Current Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees (383)
Outside of the province of Ontario, how many people are aware of the city of Kingston? Let’s take that a step further. How many outside of Canada know about this place? We will wager that it isn’t a lot, and those that answer that they heard of it, probably are thinking of the version in Jamaica instead. Now had this city on the Northeastern corner of Lake Ontario remained the home of the Hockey Hall of Fame would it have developed a bit of an international flair or enhanced reputation? Maybe it would have been more of a staple of “Canadiana”, as Kingston is the home of the First Canadian Prime Minister, and the unofficial band of Canada, The Tragically Hip. Stands to reason that it would have been a great fit for the unofficial sport of Canada (it is actually lacrosse) and the official passion of the country.With the launch of the Baseball Hall of Fame, the sport of hockey looked to follow suit. Its biggest league, The National Hockey League had a core of seven teams (which was pared down to six in 1942, when the New York Americans suspended operations) was a healthy organization, and though it was only relevant in cold weather climates, it was a sport that already had a long history, and the coveted Stanley Cup; which was then (and still is) the most impressive trophy in the entire sporting world.
The biggest proponent of an institution recognizing hockey excellence was a Canadian named James T. Sutherland. Born in 1870 (in Kingston naturally), Sutherland played as much hockey as he could and was a member of the Athletic Club of Kingston which was part of what was believed to be the first organized league the sport had. He would later form the Kingston Frontenacs, who would participate in the Ontario Hockey Association and would eventually become the Leagues president. Captain Sutherland (a rank he would achieve serving for Canada in World War I) would create the Memorial Cup; a trophy honoring those who fought in the Great War and to be given to the top Junior team in Canada. Incidentally, this is still the same trophy given to the team that wins the post season tournament in the Juniors in Canada.
Once the National Hockey League and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association agreed to mutually put together a Hall, Sutherland (who had also served as the President of the CAHA) fought for Kingston to be its home. It was not just because he was a native of the city, but because he legitimately believed that Kingston was the rightful birth of modern hockey (which is near impossible to prove). Regardless of where hockey began, Kingston was to be pegged as its home.
Although construction had yet to begin on the facility, the first class was selected in 1945 which inducted nine players. It also had a “Builders” category which honored those who helped develop the game. As we look at those who are inducted to this institution, we will do so chronologically. Let’s take a ride on Hockey’s highway shall we?
Another Veteran’s Category inductee, Bun Cook was a star for most of his career with the New York Rangers where he helped bring the Stanley Cup to Broadway twice. Predominately, he was the Left Wing on the Rangers’ “Bread Line” with his brother Bill and Frank Boucher, which was among the most feared of its time. The innovator of the “Drop Pass”, Cook would be…
Many members of the 1920’s Ottawa Senators are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, so it should not be a large surprise that the owner of that team, Frank Ahearn was also inducted. His love of the game and ability to assemble winning rosters gave pride to the hockey mad capital of Canada. Ahearn tried to keep his team afloat in the 30’s, but due to…
A defenceman who played ten seasons with the New York Rangers, Fred Shero would become a Hockey Hall of Famer for his work as the Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach. Shero would lead the Flyers to Stanley Cup wins in 1974 and 1975 and would win the Jack Adams Trophy as the NHL’s Coach of the Year in 1974.
