#NHLPeachy #SportyPeachy @NHL #WhomYouKnow Hockey Hall of Fame Induction: The Class of 2018 Bettman, Brodeur, Hefford, O'Ree, St. Louis and Yakushev comprise Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2018

The Hockey Hall of Fame is set to welcome six individuals as Honoured Members, two in the Builder Category (Gary Bettman and Willie O’Ree) and four in the Player Category (Martin Brodeur, Jayna Hefford, Martin St. Louis and Alexander Yakushev).

After more than 25 years as NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman will join past League presidents Frank Calder (1947), Clarence S. Campbell (1966) and John A. Ziegler, Jr. (1987), in the Builder category of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Mervyn “Red” Dutton, who served as League president from 1943-46, was inducted into the Hall’s Player category in 1958.

* Bettman will become the only active commissioner from any of the four major North American professional sports leagues to be inducted into his sport’s Hall of Fame. His nearly 26-year tenure is the second-longest in League history behind Campbell’s 31 years as NHL president. It also is the longest time in office for any active commissioner of a major North American sports league.

* Over the course of more than a quarter century, Bettman has fostered the growth of the NHL from 24 to 31 teams, yielding an increase in the number of players from 787 in 1992-93 to 985 in 2017-18; zero to 158.5 million followers across a range of social media platforms and accounts; zero to 31 regular-season games staged outside of North America; and zero to 27 outdoor games by the end of this season.

* Nearly 4,300 different players born in 39 countries have played at least one NHL game since Feb. 1, 1993. The demographic of the League has also changed during his tenure, with only 8% of NHL players born outside North America before his tenure, to 26% since. Since the Commissioner’s first day in office, 23 different U.S. states have had at least five players skate in the League compared to only 11 prior to his tenure.

* Average player salaries also have increased, by 545% from $467,000 in 1992-93 to $3,012,785 today, with League revenue jumping from $400 million in 1992-93 to $4.5 billion in 2017-18.

* Those players have contested more than 30,000 games across 71 different cities in eight counties, with two new cities added to the list this season through the NHL Global Series and Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. Including preseason games, NHL players have hit the ice in more than 120 cities since Bettman started, most recently via the NHL China Games and Kraft Hockeyville.

* Total regular-season attendance has increased by 55% from 14,158,177 in Bettman’s first campaign to a League-record 22,174,362 last season.

* Bettman has guided efforts to increase exposure of the NHL and the sport of hockey across the globe, aided by long-term television deals in the United States (w/ NBC) and Canada (w/ Sportsnet). In addition, the League has partnered with international broadcast partners to deliver games live in primetime on weekends throughout the 2018-19 season to fans in 24 countries and territories across Europe via the NHL European Game of the Week.

* Bettman has greeted 757 first-round selections at the NHL Draft and presented the Stanley Cup to 15 different captains, passing the trophy to the same captain in consecutive years only twice – to Detroit’s Steve Yzerman (1997, 1998) and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby (2016, 2017).

* Bettman’s commitment to social responsibility and growing the game has led to a longstanding commitment to the environment through NHL Green; League support of grassroots hockey in North America; League-wide initiatives in Hockey Fights Cancer and Hockey is For Everyone, both of which have reached 20 years of existence; the introduction of the world’s largest digital STEM education initiative, which uses hockey to teach science, technology, engineering and math concepts; and a Learn to Play program that has introduced more than 50,000 new participants to the game since 2015-16.

* The competitive balance during Bettman’s tenure has led to 14 different clubs capturing the Presidents’ Trophy and record playoff turnover of seven teams in each of the past two seasons and three of the past four. Overall, there has been playoff turnover of at least five clubs in 11 of the past 13 seasons.

The winningest goaltender in NHL history will take his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame Monday when Martin Brodeur is inducted in the Class of 2018:

* Over the course of 22 NHL seasons, Brodeur compiled a career record of 691-397-154 in 1,266 appearances, with a 2.24 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and 125 shutouts. He sits atop the League’s all-time lists for regular-season wins, shutouts and games played by a goaltender.

