The United States Hockey Hall of Fame announced its 2013 induction class this week. This year, the museum in Eveleth, Minnesota will enshrine Doug Weight, Bill Guerin, Peter Karmanos, Ron Mason, and Cindy Curley.
The US Hockey Hall of Fame Museum opened in 1973 and, per their website, “has honored and recognized outstanding coaches, players, builders and administrators who have contributed to the success and promotion of American Hockey.” Originally dubbed the National Shrine of American Hockey, the Hall established an agreement with USA Hockey in 2007 that gave the organization sole discretion of handling the induction process. This year’s class features a diverse representation of outstanding members of the American hockey community.
Doug Weight & Bill Guerin, seen here as St. Louis Blues in 2006, are headed to the US Hockey Hall of Fame; Mandatory Credit: Tom Gannam/Associated Press
The 2013 class is undoubtedly highlighted by two of the pillars of USA Hockey’s “greatest generation,” Doug Weight and Bill Guerin. The two were teammates with the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, and New York Islanders. However, the most notable team they both skated on was Team USA. The two forwards were both part of the USA Hockey’s most preeminent team, defeating Team Canada at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. The pair also won a silver medal for Team USA at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Weight played 1,238 games in the NHL, recording 278 goals and 755 assists for 1,033 career points, placing him seventh all-time among US-born skaters. The Warren, Michigan-native was drafted 34th overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers and also suited up for Edmonton, St. Louis, Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, and the Islanders before retiring following the 2010-11 season. Weight captured the Stanley Cup in 2006 as Carolina defeated his long-time former team, the Edmonton Oilers. He is currently an assistant on the Islanders coaching staff and a senior advisor to general manager Garth Snow.
Guerin was a two-time Stanley Cup champion, taking home hockey’s greatest prize with the New Jersey Devils in 1995 and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. Twice a 40-goal scorer, Guerin was selected fifth overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft by New Jersey. The Worcester, Massachusetts-native had his most prolific offensive seasons while playing for his hometown Boston Bruins in the middle of his career. He currently works in player development for the Penguins.
Peter Karmanos, Jr. is far from a universally-admired member of the American hockey landscape, having relocated the Hartford Whalers to Carolina during the early years of his ownership in the Hartford/Carolina franchise. Still, the Principal Owner/Governor and CEO of the Hurricanes has woven his part into the fabric of American hockey from the grassroots on up. His support of top tier youth hockey in the state of Michigan has produced NHL greats such as Mike Modano, Pat LaFontaine, Eric Lindros, Al Iafrate, Derian Hatcher, and Kevin Hatcher. Karmanos has also been involved in the ownership and/or promotion of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires and Plymouth Whalers, the ECHL’s Florida Everblades, and the NAHL’s Detroit Ambassadors. He was the 1997 recipient of the NHL’s Lester Patrick Award for contributions to the game of hockey in the United States.
Though Canadian-born, Ron Mason is one of the most successful coaches in NCAA hockey history. Mason was a collegiate head coach for almost forty years split between Lake Superior State, Bowling Green State, and Michigan State. He won two national titles, the 1972 NAIA Championship with Lake Superior State and the 1986 NCAA title with Michigan State. His Michigan State squads captured seven CCHA regular season titles, advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four seven times, and produced two Hobey Baker winners, Kip Miller and Ryan Miller. His 924 career wins total stood for ten years until Boston College’s Jerry York broke the mark in December, 2012.
Cindy Curley was a star for Team USA in the inaugural IIHF Women’s World Championship in 1990. She dominated that tournament, recording 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in just five games. All three of those scoring totals are still records for a single tournament. Curley also appeared in each of the next two World Championships, winning the silver medal in all three of her appearances. The Stow, Massachusetts-native previously starred at Providence College from 1981-85, winning ECAC Championships in her final two seasons. Following her playing career, Curley served as both a coach and an official and has been an active member of USA Hockey and the US Olympic board.
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