USA Hockey 2016 Hall of Fame Ceremony to Take Place in Philadelphia

The 2016 United States Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 30.

In making the announcement on Tuesday, USA Hockey also noted that the 2016 ceremony will mark the first time it has been held in the City of Brotherly Love. The Philadelphia Flyers and the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association, an affiliate of USA Hockey, will help host the event. 

The 2016 Hall of Fame Class, includes the 1996 United States World Cup Team, Craig Janney and Bill Belisle. 

Dave Ogrean, Executive Director of USA Hockey said, “We are excited to bring the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration to Philadelphia. It is one of our nation’s very top hockey cities, thanks in large part to the decades-long efforts of the late Ed Snider, and fans in the area will enjoy being part of enshrining the Class of 2016. This is always one of the most anticipated events on the calendar each year and we are grateful for the advance support we have received from the Flyers and our Atlantic Affiliate.”    

Ticket information and specific location details will be released in September. USA Hockey also noted that the Lester Patrick Trophy and Wayne Gretzky International Award recipients will also be honored during this year’s celebration. 

The 1996 World Cup team played the first sporting event at the Wells Fargo Center, known as the CoreStates Center, twenty years ago. In that game on August 31, 1996, Team USA defeated Team Canada, by a score of 5-3 in its opening game of the tournament. 

That team, helped to raise the bar for USA Hockey and inspire a new generation of US born players for the sport. 15 players from that squad have been enshrined into the US Hockey Hall of Fame, over the past few years as well. 

General manager Lou Lamoriello and Associate Coach John Cunniff, have also been inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

The 1996 tournament featured the United States facing off against Canada in the best of three final round, 20 years ago. 

Janney, was selected by the Boston Bruins in the first round, 13^th overall of the 1986 National Hockey League Draft. The Hartford, Connecticut native, played 760 games in the NHL between the Bruins, Lightning, New York Islanders, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, and the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes over 12 seasons. 

He was able to tally 188 goals and 563 assists. During the 1986 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, he led the United States to a bronze medal. 

He also represented Team USA during the 1987 and 1994 World Championships, 1988 Calgary Olympics as well as the 1991 Canada Cup. 

Before playing collegiately, two seasons, for Boston College, he played for Enfield High School in Connecticut and the Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. The 1986-1987 Hobey Baker Award finalist, put up 39 goals and 69 assists in 71 games, for the BC Eagles.

Belisle, 86, is the most successful high school coach in the nation. The coach of Mount St. Charles Academy, in Rhode Island, has won 32 state championships, including 26 straight from 1978 to 2003, over 41 years.

The 1948 Mount St. Charles graduate, has coach 20 players that have been drafted by NHL teams. Some of those players include, former NHL goaltender Brian Boucher, defenseman Keith Carney, forward Brian Lawton as well as Islanders general manager Garth Snow.

USA Hockey assumed the rights to the selection process and the ceremony just over 10 years ago, as they have shared the event ceremony with communities across the nation. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame enshrined its very first class, 43 years ago, back in 1973. Since then there have been 169 members honored in the hall. 

The United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum is located in Eveleth, Minnesota and open to the public. For the daily hours and admissions costs, visit www.ushockeyhallmuseum.com or call 1-800-443-7825.