Hockey Hall of Fame Announces 2003 Inductees
TORONTO (June 11th, 2003) -- Jim Gregory,
Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection
Committee, announced today that former NHL
greats Grant Fuhr and Pat LaFontaine have been
elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player
Category. The vote was made today at the annual
meeting of the Selection Committee in Toronto.
"The Hockey Hall of Fame is proud to welcome
Grant and Pat as Honoured Members," said Jim
Gregory. "Their contributions to the game of
hockey are well documented and their election to
the Hall of Fame is richly deserved."
Grant Fuhr
A native of Spruce Grove, Alberta, Grant Fuhr
starred for the Victoria Cougars of the Western
Hockey League (WHL) and earned First Team
All-Star status in both the 1979-80 and 1980-81
seasons. His outstanding Junior play led the
Edmonton Oilers to make him their first round
selection (8th overall) in the 1981 NHL Entry
Draft. During his 19-year NHL career, Fuhr had
his greatest success in Edmonton, being an
integral component of five Stanley Cup teams
from 1983 to 1990.
"I am extremely excited to join some of my Oiler
teammates in the Hockey Hall of Fame" said Fuhr.
"After watching the Oilers as a kid play in the
WHA in my hometown, I was extremely fortunate to
join a very special group of hockey players on a
team that had great success."
Pat LaFontaine
After an outstanding 1982-83 regular season with
the Verdun Juniors of the Quebec Major Junior
Hockey League, the St. Louis, Missouri native
led his team to the Memorial Cup and was named
tournament MVP. In the 1983 Entry Draft, the New
York Islanders made Pat their first round
selection (3rd overall). Following a year with
the U.S. Olympic team, LaFontaine made the jump
to the Islanders where he played eight seasons
before being traded to the Buffalo Sabres. After
six seasons in Buffalo, LaFontaine played one
year for the New York Rangers before suffering a
career ending head injury. LaFontaine's career
highlights include scoring 30+ goals in nine of
his 15 NHL seasons, with six consecutive 40+
goal seasons.
"I am truly thrilled to receive this tremendous
honour," said LaFontaine. "Growing up in St.
Louis, I always played for the love of the game
and never dreamed this could ever lead to my
being a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame."
Mike Ilitch
In the Builder Category, Detroit Red Wings'
owner Mike Ilitch and long-time Junior coach
Brian Kilrea were both elected.
Ilitch purchased the Red Wings from the Norris
family in 1982, taking over a once-proud
organization that had been reduced to only 2,100
season ticket holders. Under his ownership,
Detroit has won nine Division Championships,
four Western Conference Championships and three
Stanley Cup victories.
"Hockey is a great sport and it has been a
delight for me to be associated with the quality
of people involved in the game," said Ilitch. "I
am proud to have supported amateur hockey and
proud of the Red Wings' organization we have
built in Detroit over the past 20 years."
Brian Kilrea
After a professional career that included AHL
Calder Cup Championships in 1960, 1961 and 1962
and NHL stints in Detroit and Los Angeles, Brian
Kilrea joined the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario
Hockey League as General Manager and Head Coach
for the 1974-75 season. Kilrea has consistently
held that post since then, with only three
seasons of interruption - two of which were as
coach of the New York Islanders.
On June 18th, the Hockey Hall of Fame will
celebrate the 10th Anniversary of its moved to
BCE Place in June 1993. The Hall will celebrate
this milestone with several special events,
including a free outdoor lunch hour concert at
BCE Place featuring The Jim Cuddy Band and
appearances of numerous Inductees from the past
10 years.
The 2003 Induction Celebration will be held on
Monday, November 3rd, at the Hockey Hall of Fame
in Toronto.
Please contact for more information:
Kelly Masse
Hockey Hall of Fame
(416) 933-8212
Pat LaFontaine
- Born on February 22, 1965 in St. Louis,
Missouri.
- Played one season of midget hockey with
Detroit Compuware in 1981-82.
- Recorded 175 goals, 149 assists & 324 points.
- Played one season for the Verdun Juniors of
the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in
1982-83.
- Led QMJHL with 104 goals, 130 assists & 234
points.
- Broke Guy Lafleur's QMJHL point-scoring record
with a 40-game streak.
- Broke Mike Bossy's QMJHL goals-by-a-rookie
record with 104.
- Named QMJHL 1st Team All-Star,
Rookie-of-the-Year, MVP, Playoff MVP, - Best Pro
Prospect & Most Sportsmanlike Player.
- Led Verdun to Memorial Cup Final, being named
Tournament MVP.
- Named Canadian Major Junior Hockey League
Player-of-the-Year in 1982-83.
- Drafted 3rd overall by the New York Islanders
in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft.
- Played 1983-84 season for the U.S. National
Team, including the 1984 Winter Olympics.
J- umped to NHL following Olympics for 1st NHL
season, 1983-84 with New York Islanders.
- Played 8 NHL seasons for the New York
Islanders (1984-91).
- Traded to Buffalo Sabres on October 25, 1991.
- Played 6 NHL seasons for the Buffalo Sabres
(1991-97).
- Traded to New York Rangers on September 29,
1997.
- Played one season for the New York Rangers,
suffering a career-ending head injury on March
16, 1998.
- Officially retired on October 12, 1999.
- Recorded six consecutive 40+ goal seasons.
- Recorded 30+ goals in 9 of 15 seasons.
- Recorded career-high 54 goals in 1989-90
- Recorded two 100+ point seasons, including
career-high 148 points in 1992-93.
- Played in five NHL All-Star Games.
- Named Dodge Performer-of-the-Year in 1989-90.
- Named a Second Team NHL All-Star in 1992-93
and won Bill Masterton - Trophy in 1994-95 for
dedication and perseverance.
- Recorded career NHL regular season totals of
865gp, 468g, 545a & 1,013 points.
- Recorded career NHL playoff totals of 69gp,
26g, 36a, 62 points.
- 54th NHL player to record 1,000 career points.
- Member of Team USA at 1998 Olympics.
- Member of Team USA at 1989 World Championship
- Member of Team USA at 1987 & 1991 Canada Cup's
and 1996 World Cup, capturing a silver medal in
1991 and a gold medal in 1996.
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