TORONTO -- Mike Gartner, ranked fifth in career scoring with
708 goals, and Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton linemate Jari Kurri were
among four players elected Thursday to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Also elected were Russian great Vyacheslav Fetisov and Dale
Hawerchuk, who is 13th on the career scoring list with 1,409
points.
Pittsburgh general manager Craig Patrick, the architect of the
Penguins' two Stanley Cup teams, was chosen from among the hockey
executives.
"I couldn't talk for about 10 minutes, I was so choked up,"
Gartner said after he got the call from the Hall of Fame.
Gartner amassed his goals in 19 seasons with Washington,
Minnesota, New York, Toronto and Phoenix. The only players who have
scored more goals than Gartner are Gretzky (894), Gordie Howe
(801), Marcel Dionne (731) and Phil Esposito (717).
But the seven-time All-Star had another impressive statistic:
He's the only player with 15 consecutive 30-goal seasons.
Kurri, the first Finnish-born player in the Hall of Fame, is
14th on the career points list, one spot behind Hawerchuk, with 601
goals and 797 assists for 1,398 points.
"I had the chance to play with a great team and great players
like Wayne, Mark (Messier), and on and on. A lot of good
memories," said Kurri, an eight-time All-Star who also built a
reputation as an excellent checker during his years with the
Oilers, Los Angeles, New York Rangers, Anaheim and Colorado.
Fetisov is the second Russian-born player after goaltender
Vladislav Tretiak to enter the Hall of Fame. Fetisov played 10
years in the NHL with New Jersey and Detroit, but was at the peak of
his dominance as one the world's best defensemen when he played for
the powerful Soviet hockey teams that also included Igor Larionov
and Sergei Makarov.
All the retired players ahead of Hawerchuk on the career scoring
list are in the Hall of Fame.
He retired in 1997 when a hip injury ended his 16-year career
which included stops in Winnipeg, Buffalo, St. Louis and
Philadelphia.
Patrick, who won two Stanley Cups as GM of the Penguins in
1990-91 and '91-'92, couldn't believe he was chosen.
"I was shocked when I got the call today," he said. "I had no
idea I was even being considered for this."
Patrick was responsible for acquiring players such as Paul
Coffey, Ron Francis, Ulf Samuelson and Mark Recchi who complemented
Mario Lemieux.
A former NHL player, Patrick began his management career in
1980, serving as assistant coach and assistant general manager for
the U.S. Olympic hockey team that won the gold medal. He was named
director of operations for the Rangers and became the youngest
general manager in club history in 1981.
He was with the Rangers through the 1985-86 season before moving
to the Penguins three years later.
Patrick's grandfather, Lester, served as head coach and general
manager of the Rangers and led them to three Stanley Cups.
Patrick's father, Lynn, was a player and head coach with the
Rangers and went on to become general manager with the Boston
Bruins and St. Louis Blues. Patrick's great uncle, Frank, played
for years in the Pacific Coast Hockey League. All three are already
in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
A maximum of four players, one executive and one on-ice official
can be selected each year.
Among the other candidates who were eligible this year were Pat
LaFontaine, Kevin Lowe and Andy Moog.
The selection committee consists of 18 people appointed by the
Hall's board of directors. Members of the committee include:
chairman Jim Gregory, Ed Chynoweth, John Davidson, Red Fisher,
Cliff Fletcher, Emile Francis, Dick Irvin, Stan Mikita, Richard M.
Patrick, Marty Pavelich, Pat Quinn, Bertrand Raymond, Serge Savard,
Frank Selke, Harry Sinden, Frank Udvari, Al Arbour and Mike Emrick.
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