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.
There really is not that many players who have competed in over 1,000 NHL Regular Season Games. Gordie Roberts is in that club but when you throw in the fact that he had another 300 plus in the World Hockey Association, you have a 19-year veteran who had quite the…
One of the most physical players of his day (which says an awful lot!) Phil Russell was also a very capable playmaker. One of the few players to play over 1,000 Games with 2,000 Penalty Minutes, Russell was a power play expert who knew how to use his strength and…
From Czechoslovakia, Robert Lang had a very good career in the National Hockey League although it took him some time to really find his groove. In his late 20’s, Lang came into his own when he was with the Pittsburgh Penguins and in his third season there at age 30,…
From the Czech Republic, Martin Straka had a long career in the NHL. Straka had a pair of 80 Point Seasons for the Pittsburgh Penguins and two 70 Point Seasons for the New York Rangers over his career and he would tabulate 717 Points overall in his career. Straka was…
Al Iafrate had the reputation of being one of the fastest skaters in the NHL and the American blueliner with the famed skullet was not just a capable skater but was a decent scorer and hockey player. Iafrate played most of his games with the Toronto Maple Leafs but it…
Felix Potvin is best known in hockey for his run with the Toronto Maple Leafs where he backstopped the franchise to some deep playoff runs in the early 1990’s. Known as “The Cat”, Potvin would go to two All-Star Games (1994 & 1997), but his best year took place in…
There was not a lot to cheer for if you were a fan of the Atlanta Flames, but the second place finisher for the Calder Trophy in 1973-74 gave you a reason to come out to the arena.
Glen Wesley was a veteran of 20 years in the National Hockey League and with 1,457 Games Played is one of only a handful of players who tallied that many shifts and is not in the Hall of Fame.
In a 15-year NHL career Jyrki Lumme enjoyed a lot of blueline success. Lumme, who played nine of his seasons with the Vancouver Canucks was often regarded as the team’s top defenceman and he would have four 40 Point seasons with the team. Lumme was never an All Star, though…
Wade Redden is best known for his long tenure with the Ottawa Senators, where he anchored their blueline expertly for years. With excellent two-way skills. Redden would receive Norris Trophy votes six times and was also an All Star in 2002. Much of the success of Ottawa’s excellent teams of…
Winning the Calder Trophy in 1973, Steve Vickers would play his entire career with the New York Rangers. Vickers would have three 30 Goal Seasons, his best being a 41 Goal campaign where he finished ninth overall and was named a Second Team All Star. The Right Wing would play…
It is hard for many fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins to imagine this now but for many years in the pre Mario Lemieux era Western Pennsylvania did not have a very good professional hockey team and they almost lost their franchise. One of the few bright spots of the Pens…
Scott Hartnell was a very popular and tenacious player over his National Hockey League career who would be named an All Star in 2012 when he was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. It was when he was with Philly that his career was at its apex as he would…
The younger brother of Hockey Hall of Famer, Tiny Thompson, Paul Thompson was a star player in his own right. Three times Thompson would hoist the Stanley Cup and he would be named to two post-season NHL All-Star Teams. Thompson’s best seasons as a player were with the Chicago Blackhawks,…
Geoff Courtnall had a nice career in hockey where he scored 799 Points with four seasons going over 70 Points. This was very impressive considering that Geoff was undrafted and was known not always affectionately as Russ Courtnall’s older brother.
A veteran of 1,157 Games in the National Hockey League, Eric Weinrich provided solid defense for a number of clubs and was also a constant on the U.S. National Team. Weinrich was an above-average blueliner who brought steadiness to every team he played for. While he was never flashy or…
From Banff, Alberta, Ryan Smyth would play for his home province Edmonton Oilers for the first eleven and a half seasons of his career. Smyth would become one of the Oilers’ top scorers where he was known for his determination and scoring ability. Smyth would have three 30 Goal seasons…
Nearly a Point per Game player over his NHL career (751 Points in 760 Games) Craig Janney might very well make a claim as one of the best players never to make an All Star Game. Janney was a brilliant playmaker who at times was with one with the puck…
It has been said by many that Jay Bouwmeester is one of the most gifted skaters in hockey history. We have to agree, and would gladly throw in that Bouwmeester is one of the more underrated players of the game. The Canadian Defenseman was the third overall pick in 2002 by…
A member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, Scott Young quietly scored 756 Points over his 1,181 Game career in the National Hockey League. Young played for the six NHL teams and had four 60 Point seasons and was a role player on two Stanley Cup Championship teams,…