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?
Arguable the greatest Buffalo Sabre in that franchise’s history, Gilbert Perreault still holds many records for that team. He played his entire professional career in Western New York, and was the leader of its most famous hockey line, The French Connection, that also had Rick Martin and Rene Robert. He dazzled the Buffalo faithful with his offensive skills and brought excitement to the team. Perreault…
Considered one of the first power forwards in Hockey, Bruce Stuart was another turn of the century star that emerged from the Ottawa Valley. Stuart used his size to bully opponents and score goals and as such was rewarded with multiple Stanley Cups. Stuart joined his brother Hod (who was inducted in the first HOF Class in 1945) into the Hall of Fame in 1961.
We are not sure that we completely agree with the Builder’s Category selection of Jack Bickell. He came into Hockey with an investment to stabilize the Toronto St. Pats and was essentially the silent partner. Later, the team was purchased by Conn Smythe and rechristened the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Bickell was convinced by Smythe to still serve in the same capacity. He was not…
Netting over twenty goals in seven National Hockey League seasons may not be the most impressive statistic, but in his era with the reduced games it certainly was! Cy Denneny was not just a goal scorer, but he was a certifiable winner. His name is engraved on the Stanley Cup four times, he was the NHL’s leading scorer once, and when he retired he was the…
Bunny Ahearne was born in Ireland, and spent most of his adult life in Great Britain; a strange pedigree for a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee. Ahearne worked for the British Ice Hockey Association (yes there is one) and managed the team that shockingly won the Olympic Gold over Canada in 1936. He would later serve in various capacities for the IIHF and was a big…
Like his brother Lester, Frank Patrick was a decent player who became more famous in hockey for his off ice contributions than what he did on it. Along with his brother, he founded the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (later renamed the Western Canada Hockey League) and it was many of his initiatives while there that shaped the game as we know it today.
A career professional with the Chicago Black Hawks, Bill Mosienko may not have won a Stanley Cup in Chi-town, but he was an excellent forward who played in multiple All Star games. Mosienko was also a very classy player (he only ever had one fight in his NHL career and was rewarded with the Lady Byng Trophy in 1945. Winning that accolade was nice, but he…
Paul Coffey was the most gifted offensive Defenseman of the 1980’s. Five times that decade, he would hit the 100 point mark, including four 30 goal seasons. His dominance would show in his trophy room with a pair of Norris Trophies (he would win a third in 1995) and seven All Star Team selections, with again another in that 94-95 campaign. Coffey was most known…
The real answer to the trivia question of who was the first Goalie to wear a mask (he wore a leather mask for five games in the 1929-30 season), Clint Benedict was the man whose style caused the NHL to allow goaltenders to not have to remain standing. Benedict would often “accidentally” fall to his knees to stop a puck, so much so, that he was…
Jari Kurri was not the first player from Finland to grace a National Hockey rink, but he did become the first superstar from his Scandinavian country. Kurri had the fortune of being selected by the Edmonton Oilers and he was immediately paired with Wayne Gretzky; where they helped each other dominate the stat sheet. The original “Finnish Flash” hit the 100 point mark six times…
It is not so much that we have an issue with the induction with Bob Pulford, but couldn’t the Hockey Hall of Fame just admit the induction of Pulford was a combination of what he did on the ice and off of it, as frankly he probably is not a Hall of Fame entry without the sum of all of the parts. As a player,…
A very good player in his own right, Lester Patrick entered the Hockey Hall of Fame for a lot more than his prowess with a stick. Granted, he was a very good offensive minded defenseman, but may not have been good enough to become a Hall of Famer on his on ice skills alone. Along with his brother, he founded the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (later…
One of the biggest travesties in our eyes is that Pat Burns did not get into the Hockey Hall of Fame while he was alive. As Burns was dying of cancer, a large grass roots movement was afoot to get him inducted but alas the former Coach of the Year had to be elected posthumously. Burns always made his teams better, was beloved by fanbases…
English born and Canadian bred, “Bad” Joe Hall was a rough and tough Defenseman in the first era of organized hockey. Hall was also a very good goal scorer and was a solid part of the Quebec Bulldogs winning the Stanley Cup in 1912 and 1913. Unfortunately, Joe Hall’s life met with a tragic ending. Hall was part of the Montreal Canadians who were competing with…
Called the “Cannonball” because of his powerful shot, Didier Pitre was one of the more versatile and durable players of his or any time. The speedy skater started off as a Rover, later a Forward and as his skills naturally declined he transferred to Defence where his Hockey IQ was still serviceable in the professional ranks. Despite playing for multiple teams, Pitre was with the Habs…
An excellent two way Defenceman, Bill Gadsby did not have the best of fortune with the teams he played on, as even in the Original Six era, he only played 67 playoff games. Most of those playoff games were on good Red Wings teams from the 60’s, when he was still a good player, but not at his prime like he was the decade before.
Borje Salming not only was the first Swedish player to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame, but was the man who paved the way for Swedish players to enter the National Hockey League and prove that the Scandinavian nation belonged on the world stage. Salming would join the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1973 and he immediately made an impact on their blue line. The Swedish…
Ed Giacomin may not have won a Stanley Cup during his career, but for a five year period he was one of the top Goaltenders in the National Hockey League. For five consecutive seasons, he was either a First or Second Team All Star and a major reason that the New York Rangers were a top contender. He won the Vezina Trophy in 1971 and…
A rugged stay at home star at Defence, Earl Seibert was named to a post season All Star team ten consecutive years. Had it not been for Eddie Shore, Seibert would have possibly been considered the best Defensemen of his era, but the tough Shore had confessed that Seibert was one player he was not fond of fighting. Seibert would win the Stanley Cup twice (once…
American born, yet Canadian raised, Billy Burch was the second ever Hart Trophy winner and the second ever (though in the third year of its existence as Frank Nighbor won the first two) Lady Byng Trophy winner. Burch would become a consistent producer, primarily for the New York Americans where they marketed to the hilt his American birth certificate. However, as Burch never won a Stanley…