Hockey
Established in 1943, and currently based in Toronto, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a quite simply a tribute to those who achieved excellence in hockey. Criticized by some for their failure to recognize international stars, the WHA, women and the high amount of players inducted from the Original Six era, the Hockey Hall of Fame is still one of the most impressive facilities despite its lack of size. The rich history of hockey is certainly well represented there. For our list, we have focused on players as opposed to the builders and journalists categories; although we have included some people whom we felt could not be ignored. Current enshrinement for players is based on receiving fourteen votes out of an eighteen member committee. In terms of NHL players, it is based on being out of the league for three years. We have selected one hundred figures of hockey (though honestly only a handful really has a reasonable shot) and again we encourage debate as to who you feel deserves enshrinement in Toronto.
Until Then, keep your stick on the ice.
Sincerely,
The Not in Hall of Committee.
From Banff, Alberta, Ryan Smyth would play for his home province Edmonton Oilers for the first eleven and a half seasons of his career. Smyth would become one of the Oilers’ top scorers where he was known for his determination and scoring ability. Smyth would have three 30 Goal seasons…
A veteran of 1,157 Games in the National Hockey League, Eric Weinrich provided solid defense for a number of clubs and was also a constant on the U.S. National Team. Weinrich was an above-average blueliner who brought steadiness to every team he played for. While he was never flashy or…
Al Iafrate had the reputation of being one of the fastest skaters in the NHL and the American blueliner with the famed skullet was not just a capable skater but was a decent scorer and hockey player. Iafrate played most of his games with the Toronto Maple Leafs but it…
A member of the famed United States “Miracle on Ice” team Mike Ramsey continued his run as a defensive anchor in an over 1,000 Game career in the National Hockey League. Ramsey played most of his career with the Buffalo Sabres where his well above average defensive skill was complimented…
Felix Potvin is best known in hockey for his run with the Toronto Maple Leafs where he backstopped the franchise to some deep playoff runs in the early 1990’s. Known as “The Cat”, Potvin would go to two All-Star Games (1994 & 1997), but his best year took place in…
Murray Oliver was a sweet playmaker who many regarded as the master of the “fake pass”. Oliver was used equally on the power play and penalty kill and an above average hockey IQ. The Centre would be named to five All Star Teams (four with Boston and one with Toronto)…
Rob Ramage was the first overall draft pick in the NHL in 1979, though by that time he had already played professionally for the WHA’s Birmingham Bulls where he already established himself as offensively potent blueliner. Ramage had a 62 Point season in his second year in Colorado though it…
A four time All-Star, Tomas Kaberle is the second all-time leading scorer among Toronto Maple Leaf Defensemen, which is no small feat considering we are talking about an Original Six Team.
Winning the Calder Trophy in 1973, Steve Vickers would play his entire career with the New York Rangers. Vickers would have three 30 Goal Seasons, his best being a 41 Goal campaign where he finished ninth overall and was named a Second Team All Star. The Right Wing would play…
Glen Wesley was a veteran of 20 years in the National Hockey League and with 1,457 Games Played is one of only a handful of players who tallied that many shifts and is not in the Hall of Fame.
Generally we think hockey fans can name every Hart Trophy winner as almost all of them have made the Hockey Hall of Fame, but we are expecting that most of you have totally forgotten about Tom Anderson.
Dave Kerr began his National Hockey League career with the Montreal Maroons, the New York Americans and he went back to the Maroons but was traded by the cash strapped team to the New York Rangers where he would become one of the top Goalies in the last half of…
A two time All Star in consecutive seasons (2008 & 2009), Marc Savard quietly put forth a career where he accumulated 706 Points with 499 of them coming by way of Assists. Savard began his career with the New York Rangers, Calgary and the Atlanta Thrashers and in that nine-year…
Jimmy Thomson was the flashier of the “Gold Dust Twins” but along with his partner Gus Mortson, he provided the defensive backbone for the Toronto Maple Leafs for many years. Like Mortson, Thomson was a very rugged player but he was a better passer then his defensive partner and he…
Dave Ellett averaged nearly half a point per game over his 1,129 Game NHL career, most of which was spent with the Winnipeg Jets and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ellett, who was a two-time All-Star, was part of the leadership contingent for the Leafs team in the early 1990’s, which…
Nearly a Point per Game player over his NHL career (751 Points in 760 Games) Craig Janney might very well make a claim as one of the best players never to make an All Star Game. Janney was a brilliant playmaker who at times was with one with the puck…
There was not a lot to cheer for if you were a fan of the Atlanta Flames, but the second place finisher for the Calder Trophy in 1973-74 gave you a reason to come out to the arena.
Known for his leadership, two-way hockey and (his wife, Carrie Underwood), Mike Fisher spent a lot of time with the Ottawa Senators would later Captain the Nashville Predators. Fisher was regarded a very good defensive forward and three times he was in the top ten in Frank J. Selke Award…
They say in baseball that you still have to be a good player if you lose 20 Games because that means that they have the confidence in you to go out there, and it is unspoken between the player and coach that the team around him just wasn’t that good. …
There really is not that many players who have competed in over 1,000 NHL Regular Season Games. Gordie Roberts is in that club but when you throw in the fact that he had another 300 plus in the World Hockey Association, you have a 19-year veteran who had quite the…