The International Ice Hockey Federation names their 2024 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.
10. Ryan Smyth
Before we get into the vast credentials of Ryan Smyth, think that it took until #8 before we got a player that was not part of the Oilers dynasty that won five Stanley Cups.
Damn, were they good!
Now, about Ryan Smyth.
The 2017 Hockey Futures are up
This came with an updated list, a few new entries (Alex Kovalev, Roman Hamrlik and Miroslav Satan) and a shuffling of positions based on your votes, emails and comments.
Now once we do the repositioning on the main section, we fee it is our duty to address and upload potential entries that will come up in coming years, and allow you to vote ahead of time, BEFORE it gets on to the list without receiving your input.
With that in mind, lets take a look at part 1 of 2 of our revised hockey futures shall we?
First off, the 2015 and 2016 Futures have been removed completely. Those players who were in the sections previously but were not able to make the Top 100 (as they are all now eligible) are no longer featured on Notinhalloffame.com, that is unless we expand to 250, which we have discussed!
The 2017 Futures Section includes the following:
Daniel Alfredsson, a former superstar for the Ottawa Senators and Calder Trophy winner. The Swedish born player retired with over 1,100 career Points and a 0.93 Points per Game Average.
Ed Jovanovski, an excellent two-way defenceman and five time All Star.
Jean Sebastien Giguere, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner with the Anaheim Ducks.
Nikolai Khabibulin, a four time All Star and durable Goalie who was a part of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2004 Stanley Cup win.
Ray Whitney, a 1,000 Point scorer, a one time Second Team NHL All Star and a member of the Carolina Hurricanes’ first Stanley Cup Championship.
Ryan Smyth, a star player for the Edmonton Oilers who led the NHL in Power Play Goals in the 1996-97 season.
Teemu Selanne, the “Finnish Flash”, is a three time NHL goal scoring champion and four time post season NHL All Star. Selanne is also a Bill Masterton Trophy winner and Stanley Cup Winner with the Anaheim Ducks.
Tim Thomas, a Goalie who was a First Team All Star twice and Conn Smythe Trophy winner with the Boston Bruins in 2011.
Todd Bertuzzi, a controversial player who was at one time, a First Team All Star in 2003.
Tomas Kaberle, a four time All Star and classy blueliner who recorded over 500 Points in the NHL.
Gang, you know what we want you to do!
Take a look, cast your votes and offer us your opinions!
As always, we here at Notinhalloffame.com look forward to your opinions and thank you for your support.
217. Ryan Smyth
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 for the Oilers and he was regarded by many as the team leader and would take Edmonton to the Stanley Cup Finals where they would go down to defeat in seven games against the Carolina Hurricanes. Smyth would be traded the following season to the New York Islanders and afterwards he would sign with the Colorado Avalanche as a Free Agent. Smyth would return to Edmonton where he would finish his career.