Murray Costello, Cam Neely and Alexander Kharlamov (Valeri's son), pose for the camera Monday night during their induction ceremony.

Hall embraces three
more stars
By James Murphy
Special to NHL.com
Nov. 8, 2005

The Hockey Hall Of Fame was closed for business Monday due to renovations.

But these weren't your typical renovations. Instead of fixing the floor or the walls, Chairman and CEO Bill Hay, Vice-Chairman Jim Gregory, Media Relations director Kelly Masse and the whole crew at the Hall were busy enshrining three more hockey legends.

Cam Neely, Valeri Kharlamov and Murray Costello became the newest additions to the Hall of Fame Monday, each in their own way bringing even more magic and mystique to the walls of the hockey Mecca inside BCE Place and 30 Yonge Street in Toronto.

All three inductees received their honorary Hall of Fame rings from Gregory and Hay early in the day and the official ceremony took place inside the Great Hall Monday night.

"Aside from winning the Cup this has to be the pinnacle for any player or athlete to be honored this way and put in the Hall of Fame," said Neely, the man who epitomized "power forward" during his career with the Boston Bruins.

"I never really thought about this as a player and kind of just did my job and went out to play but you do think about it once you retire and you hear people start mentioning your name as a candidate," Neely said when asked if he ever thought induction was a possibility. "But there was really nothing I could do because it was out of my control."

As the last induction announcement approached in early June, Neely distracted himself by par taking in a favorite past time of any hockey player, golf. In fact as he told the assembled media at Monday's press conference, he was on a golf course when he got the call from the Hall.

"I actually had lined up a golf match for June 8 not realizing what the day was," Neely recalled. "So I was on the 17th hole and about to hit my approach shot. I had my ringer off but I kept looking at the phone and then I saw I had a missed call with a 416 area code and needless to say, I didn't finish the round. But I put birdies on for 17 and 18!"

Costello recalled the phone call he got too.

"I got a call and they told me I was in, but I didn't believe them at first," he said.

"But then when they said get ready, you have to a conference call with Cam Neely in a few hours, I knew it was for real. I just wondered how I had gotten this far but I was honored and thrilled."

Alexander Kharlamov who received the honor for his late father, who was inducted posthumously, said that the call he got served as an alarm clock.

"In Moscow it was three or four in the morning and I was sleeping," he said with a laugh. "So they said they were calling from Toronto and I didn't know what for but when I found out I was so happy."

All three inductees shared the same awe of induction to such a select circle and were happy they were able to do so playing or being involved with the game they love.

"To be able to make a living doing what I love and help the game and help others excel at it has been an honor and a pleasure," Costello said. "I just hope I've given and can continue to give to the game of hockey what the game has given to me."

Kharlamov said his father would feel the same way.

"I think my father right now is happy because he loved this game so much and he loved the way they treat him here in North America and Canada so this would make him happy," the proud son said.

Neely said he still struggles with the thought that he is a Hall of Famer now, but its been sinking in quickly the last three days.

"I had never been to the Hall of Fame before and I haven't had much time to sneak a peek but what I have seen is amazing and to be a part of this now is just incredible," he said.