Online Encyclopedia
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; it is devoted to ice hockey rather than the field variety of the game. It was founded in 1943 but no building was built until 1961 when a hall was opened on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).
In 1993 a new Hall of Fame building was opened at the corner of Yonge and Front Streets in Toronto.
Induction
For a person to be inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame, the person must be nominated by an 18-person selection committee, and must receive the support of three-quarters (15 members) of the committee. In any given year, there can be a maximum of four players, two builders, and one referee or linesman. For a player, referee, or linesman to be nominated, the person must have ended their on-ice careers for three years.
In the past, this waiting period was waived if a player was exceptionally good. This was done for ten players, after which the waiting period became mandatory. These players were:
- Dit Clapper
- Maurice Richard
- Ted Lindsay
- Red Kelly
- Terry Sawchuk
- Jean Beliveau
- Gordie Howe
- Bobby Orr
- Mario Lemieux
- Wayne Gretzky