise for “what took the Hall so long” to recognize his contributions to the game.
O’Ree has worked for the NHL since 1998 as an ambassador for youth and then as a diversity champion. His commitment to the game has been without reservation.
“It was 20 years ago that I named him our diversity ambassador, and this to me for him was personal,” Commissioner Bettman said. “Just getting to know him over the 20 years, seeing the way he interacts with young people and the difference that he makes in their lives, was absolutely one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as commissioner.”
For O’Ree, it was a call he has been waiting to hear.
“I was laughing and I was crying and I was at a loss for words,” O’Ree, 82, said of his reaction when he received the call informing him he had been elected to the Hall of Fame. “It’s just been a great year this year.”
O’Ree was the first African American player to ice in the NHL when he was with the Boston Bruins in 1958; he skated in 45 games and picked up four goals and 14 points in his NHL time.
His election was long overdo not for his playing days but his commitment and dedication to the sport and his tireless efforts to get youth involved in the sport and make the sport a reflection of the population.
Congratulations to the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2018.
You must be logged in to post a comment.