Chelios, Suter enter U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
December 12, 2011 | Men's Hockey
Dec. 12, 2011
MADISON, Wis. -- Former Badger greats Chris Chelios and Gary Suter will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Monday evening in Chicago, the fifth and six Badgers to be awarded the honor.
Chelios and Suter will be inducted along with Mike “Doc” Emrick, Ed Snider and Keith Tkachuk in a ceremony at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel.
The pair join four previous Badger inductees in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, including "Badger" Bob Johnson (1991), Bob Suter and Mark Johnson (2003 as part of 1980 Olympic Team), Mark Johnson (2004 as an individual) and Mike Richter (2008).
With a professional career spanning 26 seasons, Chris Chelios is the all-time leader in games played by a defenseman in National Hockey League history (1,651). The second-round draft pick (40th overall) in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft of the Montreal Canadiens went on to win three Stanley Cups and three Norris Trophies, along with a silver medal with the U.S. at the 2002 Olympic Gmaes and an NCAA championship with the Badgers in 1983.
Chelios played seven seasons (1983-90) in Montreal, nine in both Chicago (1991-99) and Detroit (1998-2009) and one season in Atlanta (2009-10), amassing a total of 948 points (185-763) to rank 10th all-time among NHL defensemen. The Chicago native played in 11 NHL All-Star Games, representing three different teams.
Additionally, Chelios was a staple in international hockey for more than three decades. He is one of only two male players to represent the United States at four Olympic Winter Games (1984, 1998, 2002, 2006) and captained his final three Olympic squads. He also helped the U.S. defeat Canada to win the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, and represented his country a total of 10 times on the international stage.
"I've always kind of looked at Chris as a big brother in my hockey career," said Suter. "He was a great leader and a great player and I'm glad to be good friends with him."
Chelios was also inducted into the University of Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept. 2.
A two-year member of the Wisconsin hockey program, the defenseman helped the Badgers to the 1983 NCAA Championship as a member of the all-tournament team. Finishing with 22 goals and 75 assists in two seasons at Wisconsin, Chelios would later be named to the American Hockey Coaches Association All-Time West Team, the NCAA's 50th anniversary team in 1997 and the WCHA's top 50 players in 50 years in 2001-02.
• The Chicago Sun Times describes Chelios’ return to the city Sunday evening and why he received a much different reaction than usual.
• Chicago Tribune columnist Steve Rossenbloom calls Chelios the “greatest U.S. hockey player ever.”
• The Detroit Free Press lauds Chelios and his selfless attitude.
• ESPN.com has a video interview with Chelios on his career.
• NHL.com has a pair of stories about Chelios, including a feature covering his career and a story about what the defenseman has been up to since retirement.
• NHL.com has also put together a highlight video for Chelios’ career.
Gary Suter's 17-year NHL career included 844 points (203-641) in 1,145 games after being drafted by the Calgary Flames in the ninth round (180th overall) of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. Suter made an immediate impact with the Flames, tallying 68 points (18-50) en route to winning the Calder Trophy in 1986, which marked the first time an American-born player was named the NHL's top rookie.
A staple on the Calgary blue line for 10 seasons, Suter set a career-high in assists (70) and points (91) in the 1987-88 season and helped the Flames to the franchise's only Stanley Cup a year later. Suter spent five seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks (1993-98) and four years with the San Jose Sharks (1998-02) before retiring.
On the international stage, Suter earned a silver medal with the U.S. at the 2002 Olympics. He also helped the United States capture the first-ever World Cup of Hockey crown in 1996. In all, the Madison, Wis., native represented the United States in eight international events. Suter ranks fourth in NHL history in career points by an American defenseman.
"The work ethic is the thing I remember most about Gary. I can't tell you how many times we ran the stairs at Camp Randall," said Chelios. "I never had a chance to play with Gary until he got traded to Chicago and that was a great thrill for me to play with one of my best friends. We watched our kids grow up together and play hockey together. "
Suter played at Wisconsin from 1983-1985, scoring 15 goals and while recording 57 total points for the Badgers.
• USA Today’s Kevin Allen previews all five inductees going into the hall.
• Watch a video as four of the five inductees, including Suter and Chelios are introduced at Sunday’s Blackhawks game.