* Brodeur captured the Vezina Trophy as the League’s top goaltender four times during his NHL career (2002-03, 2003-04, 2006-07 and 2007-08), trailing only Jacques Plante (7), Bill Durnan (6), Dominik Hasek (6) and Ken Dryden (5) for the most since its inception in 1926-27.

* Brodeur owns the most career 30-win seasons in League history (14), including an NHL-record 12 consecutive such campaigns from 1995-96 to 2007-08. He recorded at least 40 wins in a season a League-best eight times and set a single-season NHL record with 48 wins in 2006-07, a mark matched by Braden Holtby in 2015-16.

* Brodeur backstopped the Devils to a playoff berth in 17 of 21 seasons – winning the Stanley Cup three times in an eight-year span (1995, 2000 and 2003) – posting a 113-91 record in 205 career postseason appearances, with a 2.02 goals-against average, .919 save percentage and 24 shutouts. He is the NHL’s all-time playoff leader in shutouts and trails longtime rival Patrick Roy (151) for the most playoff wins.

* Brodeur earned six of his 113 career postseason victories in Game 7s, tied with Roy and Henrik Lundqvist for the highest such total in Stanley Cup Playoffs history.

* Brodeur established a single-postseason NHL record with seven shutouts during the Devils’ Cup run in 2003. Three of those shutouts came in the championship series, making Brodeur just the third goaltender in NHL history to post at least three perfect showings in the Stanley Cup Final – Clint Benedict (1926 with Montreal Maroons) and Frank McCool (1945 with Toronto Maple Leafs) also had three shutouts apiece in the Final.

* Known for his hybrid goaltending style, Brodeur also did his part offensively. He was credited with three career goals (2 regular-season, 1 playoffs) and 57 total assists (45 regular-season, 12 playoffs). His 60 career points (3-57—60) are second-most in NHL history by a goaltender behind fellow Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr (0-61—61).

* A staple in net for Team Canada over the course of his career, Brodeur won the World Cup of Hockey (2004), two Olympic gold medals (2002 and 2010) and two silver medals at the World Championship (1996 and 2005).

* He recorded his final NHL win and shutout on Dec. 29, 2014 as a member of the Blues. At 42 years, 237 days, Brodeur became the fifth-oldest goaltender in NHL history to earn a shutout.

* A Devils icon, Brodeur recorded 688 of his League-record 691 career regular-season wins in a New Jersey uniform – by far the highest total with one franchise in NHL history among goaltenders. He now serves as the club’s Executive Vice President of Business Development.

A Team Canada icon who represented her country on the ice for 17 years and ranks second all-time on the Canadian National Women’s Team in scoring with 157-134—291 in 267 GP, Jayna Hefford will become the sixth female inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

* Hefford will join five other female hockey stars and trailblazers in the Hall of Fame: Angela James (2010), Cammi Granato (2010),Geraldine Heaney (2013), Angela Ruggiero (2015) and Danielle Goyette (2017).

* Hefford represented Team Canada in each of the first five Olympic Winter Games to feature women’s hockey, including four consecutive gold medal wins to close out her Olympic career (2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014). In doing so, she joined teammates Hayley Wickenheiser andCaroline Ouellette as the only players in women’s hockey history to earn a gold medal in four consecutive Olympics.

* At the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hefford scored the winning goal in the final against Team USA – with just one second remaining in the second period – to propel Canada to its first Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey.

* Hefford appeared in 12 Women’s World Championships from 1997-2013, capturing seven gold and five silver medals. She was a member of five consecutive gold medal-winning teams from 1997-2004, named a Tournament All-Star on three occasions (1999, 2004, 2008) and presented the Directorate Award as the Top Forward in consecutive appearances (2004 and 2005).

* At the club level, Hefford spent 14 seasons with the Brampton Thunder across two leagues (National Women’s Hockey League: 1998-2007; Canadian Women’s Hockey League: 2007-13), winning the championship in back to back seasons (2006-07 and 2007-08).

