An NHL trailblazer, the man that ushered in unprecedented growth and the best statistical goalie in the gameB次元官网网址檚 history headline the Hockey Hall of FameB次元官网网址檚 class of 2018.

Willie OB次元官网网址橰ee, the NHLB次元官网网址檚 first black player, and league commissioner Gary Bettman will enter in the builder category, while former New Jersey Devils netminder Martin Brodeur sits at the top of the list of the four individuals set to be inducted in November for their on-ice skills.

B次元官网网址淚 was literally speechless,B次元官网网址� Bettman said on a conference call of his initial reaction to the news. B次元官网网址滻 was really focused on whether Willie OB次元官网网址橰ee was going to be selected.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 delighted Willie is going to be going in, and IB次元官网网址檓 delighted to be going in with him.B次元官网网址�

Also getting the call are five-time NHL all-star Martin St. Louis, Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 star Jayna Hefford and Russian great Alexander Yakushev.

Brodeur and St. Louis were eligible to be selected by the 18-member committee for the first time. Nominees require 75 per cent of the vote to make the cut.

OB次元官网网址橰ee will be the third black player in the Hall, joining Edmonton Oilers goalie Grant Fuhr and Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 national team captain Angela James.

The 82-year-old from Fredricton, N.B., was called up by the Boston Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958, making him the first black player in league history.

OB次元官网网址橰ee, who had a long career in the minors, played only 45 games in the NHL, but returned to the fold in 1996 as an ambassador.

He has been instrumental in the NHLB次元官网网址檚 Hockey is for Everyone program that introduces the game to children that might not normally see a path in the sport, while the league established the Willie OB次元官网网址橰ee Community Hero Award this season.

B次元官网网址淚 was laughing and I was crying,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橰ee said. B次元官网网址滻B次元官网网址檓 just so happy that IB次元官网网址檓 alive to be able to share this.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 not enough words to say how pleased I am.B次元官网网址�

Since Bettman was named commissioner in 1993, the NHL has grown from 24 to 31 teams with some US$5 billion in annual revenue.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 proud of the fact that at the league level and the club level there are hundreds if not thousands of people that are committed to and have been working very hard to grow the game,B次元官网网址� Bettman said. B次元官网网址漈here are more people now involved in hockey, watching hockey, fans of hockey, not just at the NHL level, but at all levels.B次元官网网址�

Brodeur is a three-time Stanley Cup winner, a four-time Vezina Trophy winner, a five-time winner of the Jennings Trophy, and is the NHLB次元官网网址檚 all-time leader in victories (691) and shutouts (125).

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an exciting time,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漎ou play your whole career and you donB次元官网网址檛 expect to get this phone call, but when it does, it definitely does feel pretty good.B次元官网网址�

The 46-year-old played 1,259 regular-season games with the New Jersey Devils before a brief seven-game stint with the St. Louis Blues, where he transitioned into the front office prior to becoming an assistant general manager.

B次元官网网址淓verybody dreams to play for one franchise and stay there your whole career, and I lived that dream for a long, long time,B次元官网网址� Brodeur said. B次元官网网址�(By joining the Blues) I was able to have an idea of whatB次元官网网址檚 going on outside of my little bubble there in New Jersey.

B次元官网网址淚 was really grateful for the opportunity to do that, but at the end of the day, New Jersey is where I played my whole career and this is what IB次元官网网址檓 going to retiring with the jersey on, thatB次元官网网址檚 for sure.B次元官网网址�

St. Louis went from not being drafted to a 17-year NHL career that included 1,134 regular-season games and 1,033 points.

He won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2003-04 and was on CanadaB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 Olympic team that won gold in 2014. He won the NHLB次元官网网址檚 Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2004 and is one of just six undrafted players in league history with 1,000-plus points.

B次元官网网址淲hen you retire and people start associating your name with the Hall of Fame my view was always respect the process,B次元官网网址� said St. Louis, 43. B次元官网网址滷or me to join the great players that are in now is unbelievable.B次元官网网址�

Standing just five foot eight, St. Louis was let go by the Calgary Flames in 2000 before catching on with the Lightning.

He said being told he was too small to make it spurred him on during tough times.

B次元官网网址淲hen people tried to discourage me along the way, thatB次元官网网址檚 just life,B次元官网网址� St. Louis said. B次元官网网址淚 definitely used that as a motivation in trying to prove people wrong.B次元官网网址�

A giant in the womenB次元官网网址檚 game, Hefford won four Olympic gold medals for Canada during her illustrious international career.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 certainly proud and honoured to be inducted alongside these great men,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檚 quite a class.B次元官网网址�

Yakushev starred for USSR at the 1972 Summit Series against Canada. Elected to the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 2003, he won Olympic gold in 1972 and 1976.

B次元官网网址淲e were lucky enough to get ahold of him in Russia,B次元官网网址� Hockey Hall of Fame chairman Lanny McDonald said. B次元官网网址滺e was actually playing a game of hockey with all his buddies B次元官网网址� 71 years old and still playing.B次元官网网址�

The Canadian Press

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