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Inductee Valeri Kharlamov |
TORONTO (June 8, 2005) — Jim Gregory, Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee, announced today that Valeri Kharlamov and Cam Neely have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player Category. In the Builder Category, former President of the Canadian Amateur Association, Murray Costello, was elected. The vote was made today at the annual meeting of the Selection Committee in Toronto.
"The Hockey Hall of Fame is proud to welcome these three outstanding individuals as Honoured Members," said Jim Gregory. "Their contributions to the game of hockey are well documented and their election to the Hockey Hall of Fame is richly deserved."
Born in 1948 in Moscow, Valeri Kharlamov's accomplishments belied his diminutive 5 ft 8 inch stature. He combined speed, strength, intelligence, spectacular skills and a natural goal scoring ability to fashion an outstanding 14- year career with CSKA Moscow (Central Red Army) in the Soviet league. Kharlamov played in 436 regular season games, recording 293 goals and 214 assists while helping the Red Army team win 11 league championships. He participated in eleven consecutive IIHF World and European championships and helped the Soviet Union win gold on eight occasions. In other international play, he participated in three Olympic Games, winning gold in 1972 and 1976, and was a key member of one of the greatest lines in hockey history, partnering with Army teammates Boris Mikhailov (RW) and Vladimir Petrov (Centre).
"His talents were God-given and he could do practically everything — a smart play, a tricky pass, a precise shot," said Hall of Fame goaltender, Vladislav Tretiak. "Everything he did looked so easy, so elegant. His execution of hockey was aesthetic and he amazed millions."
Kharlamov and his wife died in a tragic car accident while returning from vacation on August 27, 1981, cutting short his brilliant career.
"This is a very big day for my family," said Alexander Kharlamov, Valeri's son. "I am proud of my father's memory and proud that his contributions to the game of hockey have been recognized with this tremendous honour."
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Inductee Cam Neely |
A native of Como, British Columbia, Cam Neely starred in the Western Hockey League with the Portland Winter Hawks and was a member of their 1982 Memorial Cup-winning team. Neely was drafted ninth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1983 Entry draft and played three seasons for the Canucks before he was traded to the Boston Bruins on June 6th, 1986. Neely played 10 seasons for the Bruins, recording three 50 or more goal seasons — including 50 goals in 44 games during the 1993-94 season — the third fastest of all-time.
Neely played a total of 726 NHL regular season games, scoring 395 goals and adding 299 assists, while scoring 55 goals during the Stanley Cup Playoff -- a Boston Bruins' team record. Severe hip, leg and knee injuries cost him all but 22 games from 1992-94, but his comeback was rewarded with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for dedication and perseverance in 1994. The Boston Bruins retired his Number 8 jersey on January 12th, 2004.
"Being selected is an incredible feeling and something that I never thought about when I played the game," said Neely. "Until I was 16 I didn't seriously even think about a career in the NHL and to receive this type of honour after you retire from the game is truly wonderful."
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Inductee Murray Costello |
In the Builder Category, Murray Costello was elected.
Costello began his professional hockey career playing parts of two seasons with the Boston Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings from 1954 - 55 to 1956 - 57. He left hockey for law school and later returned to work in several capacities in the Western Hockey League. He became President of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (now Hockey Canada) in 1979, holding that position until his retirement in 1998.
"I have been privileged to have the chance to live my life fulfilling my childhood passion," said Costello. "To be rewarded for doing it is really beyond anything that I ever expected."