* One of the most prolific scorers in women’s hockey history, Hefford earned CWHL Most Valuable Player honors in the league’s inaugural season (2007-08) and claimed the Angela James Bowl as the CWHL’s leading scorer in 2008-09. In 2015-16, the CWHL introduced the Jayna Hefford Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s most outstanding player as voted by the players.

* Hefford continues her dedication to the growth of women’s hockey as the interim commissioner of the CWHL.

After becoming the first black player to compete in the NHL, collecting more than 1,000 points over a 22-year professional hockey career, and touching countless lives through his work as the League’s Diversity Ambassador, Willie O’Ree is set to take his place in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

* Despite losing sight in his right eye while playing junior hockey in Kitchener in 1956, O’Ree made his NHL debut within two years of that incident – on Jan. 18, 1958 with the Bruins in Montreal – and played a total of 45 games, scoring his first NHL goal on Jan. 1, 1961 (4-10—14). A well-rounded player, O’Ree hit the 450 milestones for both goals and assists over the course of more than 1,100 professional games.

* At the age of 82, O’Ree celebrated 20 years as NHL Diversity Ambassador in 2018 while also marking the 60th anniversary of his first NHL game. In conjunction with these milestones, O’Ree was on hand at the 2018 NHL Awards in Las Vegas to present the first-ever Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award, which was won posthumously by Darcy Haugan of the Humboldt Broncos.

* Born Oct. 15, 1935 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, as the youngest of 13 children, O’Ree has garnered many accolades over his career including the Lester Patrick Trophy (2003) and Order of Canada (2008). O’Ree has a rink in his name in both his hometown – where he is a member of that province’s Hall of Fame – and in Boston, where he broke into the NHL with the Bruins. He also was inducted into the Breitbard Hall of Fame in 2008.

* Since 1998, O’Ree has built and supported more than 30 non-profit youth hockey programs throughout North America, giving more than 120,000 boys and girls from disadvantaged and marginalized populations the opportunity to play hockey. As part of that commitment, O’Ree has made more than 500 visits to schools, community centers and rinks – over nearly 2,500 travel days – and been the subject of more than 13,000 books, articles and shows.

* Through his actions and his words, O’Ree has created greater opportunity and hope for underrepresented, disadvantaged and marginalized boys and girls. He has inspired generations of people to believe that anything is possible, and has worked tirelessly to reinforce that message in communities across North America.

NHL Player Testimonials:

"Because of him, there are more black hockey players coming up, not just in the NHL but in the minor leagues…not just for our race but anyrace, really. It doesn't matter where you're from or which language you speak, it's a game for everyone.“ – Anthony Duclair, Columbus Blue Jackets

“The barrier he was able to break, it's important not only for our sport, but it was important for America.” – T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals

“Willie has just as much of an impact on hockey as a guy like Wayne Gretzky. His impact on the sport is just that great when you think about it… I wouldn't be playing in the League if it wasn't for Willie O'Ree.” – P.K. Subban, Nashville Predators

“He's a big reason why I'm playing hockey today and why other black players have a chance to play in the NHL. He's why I wear 22.” – Madison Bowey, Washington Capitals

“It's guys like him and Jackie Robinson – go back in the times and look at these historic characters who will go down as heroes.” – Matt Dumba, Minnesota Wild

Undrafted, undersized and a two-time Art Ross Trophy winner, Martin St. Louis won the Stanley Cup and collected 391 goals, 642 assists and 1,033 points over the course of 1,134 regular-season NHL games during his Hall of Fame career:

* Among players to debut since 1963-64 (following the NHL’s first-ever draft), St. Louis is one of seven undrafted skaters to amass at least 1,000 career points (also Wayne Gretzky, Phil Esposito, Adam Oates, Peter Stastny, Dino Ciccarelli and Joe Mullen) and one of seven to compile at least 600 career assists (also Gretzky, Oates, Esposito, Stastny, Bobby Orr and Borje Salming).

