TORONTO -- "Miracle on Ice" coach Herb Brooks and Patrick Roy, the NHL's winningest goaltender, highlight the newest class of
the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Former NHL player Dick Duff and executive Harley Hotchkiss also
received enough votes from the selection committee, the hall
announced Wednesday. All four will be inducted in November.
Brooks led an Olympic team of college players from the United
States to the greatest upset in hockey history, the "Miracle on
Ice" victory over the mighty Soviet machine in the 1980
semifinals. The Americans went on to win the gold medal, their only
one since 1960. Brooks died in a car accident in 2003.
"I just wish my father was still alive to enjoy this moment,"
son Dan Brooks said. "I know he's looking down and is very proud
of this honor. ... He felt the U.S. player could compete at all
levels of hockey, especially the NHL."
Brooks led the University of Minnesota to three NCAA titles and
also coached the New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars, New
Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins.
"On behalf of the entire Pittsburgh Penguins organization, I
want to congratulate the Brooks family on this prestigious honor
for Herb," Mario Lemieux said. "Herb's passion and dedication to
the growth of hockey in the United States was second to none. He
was a valued member of the Penguins organization and we are
thrilled and proud that he has been bestowed this tremendous
honor."
Roy won four Stanley Cup championships and three Vezina Trophies
as the NHL's top goalie in 19 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens
and Colorado Avalanche. He retired in 2003 as the league's career
leader with 551 regular-season victories.
"It was a great career," the 40-year-old Roy said. "It was
fun, every minute of it, and I'm happy to still be involved in
hockey today. Hockey is my passion."
Roy was on the Avalanche teams that won the Stanley Cup in 1996
and 2001.
"We were all privileged to have had the opportunity to see
Patrick for so many years in an Avalanche uniform. He was a great
leader and ambassador of the game whose passion and determination
was second-to-none," said Avs President Pierre Lacroix.
Duff played with Toronto, Montreal, Los Angeles, Buffalo and the
New York Rangers during an 18-year career that ended in 1972. He
won a total of six Stanley Cups with the Maple Leafs and the
Canadiens, was a seven-time All-Star and finished his career with
283 goals and 572 points in 1,030 games.
"I was almost in tears," Duff said. "This means a lot to me,
just like playing hockey meant a lot to me."
Hotchkiss was part of the group that moved the Flames to Calgary
from Atlanta. He's still a part owner of the team, and is the
chairman of the NHL's Board of Governors.