Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2023

The Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Enshrinement Ceremony festivities will be from Friday, November 10, 2023, to Monday, November 13, 2022. The Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee announced on June 21, 2023, the Class of 2026 will enshrine 7 honourees during the festivities in Toronto, Canada.

"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.”.

Showing off the @baronchampionshiprings #HHOF Honoured Member rings

PLAYER CATEGORY:

TOM BARRASSO

Born March 31, 1965, in Boston, Massachusetts, Tom Barrasso grew up in nearby Stow, Massachusetts, and began his goaltending career playing on outdoor rinks at the age of five.

He progressed rapidly, and by 16 he was tending goal for the Acton‐Boxborough Colonials, his high school team that in 1982‐83, won 22 and tied one during the 23‐game season with Tom recording 10 shutouts and a goals-against average of 0.99. That season, he shared the goal crease on the United States’ World Junior squad with John Vanbiesbrouck.

In 2009, Tom Barrasso was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. One more honour surfaced in 2023 ‐ induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player Category.

BUILDER CATEGORY:

KEN HITCHCOCK

The fourth winningest coach in NHL history at the time of his Hockey Hall of Fame induction, Ken Hitchcock’s outstanding career included stints with the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers through 22 NHL seasons.

Born December 17, 1951, in Edmonton, Alberta, Ken Hitchcock began his coaching career at various levels of hockey in his hometown, which led to ten years behind the bench of a Midget AAA team. Through that time, he amassed an incredible record of 575 wins against just 69 losses. At the same time, he was also teaching fundamentals to girls learning to play hockey.

In 2019, Ken was named a recipient of the Order of Hockey in Canada and he added another honour in 2023 when he was inducted into the Builder Category of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

BUILDER CATEGORY

PIERRE LACROIX

Pierre Lacroix had two Stanley Cups sitting on his mantle at home, recognizing the work he put into constructing the Colorado Avalanche rosters that captured hockey’s greatest reward in 1996 and 2001.

Born August 3, 1948, in Montreal, Quebec, Lacroix’s hockey dreams began as a player. In 1960, his Rosemont Youth Committee team was one of the first participants in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey tournament. The legendary tournament gave players 12 and under the opportunity to enjoy international competition and was created in 1960 to coincide with the Quebec Winter Carnival.

Pierre Lacroix was only 72 years old when he passed away on December 13, 2020. While the hockey world lost a giant, he left behind an extraordinary legacy that was recognized in 2023 when he was posthumously inducted into the Builder Category of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

PLAYER CATEGORY

HENRIK LUNDQVIST

Henrik and his twin brother Joel were born on March 2, 1982, in Are, Sweden. Both discovered a love for hockey as children. During the winter, their kindergarten teacher used a sandpit to freeze and create an ice rink where the twins learned to skate. Their father often took them to watch Fr?lunda play, and that team became the boys’ favourite.

In 1990, the twins began playing organized hockey for the first time. During one practice, the coach asked if anyone wanted to be a goalie and Joel raised Henrik’s hand.

Both boys were scouted by Fr?lunda while playing for R?gle BK in the 1998 Scandinavium Cup and joined the team for the 1999‐2000 season. That year, they also played for Sweden at the IIHF World Junior Championship, winning the bronze medal.

After a sterling goaltending career, Henrik Lundqvist was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player Category in 2023.

PLAYER CATEGORY

CAROLINE OUELLETTE

Caroline Ouellette was a pillar at forward on Canada’s National Women’s Team, winning four Olympic gold medals, six IIHF Women’s World Championship golds as well as six silver, and is a four‐time winner of the Clarkson Cup.

Born May 25, 1979, in Montreal, Québec, Caroline Ouellette began playing hockey at nine, learning the basics and developing her skills until she was 16 and invited to play for Team Québec at the 1995 Canada Winter Games, taking the bronze medal. As a member of Québec’s Under‐18 team in 1997, Ouellette won a gold medal at the National Women’s Under‐18 Championship.

She represented Québec at many Esso Women’s Hockey Nationals, winning gold in 1999 and 2002, and silver in 2000, 2001, and 2006. Caroline was named MVP at the 2001 tournament and Top Forward in 1999.

2023 was a very special year for Caroline Ouellette. She was inducted into the IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame, and University of Minnesota Duluth Athletic Hall of Fame, named to the Ordre national du Québec and was selected as an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player Category.

PLAYER CATEGORY

PIERRE TURGEON

Pierre Turgeon, born August 28, 1969, in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, is the highest-scoring retired player in NHL history who, up to 2023, had not been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. That status has now changed.

Turgeon was a Junior sensation with the Granby Bisons. In 1985-86, he collected 115 points, was named to the QMJHL’s Third All-Star Team, and received the Michel Bergeron Trophy as the Offensive Rookie of the Year. He followed that with a 154-point performance in 1986-87, again was named to the QMJHL’s Third All-Star Team, and was the winner of the Michael Bossy Trophy as the Best Professional Prospect in the league.

In 2023, the Selection Committee elected Pierre Turgeon to the Player Category of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

PLAYER CATEGORY

MIKE VERNON

A two-time Stanley Cup champion and the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy and the William Jennings Trophy, Mike Vernon backstopped his NHL teams to 385 victories through an outstanding 19-season career.

Born February 24, 1963, in Calgary, Alberta, his destiny was established by the age of four. “I had three brothers,” he laughed. “When it came time to play hockey, they always said the same thing: ‘Get Mikey. He’ll play net.'”

Mike Vernon represented Canada at two international tournaments. At the IIHF World Junior Championship in 1983, Team Canada took the bronze medal. At the 1991 IIHF World Championship, the Canadians won the silver medal.

To honour his outstanding career, Mike Vernon was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player Category in 2023.

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