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Mike G. Morreale

Inductees recall earliest hockey memories

Thursday, 12.17.2015 / 7:26 PM / U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

BOSTON -- Long before each newly inducted member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame became an important part of American hockey history, there was a moment when they each fell in love with the game.

That was certainly the case with Angela Ruggiero, Chris Drury and Ron DeGregorio. Mathieu Schneider (New York, N.Y.), had a different outlook when asked for his first connection with the game.

"It's strange because I don't know that I ever felt comfortable in my career," Schneider said. "You're always trying to survive, always trying to play another year, and you're trying to hang on. That's your life and that's what you know."

Emile Francis honored with Wayne Gretzky Award

Thursday, 12.17.2015 / 6:07 PM / U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

BOSTON -- The template for generating interest in hockey at the grassroots level that Emile Francis created more than five decades ago remains the foundation for every NHL team today.

"Here's a Canadian [from North Battleford, Saskatchewan] who comes to New York City in 1964 and he's concerned about helping the local kids," U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and close friend Lou Vairo told NHL.com. "What Emile Francis did is an unbelievable achievement that people all over hockey, and that includes America and elsewhere, should respect. What he helped do for hockey at the grassroots level, in my opinion, was worth more than 20 Stanley Cup titles."

Francis, 89, was honored with the Wayne Gretzky International Award at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony Thursday at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel.

'Winner' Drury enters U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Thursday, 12.17.2015 / 3:00 AM / U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

David Satriano - NHL.com Fantasy Staff Writer

The United States Hockey Hall of Fame will induct four new members on Thursday during a ceremony that includes two Lester Patrick Award winners. This week, NHL.com profiles the six people to be honored.

There are a lot of positive adjectives to describe Chris Drury, but perhaps one of his former coaches, John Tortorella, said it best.

"The first thought that comes to me with Drury is 'ultimate competitor.' He was a first-class teammate, all the little things he did in the room," said Tortorella, who coached Drury with the New York Rangers from 2008-11. "He was our captain when I was there. He's a gamer. He put points up on the board. He's been offensive, but you round it up in two words: competing and a gamer."

Tortorella said Drury never complained about anything and just went out and did his job.

"He played through injuries people didn't even know about," Tortorella said. "I have nothing but true respect for him. He was such a competitor. It was terrific to be around him."

Mathieu Schneider gets into U.S. Hall of Fame

Tuesday, 12.15.2015 / 3:00 AM / U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer

The United States Hockey Hall of Fame will induct four new members on Thursday during a ceremony that includes two Lester Patrick Award winners. This week, NHL.com profiles the six people to be honored.

The first two words Hall of Fame defenseman Brian Leetch thought of when asked about former teammate Mathieu Schneider were "underrated and underappreciated." Hall of Fame forward Brett Hull chose "undervalued."

It was telling how Schneider's former teammates saw him, and the respect they have for him.

"He was definitely overlooked as far his overall talent level and importance to his team," Leetch said.

Schneider will get what many believe to be his just due when he is inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Boston.

Bruins owner Jacobs to get Lester Patrick Trophy

Tuesday, 12.15.2015 / 3:00 AM / U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer

The United States Hockey Hall of Fame will induct four new members on Thursday during a ceremony that includes two Lester Patrick Award winners. This week, NHL.com profiles the six people to be honored.

The path of Jeremy Jacobs from successful executive in the food and hospitality business to owner of the Boston Bruins was quite simple, according to Jacobs.

"I knew somebody from Storer Broadcasting who told me it was available, they wanted to sell it, and I said, 'I want to buy it,'" Jacobs said. "That was it. It was such a win for us at all levels."

Jacobs, 75, will get a win for himself Thursday when he receives the Lester Patrick Trophy honoring his outstanding service to hockey in the United States during a reception in Boston.

