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Hockey Hall of Fame Announces 2023 Inductees
Ken Hitchcock
Pierre Lacroix
Tom Barrasso
Henrik Lundqvist
Caroline Ouellette
Pierre Turgeon
Mike Vernon
TORONTO (June 21, 2023) - Mike Gartner, Chair of the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee, announced today that seven individuals have been elected to Hockey Hall of Fame Honoured Membership, in both the Player and Builder Category. The vote took place today at the annual meeting of the Selection Committee in Toronto.
"The Hockey Hall of Fame is proud to welcome these hockey legends as Honoured Members, said Gartner. "Their contributions to the game of hockey are well documented and their election to the Hockey Hall of Fame is richly deserved."
In the Builder Category, two individuals were elected.
Ken Hitchcock began his junior coaching career with the Kamloops Blazers in 1984, winning two WHL championships before beginning his professional coaching career in 1990 as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers. Hired as head coach in Dallas in 1996, he led the Stars to a Stanley Cup championship in 1999. Hitchcock is the fourth winningest coach in NHL history, with 849 wins over 22 seasons.
"I really can't thank the Hockey Hall of Fame enough for this honour," said Hitchcock. "Hockey is my life and the friendships I have made in the game mean the world to me."
A former player agent, Pierre Lacroix was hired by the Quebec Nordiques as general manager in 1994. He continued with the franchise in Colorado where the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001. Lacroix passed away at the age of 72 on December 13, 2020.
"This is a dream come true for our family," said Lacroix's wife, Coco. "I'm sure that Pierre is very happy."
In the Player Category, five individuals were elected.
A native of Boston, Tom Barrasso was selected fifth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1983 NHL Draft after completing a stellar high school career at Acton-Boxborough. With the Sabres in 1983-84, Barrasso won the Calder Memorial Trophy and Vezina Trophy, while also being a member of the NHL All-Rookie and First All-Star teams. After being traded to Pittsburgh, he won the Stanley Cup in both 1991 and 1992. Barrasso retired in 2002-03 with 369 career wins, the second most among U.S.-born goaltenders in League history at the time.
Henrik Lundqvist grew up in Are, Sweden, and was drafted by the New York Rangers in the seventh round of the 2000 NHL Draft while he was a member of Vastra Frolunda HC Goteborg. He joined the Rangers in 2005 and played his entire career with the club. Lundqvist won 459 games, the most ever by a Rangers' goaltender and the most for a European born goaltender in NHL history. In international play, he won gold medals at the Olympics (2006) and World Championships (2017).
"It's been a great ride for me in this game," said Lundqvist. "The Hall is filled with a list of players who were an inspiration to me."
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Caroline Ouellette became a member of Canada's national women's team in 1998-99 and played three seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth starting in 2002-03. As a member of Canada's national team, Ouellette won four Olympic gold medals and six gold medals at the World Championships. A driving force in women’s professional hockey, Ouellette was the first player in the CWHL to reach the 300-point plateau (in 2016-17).
Growing up in Rouyn, Quebec, Pierre Turgeon starred for the Granby Bisons before being selected first overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1987 NHL Draft. In 1,294 regular-season NHL games, Turgeon scored 515 goals and 812 assists. He added another 35 goals and 62 assists in 109 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, while also winning the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1993 as a member of the New York Islanders.
"It is a privilege to be amongst the greats of the game," said Turgeon. "I am so happy to receive this great honour."
A member of the Calgary Wranglers in the WHL, Mike Vernon was drafted by the hometown Flames in the third round of the 1981 NHL Draft. Beginning his professional career in 1982, Vernon won the Stanley Cup with Calgary in 1989 and the Detroit Red Wings in 1997. In 1997, Vernon won 16 of 20 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs en route to claiming the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
"My late mother asked me years ago if I would ever make it into the Hockey Hall of Fame," said Vernon. "My mom was my first coach and this one's for her."
The 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration is scheduled on Monday, November 13, in Toronto (preceded by the traditional slate of "Induction Weekend" events beginning on Friday, November 11, including the annual "Hockey Hall of Fame Game" hosted by the Toronto Maple Leafs). Stay tuned for further announcements in the upcoming weeks which will be posted via HHOF.com and other HHOF social media platforms.
CONTACT:
Kelly Masse
Hockey Hall of Fame
416-933-8212
kmasse@hhof.com / @kellyhockeyhall
2023 Hockey Hall of Fame NHL Media Award Recipients Announced
TORONTO (June 1, 2023) - Frank Seravalli, President of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, and Chuck Kaiton, President of the NHL Broadcasters' Association, announced today that Mark Mulvoy will receive the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for excellence in hockey journalism, and Dan Rusanowsky will receive the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.
Mark Mulvoy's incredible career in sports journalism began at his hometown Boston Globe in the 1960s. In the decades that followed he made his mark at Sports Illustrated, rising through the ranks to become the youngest managing editor in the magazine's history. His passion for hockey never wavered, and found expression in books like 'My Game' with Bobby Orr and 'Face off at the Summit' with Ken Dryden.
"Mark Mulvoy was a ground-breaking reporter as the first foreigner given access behind enemy lines to lift the curtain on the Soviet style of play", said Seravalli. "Mulvoy had boots on the ground in Moscow a handful of years before the '72 Summit Series, then of course was there to chronicle history. More importantly, he kept hockey in the hands and doctor's offices of the voracious Sports Illustrated readers. He was hockey's best friend at a time of critical period of growth for the sport."
Dan Rusanowsky has been the radio voice of the San Jose Sharks since the team's inception in 1991. One of the club's most recognizable figures both on-and-off the ice, Rusanowsky directs the Sharks Radio Network, contributes to the team's official game program, and provides regular columns and broadcast reports for sjsharks.com. A native of Connecticut, Rusanowsky began his broadcast career as the voice of St. Lawrence University's NCAA Division I hockey program and the American Hockey League's New Haven Nighthawks.
Mark Mulvoy and Dan Rusanowsky
"Dan has an insatiable love for radio and has been an integral part of promoting the game of hockey in the Bay area on that medium from day one of the San Joes Sharks' existence in 1991," said Kaiton. "He is extremely worthy of this honour."
Mulvoy and Rusanowsky will receive their awards at the "Hockey Hall of Fame NHL Media Awards Luncheon" in Toronto on Monday, November 13, 2023, and their award plaques will be displayed in the Esso Great Hall at the Hockey Hall of Fame alongside past award recipients.
Recipients of these awards, as selected by their respective associations, are recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame as "Media Honourees" - a separate distinction from individuals inducted as "Honoured Members." Honoured Members are selected by the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
The 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Weekend begins on Friday, November 10, 2023, culminating with the Induction Celebration on Monday, November 13, 2023. This year's inductees will be announced live on TSN on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
Named in honour of the late Montreal newspaper reporter, the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award was first presented in 1984 by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association in recognition of distinguished members of the hockey writing profession whose words have brought honour to journalism and to the game of hockey.
Named in honour of the late "Voice of Hockey" in Canada, the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award was first presented in 1984 by the NHL Broadcasters' Association in recognition of members of the radio and television industry who have made outstanding contributions to their profession and to the game of hockey.
For more information:
Frank Seravalli
Professional Hockey Writers' Association
frank.seravalli@bellmedia.ca
Chuck Kaiton
NHL Broadcasters' Association
chuckkaiton3@gmail.com
