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.

This week, the International Ice Hockey Federation announced the 2024 Class, consisting of eight new entrants and four via special awards.

The Class of 2024 are:

Natalie Darwitz: U.S.A.  Darwitz represented the United States from 199 to 2010, and won three Gold Medals and five Silver Medals in the World Hockey Championships.  The former Forward also had two Silvers and a Bronze in the Olympics and was named to the 2002 Olympic All-Tournament Team.  The native of Minnesota took the Golden Gophers to back-to-back NCAA Championships, and he is currently the General Manager of the Minnesota team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

Mel Davidson: Canada.  Davidson coached Team Canada to Gold at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics and the 2000 and 2007 Worlds. 

Jaromir Jagr: Czech Republic & Czechoslovakia.  Jagr, who is still active for his Czech club team, Kladno, won a copious number of medals in International competition.  He won Gold in the 1998 Olympics and Bronze in 2006.  He also won two World Hockey Championships (2005 & 2010), Bronze at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, and is arguably the greatest player n Czech history.

Kenny Jonsson: Sweden.  Jonsson was a defensive anchor on two Swedish Olympic Gold Medal Teams (1994 & 2006), the latter of which he was named the best Defenseman of the tournament.  He also won Bronze in the 1996 World Cup, and two World Hockey Championships (1994 & 2009).

Igor Liba: Czechoslovakia.  Liba is a Slovak, represented Czechoslovakia many times, winning Silver in 1984 and Bronze in the 1992 Olympics.  The Left Wing also won Gold at the 1985 Worlds, as well as capturing two Silvers and two Bronzes in other World Hockey Championship Tournaments.

Petteri Nummelin: Finland.  Nummelin played for Finland in 15 World Hockey Championships, where the Defenseman was highly decorated in competition, winning one Gold, four Silvers and two Bronze Medals.  He also represented his nation in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and won Silver at the 2006 Olympics.

Jaroslav Pouzar: Czechoslovakia.  Pouzar led Czechoslovakia to an Olympic Silver Medal in 1976 and in the World Hockey Championships, would win two Gold, three Silvers and one Bronze Medal.  He also won three Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers.

Ryan Smyth: Canada.  Smyth played 20 years in the NHL, but represented Canada often winning two Golds and a Silver in World Hockey Championship.  He also captured Gold in the 1995 World Juniors, 2002 Olympics and 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

Desiderui Varga: Romania.  Varga is this year’s recipient of the Torriani Award, and he played in three Olympics and 17 World Championships.

Anatolii Brezvin: Ukraine.  Brezvin served as the President of Ukraine’s Ice Hockey Federation from 2006 to 2020, and this year’s winner of the Paul Loicq Award.

Al Michaels: U.S.A..  Michaels is the inaugural winner of the IIHF Media Award, and his “Do You Believe in Miracles?” call remains the most recognized in all of hockey.

1998 Men’s Czech Olympic Team.  This squad wins the Milestone Award (last awarded in 2013), and they had wins over Canada in the Semis and Russia in the final to get there.  This team was led by an incredible performance by Goalie, Dominik Hasek, who had a 0.97 GAA over six Games.  The team also had Goalies, Milan Hnilicka and Roman Cechmanek, Defenseman Jiri Sleger, Frantisek Kucera, Roman Hamrlik, Richard, Smehlik, Jaroslav Spacek, Petr Svoboda and Libor Prochazka, with Forwards Jiri Dopita, Martin Rucinsky, Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka, Robert Reichel, Robert Lang, Pavel Patera, Martin Prochazka, Josef Beranek, Vladimir Ruzicka, David Moravec, Milan Hejduk and Jan Caloun.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of the IIHF Hall of Fame.