Mike Richter to U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
August 12, 2008 | Men's Hockey
Former Wisconsin great goaltender Mike Richter will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2008, USA Hockey announced on Tuesday.
Richter, along with Cammi Granato, Brett Hull and Brian Leetch, will be formally inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Denver at an induction dinner set for 7 p.m. MT on Friday, October 10, at Magness Arena on the campus of the University of Denver. The following evening -- Saturday, October 11 -- the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game will take place in the same venue, when the University of Denver men's ice hockey team takes on the University of Notre Dame at 7:07 p.m.
"The Class of 2008 is one of the most accomplished groups that's ever been inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame," said Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey. "It is indeed with great pleasure that we welcome them to the group of hockey immortals in our country."
Mike Richter played in 666 games during his 14-year NHL career, all with the New York Rangers. His 301 wins are more than any other Rangers goaltender and he helped the club win its first Stanley Cup in over 50 years. Playing full-time for the Rangers beginning with the 1990-91 season, he was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie in just his second full season in the NHL. In 1993-94, Richter was selected as the MVP of the NHL All-Star Game and went on to set a Rangers' single-season record with 42 wins in leading the team to the President's Trophy and its first Stanley Cup title since 1942. Beyond making a huge impact for the Rangers, Richter also was an integral part of the U.S. program for parts of three decades. He is one of just 10 Americans ever to compete in at least three Olympic Games (1988, 1998, 2002), including in 2002 when he helped the team capture the silver medal. In addition, he led Team USA to the World Cup of Hockey championship in 1996 and was named the tournament's MVP. He also played in two IIHF World Junior Championships (1985-86), three IIHF Men's World Championships (1986-87, 1993) and the 1991 Canada Cup. Richter, a three-time NHL All-Star, played two seasons of college hockey (1985-87) at the University of Wisconsin before beginning his professional career.
Granato, sister of former Badgers Tony, Don and Rob Granato and the cousin of former Badger Kevin Granato has played a key role in the growth of women's hockey across the world. After learning to play hockey in the backyard of her Downers Grove, Ill., home with her sister and four brothers, she later became a 15-year member of the U.S. Women's National Team beginning in 1990. Granato is the program's all-time scoring leader with 343 points (186-157) in 205 games. She achieved international fame by captaining Team USA to the gold medal at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, the first time women 's ice hockey was included in the Games. Four years later, she captained the United States to the silver medal at the 2002 Olympics. In her last international competition and ninth World Championship, she led Team USA to the gold medal, its first-ever in an IIHF World Women's Championship. In 2007, Granato received the NHL's Lester Patrick Award in recognition of outstanding service to hockey in the United States, and, in 2008, she was enshrined into the IIHF Hall of Fame. Granato will be the first female to be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
Leetch is a long-time former teammate of Richter's with the New York Rangers and one of the most accomplished American defensemen in history, while Hull, a former Minnesota Duluth Bulldog, played with Richter at the 2002 Olympics, helping Team USA to the silver medal.
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees are chosen on the basis of accomplishments in the game of hockey, sportsmanship, character, contributions to their team(s) or organization(s) and contributions to the game of hockey in general. A nominee must have distinguished him/herself by exceptional performance and outstanding character reflecting favorably upon the game of hockey.
Richter joins "Badger Bob" Johnson and Mark Johnson as former Badger inductees. Bob Suter is also part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as a member of the 1980 Olympic Team.
NOTES: Hull, Leetch and Richter are all among the 12 players voted to the All-Time USA Hockey Team in 1997 ... The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2008 was chosen by a 12-member selection committee ' The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame was founded in 1973. To date, there are 134 enshrined members in the Hall. For information on the members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, visit the Hall's official website at ushockeyhalloffame.com ... The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, located in Eveleth, Minn., is open daily. For hours of operation and admission prices, visit ushockeyhall.com or call 800-443-7825.