* After four seasons at the University of Vermont and stints in the American Hockey League and International Hockey League, St. Louis broke into the NHL in 1998-99 with the Flames. His first two career NHL games came in Tokyo, Japan as part of the League’s second venture outside North America for regular-season games (Oct. 9-10, 1998).

* St. Louis is one of three players in NHL history listed at 5’8” or shorter with over 1,000 career points (also Henri Richard and Theo Fleury) and one of four with at least 600 career assists (also Richard, Fleury and Cliff Ronning).

* St. Louis is the only player in Lightning history to capture the Art Ross Trophy as the League’s top scorer, winning in 2003-04 and again in 2012-13. The eight years between Art Ross wins for St. Louis is the largest such gap by any player since the award was introduced in 1947-48. His second win also made St. Louis (37 years, 314 days) the oldest player in NHL history to capture the Art Ross Trophy, shattering the previous mark set in 1962-63 by Gordie Howe (34 years, 358 days).

* A Lightning icon, St. Louis spent 13 of his 16 NHL campaigns with Tampa Bay from 2000-01 to 2013-14 and remains the all-time franchise leader in regular-season assists and points (365-588—953 in 972 GP). He also owns the most career playoff goals and points in Lightning franchise history (33-35—68 in 63 GP).

* St. Louis led all players with 15 assists in the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs (9-15—24 in 23 GP) to help the Lightning capture their first Stanley Cup. His 15 assists in 2004 remain a single-postseason franchise record.

* Did You Know? St. Louis scored 15 career regular-season goals against Martin Brodeur, tied for the fifth-most ever against Brodeur behind Simon Gagne (19), Jaromir Jagr (18), Mike Knuble (18) and Eric Lindros (16). St. Louis also scored five career playoff goals against Brodeur, tied for his second-highest such total against any NHL goaltender (Ray Emery: 6).

* A member of Team Canada on numerous occasions, St. Louis won the World Cup of Hockey (2004), Olympic gold (2014) and two silver medals at the World Championship (2008 and 2009).

Alexander Yakushev is a Russian hockey legend who dominated opponents using size and skill, was a member of gold medal-winning teams at Olympics and World Championships, and excelled in head-to-head clashes with NHL players.

* Yakushev is the eighth Russian-born and trained player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame joining Pavel Bure, Sergei Fedorov,Vlacheslav Fetisov, Valeri Kharlamov, Igor Larionov, Sergei Makarov and Vladislav Tretiak.

* Yakushev was a key member of the Soviet Union when they faced Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, an eight-game series between the two countries that pitted the dominant Soviet national team against professional players from the NHL for the first time. Despite Team Canada claiming victory in the series with a 4-3-1 record, Yakushev led his team with 11 points (7-4—11 in 8 GP) and his seven goals tied Team Canada’s Paul Henderson and Phil Esposito for the series lead.

* In the 1974 Summit Series, which followed the same format as 1972 but pitted the Soviet national team against professional players from the World Hockey Association, Yakushev again led his team in scoring with eight points (6-2—8 in 7 GP) as the USSR won the series with a 4-1-3 record.

* Internationally, Yakushev made two appearances for the Soviet Union at the Olympic Winter Games capturing gold in 1972 (0-3—3 in 5 GP) and 1976 (4-9—13 in 6 GP).

* Yakushev was also a member of seven gold medal-winning teams at the World Championship where he was named a Tournament All-Star in 1974 and 1975 and presented the Directorate Award as the Top Forward in 1975 after posting 11-5—16 in 8 games.

* Hockey Hall of Fame member Phil Esposito told NHL.com that Yakushev was the Soviet Union’s best player in the 1972 Summit Series. The higher the level of competition, the more Yakushev stood out – in tournaments that included NHL/WHA players (including World Championship games), he averaged more than a point per game (16-11—27 in 21 GP).

* In addition to his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Yakushev was previously inducted into the Russian Hockey Hall of Fame in 1970 and the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 2003.