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.
A Defenceman with significant offensive skill, Dave Babych had five consecutive seasons where he accumulated 55 Points or more. Babych was with the Winnipeg Jets for the first of those four seasons and the fifth would see him traded mid-way through to the Hartford Whalers. That year he finished sixth…
A large and imposing blueliner, Jerry “King Kong” Korab was a large cog in the Buffalo Sabres Stanley Cup appearance in 1975. Korab owned a booming shot, which helped him display solid offensive skills. With Buffalo, Korab would score 40 or more Points five times and a row and had…
Before we continue, can we state how much we love the hockey name of “Moose Vasko”? It is awesome right? Let’s continue…
It might surprise you to learn that Carol Vadnais is a six-time All-Star.
One of the more successful Finnish players in professional hockey history, Kimmo Timonen is one of the few players in the National Hockey League to accrue over 1,100 Games. A Stay-at-home blueliner, Timonen represented Finland Internationally multiple times which resulted in four Olympic medals. Timonen is also a Stanley Cup…
While he was in the shadow (and actually played in it) of his big brother, “The Big M” Frank Mahovolich, Pete Mahovolich was quite the player in his own right.
This is an interesting one for sure. During World War II, there was certainly a level towards what could be considered elite in professional hockey but in the 1943-44 season Herb Cain shocked the statisticians, as he would become an NHL league leader in Points with 82 Points.
Seeing limited action with the San Jose Sharks, Miikka Kiprusoff was traded to the Calgary Flames where he would be a sensation for the team leading the NHL in Save Percentage in Goals Against Average finishing second in the Vezina in the 2003/04. The NHL Lockout prevented him from repeating…
In terms of interesting stories on this hockey list there are few that can match Wilf Cude. The native of Wales holds the distinction of being the main Goaltender for the Philadelphia Quakers’ lone season in 1930/31 and was the “Spare” Goalie after. That did not last long as he…
Jere Lehtinen was easily one of the unsung heroes of the Dallas Stars run to the Stanley Cup but considering he played all 14 of his seasons in Texas, the team clearly knew what they had.
While Glenn “Chico” Resch was only part of the first New York Islanders Stanley Cup in their dynasty (albeit in a backup role to Billy Smith) his role in building up that team cannot be discounted.
One of the members of the Chicago Blackhawks three Stanley Cup wins of the 2010’s (2010, 2013 & 2015) Patrick Sharp was one of the better defensive forwards of his era. Sharp spent the majority of his professional career with Chicago and he was often a fringe contender for the…
A long time defensemen in the NHL, Roman Hamrlik has appeared on many power plays and punished a lot of attackers into the boards. The former first overall pick has not disappointed with a long and productive career and it isn’t over yet. The three time All Star though, likely…
Dany Heatley is known for two things. The first is the disaster that took place when he was a member of the Atlanta Thrashers, where he was responsible for his teammate’s death from a car crash. The second is what he accomplished on the ice where he was a former…
Considering that Steve Thomas went undrafted, the fact that he made the NHL is an impressive feat. Throw in that he lasted 19 seasons and that feat is extraordinary. Steve Thomas became a solid goal scorer and a dependable player on both ends. He managed to get over 900 points…
A member of the Boston Bruins for his entire 13-year career in the NHL, Jack Crawford was known for his hardnosed play and hence why the Bruins never seriously considered dealing him. Early in his playing days he would help the Bruins win Stanley Cups in both 1939 and 1941…
One of the last players to be manufactured from the U.S.S.R., Vyacheslav Kozlov played for the Soviet Union as a Junior and was a two-time Silver Medalist in the World Junior Hockey Championship. Entering the NHL two months before his 20th birthday, Kozlov would provide a solid scoring touch for…
Gaye Stewart had one of the most unique first three seasons imaginable in the National Hockey League. Listen to this start:
Likely because he played the bulk (and peak) of his career with the Washington Capitals, a lot of hockey fans were not watching Kevin Hatcher. The durable defenseman was able to score a lot of points and netted 34 goals in the 1992-93 campaign. On four occasions, Hatcher was able…
A top player for the Hartford Whalers, Kevin Dineen twice scored 40 goals and was clearly one of the better players in the NHL during the late ’80s. Dineen also had a good run with the Flyers through the following decade. He was clearly a good player who had very…