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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.

Jim Pappin would win two Stanley Cups (1964 & 1967) with the Toronto Maple Leafs and he really broke out in the 1967 playoffs where he led all skaters in Goals (7) and Points (15) and netted the winning goal in Game 6.  A trade to the Chicago Blackhawks would…
While Dennis Hull is thought of my some as Bobby’s brother or Brett’s uncle, we choose to remember that of a pretty good two-way hockey player who represented the Chicago Blackhawks five times in the All-Star Game.  Hull was a Second Team All-Star in 1973, a year after he represented…
Right when Todd Bertuzzi was hitting his stride in the National Hockey League, he derailed his career. His attack on Steve Moore from behind (which ended his career) caused Bertuzzi to be suspended for over a year. When he returned, he was not nearly the productive player he was, as…
When you think of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1970’s you automatically come up with the images of the bruising “Broad Street Bullies”, the pounding and bruising team that won and fought a lot.  That is all fine and good (and it was pretty good) but you still needed hockey…
Honestly, it is difficult to make a Hall of Fame case for Brian Rolston for the Hall of Fame, but we do tip our caps off to one of the most versatile players in hockey history. Rolston was comfortable at any forward position, and often quarterbacked the power play; a…
If you ask the fans of the Ottawa Senators, you already know the answer to this question. Alexei Yashin may have spurned the fans of Canada’s capital, but even they would agree that the Russian was a talented skill player. Now playing in Russia, Yashin had over 750 points in…
A very good defenseman from Slovakia, Lubomir Visnovsky has showcased offensive flash, though not many people outside of his markets appeared to be aware. Visnovsky finished 5 points shy of 500, still a good number for a defenseman but that number and only one All-Star appearance isn’t likely to get…
Kenny Wharram played his entire career with the Chicago Blackhawks where he would help the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 1961.  Wharram would have four 65 Point seasons and two of which would see him nab a First Team All-Star nod.  His best season took place in 1963-64 where…
An excellent two way forward, Simon Gagne starred for years with the Philadelphia Flyers and was one of the “glue guys” on Canada’s International wins in the 2002 Olympics and 2004 World Cup. Gagne however has only appeared in two All-Star Games and has never been considered for a post…
A Washington Capital for fifteen of his seventeen seasons in the NHL, Calle Johannson was an integral part of the Capitals making multiple playoffs.  Johannson does not often get the credit that he deserved as Washington had many defensive stars at the time (Scott Stevens, Rod Langway, Kevin Hatcher for…
A lot of the success of the Buffalo Sabres can be claimed by their netminder, Don Edwards.  Edwards was twice named a Second Team All Star (1978 & 1980), the second of which was a Vezina Trophy winning campaign (along with Bob Sauve). 
With over 600 NHL Points from the blueline in the NHL, James Patrick eclipsed the 50 Point mark four times.  Patrick was best known for his time with the New York Rangers where he would finish twice in the top ten in Norris Trophy voting and represented Canada in the…
Alex Tanguay would score 863 Pints in the National Hockey League, which is no small feat considering he played in the dead puck era. 
While there are many that can’t envision the idea of a Scandinavian power forward, that was an excellent way to describe what Sweden’s Tomas Sandstrom was. 
Pit Martin is remembered by many for being at the wrong end of a lopsided trade that sent Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield to the Boston Bruins and created a Stanley Cup Championship team, but Martin was a very highly regarded player in his own right.  Martin would…
After the 1996 World Junior Hockey Tournament where he led Canada to their fourth straight Gold Medal, Jose Theodore, who was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens would slowly work his way up the organization’s depth chart and in the 1999-2000 he would share netminding duties before becoming the main Goalie…
The Calder Trophy winner in 1954, Camille Henry would stumble afterwards and toiled in the AHL before coming back with a vengeance earning Second Team All Star honors along with the Lady Byng in 1958 where he accrued no penalty minutes.  In fact, the Centre had less than 100 Penalty…
From Finland, Olli Jokinen had a long and healthy career in the National Hockey League where he played over 1,200 Games in the most important professional league in Hockey.  The Finnish star would have three straight seasons with the Florida Panthers where he scored 70 or more Points and he…
As of this writing, Dmitri Khristich is without question the greatest Ukranian player (born and raised there) that ever existed in the National Hockey League.  The native of Kiev was a two-time NHL All-Star (1997 & 1999) and was a 70 Point scorer twice; one with the Washington Capitals and…
Alexei Zhitnik holds the distinction of being the first defenseman born in the former Soviet Union to play over 1,000 Games in the NHL.  Early in his career Zhitnik was a member of the famed Red Army and he would join his “comrades” to North America.  Zhitnik would go to…