The International Ice Hockey Federation has announced that seven new members will join its ranks as part of the Class of 2026.   It will include six players (Patrice Bergeron, Niklas Kronwall, Thomas Vanek, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Florence Schelling, and Andres Ambuhl), a builder, Ralph Krueger.  The induction ceremony will take place on the final day of the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Zurich, Switzerland.

The new inductees are:

Patrice Bergeron (CAN).  Bergeron, who will likely be selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame next summer, is a member of the elite Triple Gold Club (Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold, and World Championship Gold).  Bergeron competed for Canada in seven tournaments and led them to six victories (2005 WJC, 2004 WC, 2010 & 2014 Olympics, 2012 Spengler Cup, and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, scoring 43 Points over 47 Games in the red and white.

Niklas Kronwall (SWE).  Kronwall is also a member of the Triple Gold Club, winning a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008.  The Swedish Defenseman won Olympic Gold and a World Championship in 2006, and also has a 2014 Olympic Silver and 2003 World Championship Silver.  Kronwall appeared in 11 tournaments and scored 35 Points in 67 Games.

Thomas Vanek (AUT).  A veteran of 1,028 NHL Games, Vanek made history when, in 2013, he was named the Captain of the Buffalo Sabres, becoming the first Austrian to wear the “C”. Vanek was part of the Team Europe squad that won a Silver Medal in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.  Representing Austria, Vanek played in the 2014 Olympics and competed in 44 Games over eight tournaments, while scoring 56 Points.

Cassie Campbell-Pascall (CAN).  Playing at Left Wing, Campbell helped bring Canada a death of Gold, winning two Olympic Gold medals (2002 & 2006), where she was the Captain, and six World Women’s Championships (1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 & 2004).  Over ten major tournaments (Olympics and World Championship), Campbell scored 42 Points in 51 Games. 

Florence Schelling (SUI).  Unlike many European female hockey players, Schelling had a spectacular career in the American College ranks, where she captured a boatload of awards as Northeastern’s Goalie.  Representing Switzerland, Schelling holds the record for the most games played by any female netminder in World Championship history (44) and also has the wins record (21).  Her high-water mark was backstopping the Swiss team to a Bronze Medal win at the 2014 Olympics.

Andres Ambuhl (SUI).  Ambuhl holds the record for the most appearances (20) and games played (151) in the World Hockey Championships, and he propelled his team to three Silver Medals (2013, 2024 & 2025).  While representing Switzerland, Ambuhl appeared in three Olympic Games, 193 Games while scoring 91 Points.

Ralph Krueger (SUI).  From Germany, Krueger coached in North America and Europe, helmed Team Switzerland to three Olympic appearances, and was also the Head Coach of the Silver Medal-winning Team Europe squad at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

We here at notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the 2026 IIFF Class.

The entire NHL career of Swedish Defenseman was spent in Detroit, where he proved himself to be one of the most dependable blueliners in league history.