The Hockey Hall of Fame announced yesterday that three very familiar foes to Dallas Stars fans would be among those honored with induction in Toronto in the fall. Chris Chelios, Scott Niedermayer, Brenden Shanahan, Fred Shero, and Geraldine Heaney all made the final cut for induction.
Dallas Stars fans were first introduced to the game of Chris Chelios during the early rivalry with the Chicago Blackhawks, and wouldn’t soon forget him, as he’d go on to play another full decade with the Detroit Red Wings when he was done. When he finally hung up his skates as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers, he was a 48 year old icon, known for his strength, leadership, and longevity beyond reproach. [Sun Times]
Another member of those Red Wings teams that were so successful and so despised in Dallas was Brendan Shanahan. He started his career as an enforcer with the New Jersey Devils, but soon blossomed into a legitimate power forward with the St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, and Detroit Red Wings. After closing out his career with short stints as a New York Ranger, and a return to the New Jersey Devils, Shanny became the czar of NHL disciplinary action. [STL Today]
Known equally for his time as a New Jersey Devil and captain of the Anaheim Ducks, Scott Niedermayer played with a quiet confidence that influenced every player in the locker room. Talented in every facet of the game, he is considered one of the prototypical two-way defensemen that every team in the league covets. His playoff beard could grow a better playoff beard than half the league, as well. [The Province]
Fred Shero is being posthumously inducted in the “Builders” category. Considered a hockey genius that was well before his time, Fred Shero used many modern tactics that were completely off the radar during his coaching career. He coached in the NHL for 10 years, with the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers, winning two Stanley Cups in the process. He died in 1990, at the age of 65. His induction has been a long time coming. [New York Post]
Geraldine Heaney rounds out this induction class, becoming just the third woman to be elected to the hall for her contributions on the ice in women’s hockey. Notable for her sterling career on the Canadian Olympic team, she joins teammate Angela James, and American Cammi Granato as the only female hockey players in the Hockey Hall of Fame. [Globe and Mail]
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The Sporting News took a look at this Hall of Fame induction class, and chose current NHL players that they see as comparables to the honorees. Spoiler Alert: A current Dallas Star is mentioned as a young Brendan Shanahan. I bet you can guess which one. [Sporting News]
Speaking of the Stars, Mike Heika recently opined on the Stars current lineups, based on the recent roster moves. Really, it’s anyone’s guess with the mix of centers, rookie wingers, playmakers, and shooters that the Stars currently employ. [Dallas Morning News]
The new star center of the Dallas Stars, Tyler Seguin, gets some praise from the original star center, Mike Modano. Modano says that he really likes what Seguin brings to the table, and jokes that he’s glad there wasn’t camera phones in everyone’s pocket back when he was a 21 year old hot shot. [Fox Sports Net]
There were some Stars fans on Twitter yesterday that were up in arms over Shawn Horcoff being given the #10 jersey at the press conference, saying that it’s much too soon to allow anyone to wear the number of the recently departed captain, Brenden Morrow. Horcoff understands the significance of the number, and promises to do it justice. [Inside Edge]
Anyone out there ever play Midway’s NHL Hitz series on their video game system of choice? There’s still a pretty hardcore following for the arcade series out there… so much so that one man has released an update for the Gamecube that brings the game into a more contemporary era. [Kotaku]
Today’s video is a tribute to Chris Chelios, in honor of his selection to the Hockey Hall of Fame. As unpopular as this opinion is among fans of the Dallas Stars, for my money, Chelios is the best American born player of all-time. He was everything you could want in a defenseman and captain, and he did it for longer than anyone could have ever imagined.