Selanne, Kariya, Andreychuk headline 2017 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees
Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya, Dave Andreychuk, Mark Recchi, and Danielle Goyette were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as players Monday, while Clare Drake and Jeremy Jacobs were elected as builders.
Meet the HHOF Class of 2017. Dave Andreychuk, Danielle Goyette, Paul Kariya, Mark Recchi, Teemu Selanne, Clare Drake and Jeremy Jacobs. pic.twitter.com/fzwGJUZVZv
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 26, 2017
Selanne was seen as the biggest lock of this class. He set the bar early by setting an NHL-record 76 goals as a rookie in Winnipeg, and finished his career with 684 goals and 773 assists for 1,457 points in 1,451 games. He also won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007.
It's quite special that he'd enter the Hall alongside Paul Kariya, considering the pair were linked as linemates and friends during their stints in Anaheim and Colorado. Kariya, whose career was cut short due to concussion, recorded 989 points in 989 career games.
Dave Andreychuk and Mark Recchi have been patiently waiting to get the call from the Hall. Andreychuk captained Tampa Bay to a Stanley Cup in 2004, and finished his career with 640 goals and 698 assists in 1,639 games. Recchi is a three-time Cup winner, and sits 12th all time in NHL points with 1,533 (577 goals and 956 assists) in 1,652 games.
Goyette is one of the most successful women's players the game has seen, putting up massive amounts of points on the international stage while winning two gold medals and one silver for Canada at the Winter Olympics.
For the builders, Jacobs has been the owner of the Boston Bruins since 1975, while Drake coached the University of Alberta's Golden Bears for 28 years, winning six national championships.
This group of seven will be inducted in a ceremony Nov. 13 in Toronto.