Brodeur, O'Ree, St. Louis highlight 2018 Hockey Hall of Fame class
The Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2018 was announced Tuesday, headlined by New Jersey Devils icon Martin Brodeur.
Martin St. Louis, Alexander Yakushev, and Jayna Hefford were also chosen in the player category. Willie O'Ree - the NHL's first black player - and commissioner Gary Bettman were elected as builders.
Brodeur was a first-ballot lock. The goaltender ranks first all time in wins (691) and shutouts (105) to go along with three Stanley Cups, four Vezina Trophies, five William M. Jennings Trophies, a Calder Trophy, and two Olympic gold medals. He owns a career save percentage of .912, and led the league in wins in nine different seasons throughout his time with New Jersey.
St. Louis, meanwhile, was one of the most prolific scorers of his era, accruing 391 goals and 642 assists in 1,134 career contests. The undrafted, undersized winger won the Art Ross Trophy twice, the Hart Trophy once, and the Lady Byng Trophy three times. He lifted the Stanley Cup in 2004 and won Olympic gold in 2014.
Hefford represented Canada internationally on numerous occasions, capturing an incredible four consecutive Olympic gold medals and scoring the winning goal in 2002. Yakushev has a polished international resume as well, having won gold for the Soviet Union in 1972 and 1976.
O'Ree broke the NHL's color barrier on January 18, 1958 with the Boston Bruins. The 82-year-old appeared in just 45 NHL games, but his legacy and his continued work as an ambassador for the league has finally earned official recognition by the Hall of Fame.
Lastly, Bettman got the nod in his 25th year as commissioner. Since he took over in 1993, the league has expanded from 24 to 31 teams. While he's received his fair share of criticism for - among other things - his push to expand the game in the southern United States, there's no denying his efforts to grow interest in non-traditional markets have benefited the NHL.
All six members will officially be inducted in November.
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