Q&A with U.S. Hall of Fame inductee Angela Ruggiero

Monday, 12.14.2015 / 3:00 AM / U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Jon Lane - NHL.com Staff Writer

Angela Ruggiero will be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame on Dec. 17.

By the dawn of the 1998 Nagano Olympics, the United States women's team had played Canada 13 times in international competition, with Angela Ruggiero and Hayley Wickenheiser getting to know one another quite well.

The United States' best defender often was assigned to deny Canada's top center, regarded as the greatest to play the women's game. The rivalry was one of many elements that brought women's hockey into the international spotlight, beginning with Ruggiero and the United States defeating Wickenheiser and Canada for Olympic gold in '98.

"I lived to play Canada, I lived to play Wickenheiser," Ruggiero said. "When you have a caliber of a player like a Wickenheiser coming down the boards, and she's trying to beat you and you're trying to stop her, that's what you live for. It was a very intense rivalry, like Yankees-Red Sox and some of the best rivalries in sport."

Ruggiero's leadership puts her in U.S. Hall of Fame

Monday, 12.14.2015 / 3:00 AM / U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Jon Lane - NHL.com Staff Writer

The United States Hockey Hall of Fame will induct four new members on Thursday during a ceremony that includes two Lester Patrick Award winners. This week, NHL.com profiles the six people to be honored.

One of Angela Ruggiero's proudest moments as a defender for the United States women's hockey team came at the 2008 IIHF World Championship in Harbin, China.

Given the standards they set by winning gold medals at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and 2005 World Championship, as well as a handful of silver medals in between, the Americans were reeling. They disappointed with a bronze medal at the 2006 Turin Olympics and lost the gold-medal game to Canada in the World Championship a year later. In Harbin, Canada was the U.S. opponent in a qualifying-round game, and the last thing Ruggiero wanted to do was play for another bronze medal.

'Tireless worker' DeGregorio going into U.S. Hall

Sunday, 12.13.2015 / 3:00 AM / U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

The United States Hockey Hall of Fame will induct four new members on Thursday during a ceremony that includes two Lester Patrick Award winners. This week, NHL.com profiles the six people to be honored.

The passion and determination Ron DeGregorio exhibits each time he's faced with a challenge was probably best exemplified during a USA Hockey fundraiser 13 years ago.

The event featured the Olympic men's old-timers against the U.S. women's Olympic team at Walter Brown Arena on the campus of Boston University.

DeGregorio, a former goaltender at Middlebury College in Vermont, had to deny U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Karyn Bye Dietz from scoring from close range in a shootout during a break in the action.

Longtime scout Crocker getting Lester Patrick Trophy

Saturday, 12.12.2015 / 3:00 AM / U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

The United States Hockey Hall of Fame will induct four new members on Thursday during a ceremony that includes two Lester Patrick Award winners. This week, NHL.com profiles the six people to be honored.

Bob Crocker has one of the most decorated resumes of any NHL scout.

But to those who know him, Crocker did much more than help bring Boston University two national championships, the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League a Calder Cup, the New York Rangers a Stanley Cup, and the Los Angeles Kings two Stanley Cup titles.

"When God made Bob Crocker, he threw away the mold because Bob Crocker is a true gentleman in every aspect of the word," Ottawa Senators scout and NCAA recruiting coordinator Lou Mongelluzzo said. "His peers, 10 years younger than him, still call him 'Mr. Crocker.' That's the respect he gets."

Emile Francis to receive Wayne Gretzky award

Monday, 09.14.2015 / 3:00 PM / U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

NHL.com

Emile Francis, retired NHL goaltender, coach and executive, will be honored with the Wayne Gretzky International Award at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony Dec. 17 in Boston, USA Hockey announced Monday.

Established by the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999, the award pays tribute to those who have made major contributions to the growth and advancement of hockey in the United States.

"Emile Francis has had a tremendous impact on the development of hockey in the United States, particularly at the grassroots level," said USA Hockey president Jim Smith. "Because of him, the game is better."

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