Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.  Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives.  As such, it is news to us that the Colorado State Athletic Hall of Fame has announced their Class of 2021.

This group comprises the 30^th ever Class, and it consists of six people.

The induction will take place on September 10, with the group being unveiled at their home game the day after against Vanderbilt.

The Class of 2021 are:

Breann Bohnen, Women’s Swimming and Diving, 2008-13:  Bohnen was a four-time conference champion, specializing in the 200m backstroke.  She was named a three-time team MVP.

Joel Dressen, Football, 2001-04:  Dressen played at Tight End and helped the Rams win the 2002 MWC Championship.  He would later play in the NFL for the New York Jets, Houston and Denver.

Rich Feller, Men’s Volleyball Head Coach, 1983-96:  Feller won two conference championships and had a record of 299-167.

Tarry Harrison, Men’s Cross Country, 1966-69:  Harrison finished second at the 10,000m in 1968.

Debbie Maass, Women’s Track and Field, 1991-94:  Maass was a three-time conference champion in the mile.

Gary Ozzello, Sports Information Director, Senior Associate Athletic Director 1978-2020:

We would like to congratulate the newest members of the Colorado State Athletic Hall of Fame for earning this prestigious honor.

“Bill Barilko disappeared that summer

He was on a fishing trip

The last goal he ever scored

Won the Leafs the cup

They didn't win another till nineteen sixty two

The year he was discovered

I stole this from a hockey card

I keeped tucked up under”

The Tragically Hip.

The subject of the legendary Canadian band's song, "Fifty Mission Cap," Bill Barilko was a strong Defenseman who logged a lot of minutes on the ice and in the penalty box.  The tough player was a large part of four Stanley Cup Championships and would twice finish in the top ten in Defensive Point Shares.  Barilko scored the game-winning goal in Game 5 of the ’51 Finals, which was the deciding game.  At age 24, Barilko was on top of the world and should have had many more years to come.

Barilko died in a plane crash on his way to a fishing trip.  As the song stated, the Leafs never won a Cup until the "year he was discovered," 1962, when the plane was found.  

The Leafs would officially retire his number 5 in 1992, likely due to the renewed attention from Gord Downie and company.

In the middle of Norm Ullman’s 13^th season with the Detroit Red Wings, the Center was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of an eight-player transaction.  Ullman would show that he still had a lot left despite his veteran status.

Ullman scored at least 50 Points in his first five seasons with the Leafs, and it was in Toronto where he posted a career-high with 85 in 1970-71.  An All-Star twice as a Maple Leaf, the durable Canadian remained one of the better Centers in hockey until his play dropped off in the 1974-75 Season.  He signed with Edmonton of the WHA after that year.

With the Maple Leafs, Ullman had 471 Points and averaged .88 Points per Game, .01 more than he did as a Red Wing.  Ullman was chosen for the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982.

Curtis Joseph should be better known for his stellar season early in his career with St. Louis, where he was a three-time leader in Goalie Point Shares, but many remember him more for his time in Toronto, his third NHL team.

Signing as a Free Agent in 1998, “Cujo” was an instant fan favorite in Toronto, and he instantly made the Maple Leafs better.  Joseph was second and third in Vezina voting, respectively, in his first two seasons as a Leaf, and his grit earned him the King Clancy Trophy in 2000.  Joseph stayed with Toronto for two more seasons, and while he was not as good, he was still in the top ten in Vezina Trophy voting.  Without Joseph, Toronto would arguably not have made the Eastern Conference Finals in 1999 and 2002.  Despite his success, Joseph was traded to Detroit at the end of the 2001-02 Season but came back in 2008 for one final year.

With the Maple Leafs, Joseph had 138 Wins with a GAA of 2.49.