NHL Announce the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2016

The National Hockey League announced the 2016 Hall of Fame Class on Monday as Eric Lindros, Rogie Vachon, Sergei Makarov and Pat Quinn were announced as the newest members. 

The four newest members will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario on November 14^th in a celebration held at the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

Lindros was one of the top players in the NHL during the 1990’s. Being named to the All-Rookie team in 1993 and winning the Hart Memorial Trophy while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers in 1995. That season he put up 70 points in 45 games. 

He was able to follow up those totals in 1995-1996 as he scored 115 points in 75 games, an NHL career high for him. Lindros said, “I was very fortunate to have coaches, teammates, billets and parents who supported me throughout my career. It also takes a lot of luck to get to the NHL.”  

In a career that lasted 431 games, from 1992 to 1999, he was able to score 600 points. In 48 playoff games, he scored 56 points and helped the Flyers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 1997. 

Lindros helped Canada capture the gold medal during the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and also during the 1991 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. 

While injuries limited his career to 760 games, he managed to score 372 goals and 492 assists between the Flyers, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars. 

Makarov spent the first 11 seasons of his career in Russia, where he won eight World Championship gold medals, two Olympic gold medals and two World Junior Championship gold medals. 

The Calgary Flames drafted him in the 12^th round of the 1983 NHL Draft, where he made his NHL debut in 1989 for the Flames. In 424 games between the Flames, Stars and San Jose Sharks he scored 384 points. 

Makarov said, “For everyone that plays the game, this is the top place. It will so be nice to join all of those great players.”   

Vachon, played between the pipes, from 1965 to 1982, for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings. He was able to help backstop the Canadiens to a Stanley Cup victory in 1969. 

Vachin said, “I was very lucky to play for the Canadiens at the start of my career. My first shot on net was a breakaway by Gordie Howe. I stopped it and it kept me in the league for 16 more years.”

 

Quinn, who was inducted into the Builder’s category, spent many years behind the bench for the Flyers, Kings, Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canuks and Edmonton Oilers. 

Following nine seasons as a player in the NHL, he joined the Flyers as an assistant coach in 1977. Over the next 40 years, he became a coach, manager and team President throughout the NHL and Team Canada. 

At the time of his death in 2014, he held the position of Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Quinn’s widow, Sandra Quinn said, “Being recognized by Pat’s peers is truly a great honor. I am proud of Pat and what he accomplished.”