The Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2022 has officially been revealed, with a number of legendary figures earning inductions into the sport’s hallowed Hall.
This year’s class is made up of a collection of incredible talents, featuring Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Roberto Luongo, Daniel Alfredsson, and Riika Sallinen as the player inductees, while Herbert Carnegie earns a nod as a builder.
One of the best brother duos to ever play the game, Daniel and Henrik played their entire careers with the Vancouver Canucks, both breaking the 1,000-point barrier with Art Ross Trophies to their credit. The pair also won the 2006 Olympic gold together with Sweden, the last time the team managed to take the elusive title.
Luongo, a former teammate of the Sedins in Vancouver, never took home any major hardware himself but remained as one of the best goalies of his generation. His 489 wins put him fourth all-time in NHL history and he won two Olympics, two World Championships, and a World Cup, among other awards. Based on statistics, it’s hard to argue against Luongo.
After being passed over for many years that eventually spurred a spirited social media campaign, Ottawa Senators franchise legend Daniel Alfredsson has finally made the cut. In 1,246 career games, Alfredsson racked up 444 goals and 713 assists for 1,157 points, winning the Calder Trophy, the Mark Messier Leadership Award, and the King Clancy Award for his troubles.
Riika Sallinen is an undoubtedly deserving nominee who is one of the most decorated players in the history of women’s international ice hockey. Sallinen won three European Championship gold medals throughout her career, along with one silver and six bronze medals at the World Championship, and another three bronze medals at the Olympic Winter Games. In 81 games at the international level, Sallinen racked up an incredible 63 goals and 59 assists for 123 points, establishing herself as a dominant force.
And then there’s Herb Carnegie, who rounds out this year’s class and could not be a more deserving choice for this prestigious honor. Considered the first black hockey star, Carnegie is viewed by most as the best black player to never play in the NHL, while his fight against racism and bigotry helped pave the way for children of color to have a place in the game, too. This posthumous induction is just the latest in a long list of distinctions that Carnegie has been given, as he was awarded both the Ontario and Canadian Medal of Honor, as well as being inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
