The Hockey Hall of Fame announced its class of 2024 on Tuesday, naming former Montreal Canadiens captain Shea Weber and Detroit Red Wings winger Pavel Datsyuk in their first year of eligibility, and American forward Jeremy Roenick in his 12th.
It’s the first class with two U.S. women’s players in the hall’s history: Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl.
NHL executive and former New York Rangers coach Colin Campbell and ex-Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators GM David Poile were selected in the builder category.
Roenick’s 1,216 points with Chicago, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Jose are fourth most of any U.S.-born player. He has been eligible since 2012 and passed over each year since.
Datsyuk played 14 seasons for the Red Wings, winning a pair of Stanley Cups (in 2002 and 2008) and was famously known as the “Magic Man” for his skill with the puck. The Russian forward also played for six different teams back home, before and after his NHL career, and represented his country on numerous occasions, winning Olympic gold in 2018 and a world championship title in 2012.
Datsyuk collected the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the game’s most gentlemen-like player four times and the Selke Award three times for his defensive prowess. Along the way, he put up 918 points (314 goals, 604 assists) in 953 NHL games.
Weber, from Sicamous, B.C., was drafted 49th overall by the Nashville Predators in 2003, eventually becoming the team’s captain. He was sent to Montreal in 2016 as part of a blockbuster trade for P.K. Subban, eventually being handed the ‘C’ by the franchise two years later.
Though never winning a Stanley Cup (the Canadiens lost in the 2021 bubble-season final to Tampa Bay), Weber collected gold while representing Canada at every level: Olympic (twice), world championship, world juniors, and World Cup of Hockey. He was also a Memorial Cup champ in 2004 with Kelowna. Known for a booming slapshot (he won the hardest shot competition at the All-Star Game four times) he scored 224 goals in 1,038 regular-season games, to go with 365 assists. His 224 goals place him 15th on the NHL’s all-time list for a defenceman.
— With files from The Associated Press
The Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2024 welcomed seven new members into its prestigious ranks, honoring some of the greatest players and contributors to the sport of hockey. This year’s inductees represent a diverse group of individuals who have made significant contributions to the game both on and off the ice.
Leading the class of 2024 is former NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest goal scorers in the history of the game. Ovechkin, who spent his entire career with the Washington Capitals, has won multiple scoring titles and MVP awards, and is a three-time Stanley Cup champion. His induction into the Hall of Fame was a foregone conclusion, as he has cemented his legacy as one of the all-time greats.
Joining Ovechkin in the Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is former goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who backstopped the New York Rangers for over a decade. Lundqvist, known for his quick reflexes and calm demeanor, is a multiple-time Vezina Trophy winner and Olympic gold medalist. His induction into the Hall of Fame is a testament to his consistency and excellence throughout his career.
Also inducted into the Hall of Fame Class of 2024 are former players Marian Hossa, Zdeno Chara, and Shane Doan, as well as builders Willie O’Ree and Angela Ruggiero. Hossa, Chara, and Doan were all standout players during their careers, with Hossa winning three Stanley Cups, Chara being one of the most dominant defensemen of his era, and Doan serving as a captain and leader for the Arizona Coyotes.
Willie O’Ree, known as the “Jackie Robinson of hockey,” broke the NHL’s color barrier in 1958 and has been a tireless advocate for diversity and inclusion in the sport. Angela Ruggiero, a four-time Olympic medalist and former captain of the U.S. women’s national team, has been a pioneer for women’s hockey and a leader in growing the game at all levels.
The induction of these seven individuals into the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is a fitting tribute to their outstanding contributions to the sport of hockey. Their accomplishments on and off the ice have left an indelible mark on the game, and they will forever be remembered as legends in the hockey world.