The International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame has announced their latest class and true to its name, the class represents players from around the world.
This year’s class adds seven new members to the Toronto based Hall, though the ceremony will take place next May in Prague during the 2015 World Hockey Championships.
The headliner is Dominik Hasek, who was just inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Hasek played internationally for the Czech Republic and would take them to the Olympic Gold Medal in 1998. This was no misnomer as the “Dominator” allowed only six goals in the entire competition. Hasek would win a Bronze in the 2006 Olympics and won four medals in the Worlds (silver in 1983 and bronze in 1987, 1988 and 1990).
The Czech Republic has a second representative in this year’s class in Robert Reichel, who was also on the 1998 Olympic Gold Medal Team. Recihel scored the winning shootout goal against Canada in the semi-finals and the longtime captain of the Czech team would also take his country to three Gold Medals in the World Championships in 1996, 2000 and 2001.
Canadian Defenceman, Scott Niedermayer who was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013, joins the two Czech stars. Niedermayer was a two time Olympic champion (2002 & 2010), won Gold at the 2004 World Cup, 2004 World Hockey Championships and the 1991 World Junior Hockey Championships.
Fran Rider was also inducted. She was one of the founders of the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association in 1975 and in 1987 helped organize the 1987 Women’s World Hockey Championship and again in 1990. Without her, Women’s International Hockey would not be as far along as it is today.
A second female was inducted, as Swedish player Maria Rooth was also chosen. Rooth currently is the leading Non-American scorer in Women’s Olympic hockey and was the leader of the biggest upset in women’s hockey when the Swedish team defeated the Americans in 2006. She has an Olympic Silver (2006) and Bronze Medal (2002).
Lucio Topatigh was inducted. Topatigh played his entire professional career in the Italian league and was a long time veteran of the Italian National team.
Monique Scheier-Schneider from Luxembourg will also be inducted. She has served on the IIHF council since 2008 and has been involved in European Hockey since 1992.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the new class for the International Ice Hockey Federation.
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