Pavel Bure was one of the greatest goal scorers the game has ever seen; the problem was that we did not see that for as long as we should have. On three occasions, Bure would lead the National Hockey League in Goals, and had he not battled a plethora of injuries in his career, he probably would have scored a lot more. Overall, the Russian…
You would not expect that someone who did not play his first organized game of Hockey until the age of seventeen to one day make the Hall of Fame, but Pierre Pilote as not your average man. Working hard to improve his skating skills to a professional level, Pilote entered the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1955 and though his debut campaign was not a…
In the city of Toronto, Frank Smith is credited for the growth of Minor Hockey. Smith created the Beaches Hockey League which would eventually morph into the Greater Metro Toronto Hockey League which would be the largest hockey organization in the world. That may not seem like a lot in the grand scope of the sport, but imagine the amount of kids he helped play the…
Another longtime administrator who dedicated his professional career to the sport of Hockey, Robert Lebel rose up the ranks to take over as the President of the Quebec Amateur Hockey League in 1955. Shortly thereafter he took over as the President of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and in 1960 was elected as the President of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Quite an impressive five year…
A five year veteran himself in the National Hockey League as a bruising Defenceman for the Chicago Blackhawks, John Mariucci entered the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder for his work in growing the game in the already hockey rich state of Minnesota. Born in Eveleth, Mariucci returned to Minnesota after his playing career ended and took over as the Head Coach of the…
A spectacular athlete in his own right (he is in the American College Football Hall of Fame), John Kilpatrick became a very successful businessman and ran the Madison Square Garden Corporation and oversaw the operations of the New York Rangers for 26 years. Like other builders who have been inducted into the Hall around this time, Kilpatrick’s early induction is very much warranted.
Philip Ross’ entry to the Hockey Hall of Fame can be traced to the Stanley Cup itself. Ross was actually a decent player, as he played for the Ottawa Hockey Club but he served the game by helping to form the Ontario Hockey Association and actually competed in the championship game in 1891. A few years later, he was named as one of the trustees…
Enshrined in the Builders Category, George Dudley was inducted for his behind the scenes work on behalf of Amateur Hockey in Canada. His initial contributions were for the Ontario Hockey Association serving in various capacities until he became its President in 1934. He would hold that post for two years and then become the organizations Secretary until his death in 1960. Dudley would also become the President…
A decent player in his youth, Claude Robinson’s induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame is essentially based on his groundwork of creating the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. Robinson also coached the Canadian Team to Olympic Gold in 1932. Robinson was one of a long list of builders inducted in 1947, though it can be argued (and we will) that his induction may not equate…
Starting off as the Eastern Scout for the New York Islanders in 1972, Jim Devellano gradually worked his way up the ladder in Long Island and with his help the Islanders became a powerhouse and a dynasty in the National Hockey League. Jim would bolt for Detroit and would become their General Manager in 1982, and would remain in the Motown front office for decades…
On the Stanley Cup for helping out the Ottawa Silver Seven for a few games in 1905, Tommy Smith turned professional the following year with the Pittsburgh Professionals in the IHL and led the league in scoring. Smith actually never stayed anywhere long, but regardless of what team and what league he played in, was usually put in goals by the truckload. Tommy Smith would win…
The fourth Veterans Category inductee is another that we are bit on the fence on. Clint Smith was a good player for the New York Rangers and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 1940. Smith was known for his playmaking and gentlemanly play winning the Lady Byng in 1939. Smith found his way to Chicago and was on a dream line with Bill Mosienko…
Another early star of hockey, Tommy Phillips was a back checking superstar who may have been one of the first legitimate two way players in history. Phillips was involved in multiple Stanley Cup challenge series and was considered one of the best players in the country (Canada). Although, Phillips may not have been known when hockey really gained traction in North America, his pioneering efforts make…
Patrick Roy was one of the greatest goaltenders that ever lived. Like Ken Dryden did fifteen years before, Roy came out of nowhere to become the starting netminder for the Montreal Canadians and took them to a Stanley Cup in 1986. The difference though, is that the 1986 team had no real business winning that trophy, and had it not been for the emergence of…
Murray Costello played 162 NHL games in the 1950’s and was a top executive in the Western Hockey League, but these are not the reasons that he was selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005 as a builder. Primarily, it was his near twenty year stint as the President of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association that got him in. In that period, he…
A former seven year veteran of the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks, Bill Hay’s Hockey Hall of Fame induction comes from his work as the Calgary Flames’ CEO and would later become the Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Medalling in four consecutive Olympic Games, Angela Ruggiero is the fourth female hockey player in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Ruggiero won the Gold with the United States in 1998 and the same colored medal in four World Championships.