The 2005 Induction Celebration will be held on Monday, November 7th, at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
For tickets, contact Kelly Masse
Hockey Hall of Fame
(416) 933-8212
[email protected] |
| Valeri Kharlamov |
- born January 14, 1948 in Moscow, Russia (formerly USSR)
- left wing, shot left, 5'8" tall, 165 pounds
- combined speed, strength, intelligence, spectacular skills and a natural goal scoring ability
- played fourteen seasons with CSKA Moscow (Central Red Army) in the Soviet league
- won eleven league championships (1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981)
- played 436 regular season games, recording 293 goals, 214 assists and 507 points
- participated in eleven consecutive IIHF World and European Championships
- helped the former Soviet Union win eight gold medals (1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979) plus two silver medals and one bronze medal
- tied for fifth in IIHF World Championship appearances with 11
- tied for seventh in IIHF games played at the World Championships with 105
- second all-time in points at the IIHF World Championships with 159
- fifteenth overall for most national games played (Worlds and Olympics) with 287
- named Best Forward at the World and European Championships in 1976
- voted to the Tournament All-Star team in 1972, 1973 and 1976
- participated in three Olympic Winter Games, helping the former Soviet Union win two gold medals (1972, 1976)
- in 40 games played against North American team pros, Kharlamov scored 19 goals and 29 assists
- member of the Army Line, regarded as one of the best lines in hockey history, playing with Boris Mikhailov (RW) and Vladimir Petrov (C)
- was honoured with the Merited Master of Sport, a top Russian sports title, in 1969
- while returning from a vacation on August 27, 1981, Valeri Kharlamov and his wife died from injuries sustained in a car accident
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| Cam Neely |
- born June 6, 1965 in Comox, British Columbia
- 6'1", 215 pounds, right wing, shot right
- spent majority of his childhood in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
- cut from his first training camp with Victoria Cougars of WHL in 1981
- scored 73 goals, 68 assists and 141 points in his final season of midget hockey
- played two seasons for the Portland Winter Hawks of the WHL
- recorded 56 goals and 120 points during rookie season in 1982-83
- with Portland entered as host team, Neely and the Winter Hawks captured the Memorial Cup in 1983
- recorded a hat trick in the championship game, including winning goal
- drafted ninth overall by Vancouver Canucks in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft
- first NHL season was 1983-84 with Vancouver Canucks
- returned to Portland after five games, then after only 19 junior games was returned to Vancouver to finish the season
- played three seasons for the Vancouver Canucks (1983-86)
- traded to the Boston Bruins on June 6, 1986
- played ten seasons for Boston (1986-96)
- missed all but nine games in 1991-92 and all but 13 games in 1992-93 due to severe hip, leg and knee injuries
- recorded three seasons with 50 or more goals, including career-high 55 goals in 1989-90
- scored 50 goals in 44 games during 1993-94; third fastest of all-time
- led the Bruins in goal scoring seven of 10 seasons
- named to the NHL Second All-Star Team four times (1988, 1990, 1991, 1994)
- awarded Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 1993-94 for dedication and perseverance
- all-time Bruins playoff goal scoring leader with 55
- collected career NHL regular season totals of 726 games played, 395 goals, 299 assists and 694 points
- in playoff action, Cam recorded 93 games played, 57 goals, 32 assists and 89 points
- considered one of the pre-eminent power forwards of his era
- injuries forced Neely to retire on September 5, 1996 at 31 years of age
- Boston Bruins officially retired his Number 8 jersey on January 12, 2004
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| Murray Costello |
- born on February 24, 1934 in South Porcupine, Ontario
- played with Toronto St. Michael's Majors of the OHA from 1950 to 1953
- split 1953-54 between junior Galt Black Hawks, AHL Hershey Bears and NHL Chicago Black Hawks
- played parts of two seasons with the Boston Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings from 1954-55 to 1956-57
- spent part of 1956-57 with the Edmonton Flyers of the WHL
- earned 13 goals and 19 assists in 162 NHL games
- reinstated as amateur in 1957-58 and went on to play for OHA Senior Windsor Bulldogs from 1958-62
- graduated from law school
- former Publicity Director of Western Hockey League
- General Manager of the WHL Seattle Totems
- appointed arbitrator by the World Hockey Association Players' Association
- president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (now Hockey Canada) from 1979-80 to 1997-98
- oversaw formation of Canadian women's team, helping nurture development of women's hockey
- member of IIHF Council since 1998
- chairman of both the IIHF Medical and IIHF Technical/Arena committees
- long-time member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee
- member of the Board of Directors, Hockey Hall of Fame
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