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?
Frank Dilio served as the President of the Quebec Amateur Hockey Association for twenty years. During that tenure, he also was the Secretary of that organization for half of that time and was also the official scorer for the Quebec Senior Hockey League for a period of time. Dilio’s entire professional career was dedicated to growing the sport in the French Canadian province which made it…
Although Harry Watson was a career amateur Hockey player, it was not because he did not have multiple and lucrative offers to play professionally. Watson was a two time Allan Cup winner and he led his team (the Toronto Granites) to an Olympic Gold for Canada in the 1924 Olympics where he scored 36 goals in five games. Watson not only made the Hockey Hall of…
The son of Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, W.A. Hewitt, Foster Hewitt was the first voice of Hockey for a generation of Canadians. Hewitt was the radio broadcaster for the Toronto Maple Leafs and his signature calls was the stuff of legends. On November 1, 1952, he broadcast the first nationally televised Hockey game which naturally was between Toronto and the Montreal Canadians. He would pass…
The winner of the 1944 Hart Trophy (albeit in a depleted NHL due to World War II) Babe Pratt was a offensive minded defenceman who was as tough on the ice as he was jovial off of it. Pratt was part of two Stanley Cup winning teams (New York in 1940 and Toronto in 1945) and was always considered one of the team leaders regardless of…
His physical style, checking ability and the letter “S” at the start of his last name made Babe Siebert the perfect complement to the scoring touch of Nels Stewart and the passing skills of Hooley Smith on the Montreal Maroons famed “S Line”. It was in Montreal where Siebert started his career and posted his best offensive statistics.
Every NHL team usually requires an enforcer, and today’s game it is nearly inconceivable to imagine one getting into the Hall of Fame. Red Horner was the Maple Leafs tough guy for twelve years and seven times he led the NHL in penalty minutes. With that said, his selection to the Hall of Fame is another we will openly question for he was never even considered…
A four time All Star Game selection, Dino Ciccarelli was an excellent goal scorer with the Minnesota North Stars who proved many scouts wrong as he went undrafted in 1979. Minnesota was not always a great team, but Dino gave fans hope and a reason to come to the games. He was a feisty (though occasionally controversial) player who would finish his career with an…
Herb Gardiner did not enter the National Hockey League until he was 35 years old. It was not because he wasn’t good enough, as he certainly was, but in the early 20’s, Hockey had multiple talented leagues and he chose to ply his trade for the Western Canadian Hockey League and was the defensive star for the Calgary Tigers and won the league title there in…
The answer to the trivia question, “Who was the first player to win the Hart Trophy”, Frank Nighbor was also the recipient of many other awards. He was also the first ever Lady Byng Trophy winner. In fact, it was his sportsmanship that inspired Lady Byng to donate the award in the first place. Had there been the Frank J. Selke award back then (for the…
Blessed to have been a member of powerful Montreal Shamrocks teams, Fred Scanlan was a decent Left Winger for helped his team win the Stanley Cup in 1899 and 1900. Scanlan was a good contributor, but was far from the level of his other teammates (Harry Trihey & Arthur Farrell) and is likely in from being on a forward line with them.
One of the best defenseman of his (or any) era, Eddie Shore remains the blueliner with the most Hart Trophies (4) for his career. One of the toughest men in the league, he guarded his end of the ice as if it were his family and still managed to be effective on the offensive side of the game. The punishing bruiser was a seven time First…
A very good Defenceman who knew how to control his end of the ice expertly, Harry Howell won the Norris Trophy in 1967 (the last before Bobby Orr dominated the award) and was named a First Team All Star that year. Although, he was never named to another Post Season team, he was good enough to have played in seven All Star contests. Howell was known…
A longtime executive with the Montreal Canadians, Sam Pollock first rose to importance as the Director of Player Personell, and it was clear that his eye for talent had few equals. He would continue to rise up the ranks and in 1963 he took over the reins of the General Manger position when Frank J. Selke resigned. Pollock thrived in this new role, and it was…
The second inductee from the “Veterans” Category is even more suspicious than the first. Herbie Lewis had proven to be a decent forward for the Detroit franchise in the 1930’s, but did he do anything that was really of Hall of Fame note? He was part of two Stanley Cup winning teams, and was a very good post season performer, but realistically Lewis is a…
Although Norm Ullman never won a Stanley Cup, it was not because he didn’t give everything he had as shown by him being the leading scorer in the playoffs twice. That was no surprise as Ullman was always a good scorer and had sixteen seasons where he at least put the puck in the net twenty times, and he did win the goal scoring title in…
The first Goalie to win the Stanley Cup with four different teams, Hap Holmes seems to be forgotten player in Hockey lore. His career may look like that of a journeyman, but wherever he went, wins followed as did Stanley Cups. His stand up goaltending style and seemingly effortless play erroneously made many fans and pundits thing that he was ‘lazy’. Holmes was not that, and…
A certifiable icon in the early days of Ottawa hockey, Harvey Pulford was not just a star defenseman for the Capital City, but was a legitimate athletic star in multiple sports. As hockey grew, Pulford became one of its first stars, and hands down, an important part of Ottawa sporting history. As such, Pulford was a star in early hockey and became a legitimate legend in…
Initially a Right Winger, Percy LeSueur achieved his greatest success in organized hockey as a Goaltender. LaSueur was not just a student of the net, but a teacher as well. He wrote a manual on the position while in his prime and led Ottawa to two Stanley Cups. While playing, he created the gauntlet style glove and the style of net used in hockey from 1912…
The 1934 Hart Trophy Winner, Aurele Joliat was a star for the Montreal Canadians for many years and was a popular star. The diminutive Joliat (he only stood five feet seven) was nicknamed the “Little Giant” and was a major part of four Stanley Cup runs by the legendary Montreal Canadians. The career Montreal Canadians Left Winger was rightfully inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame…
Although Edgar Laprade had a solid career in the National Hockey League, this is another Veterans induction that we are not sure about. Laprade was the Calder Trophy winner in 1946 and was good enough to play in four consecutive All Star games. He was a very good Centre, but only once did he find himself in the top ten in any major offensive category.…