Dominik Hasek Inducted Into Hall Of Fame

It is official Buffalo Sabres fans – Dominik Hasek has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2014.

Not to take away from Hasek’s accomplishments, but his induction will be overshadowed by fellow inductee Pat Burns.

A push to get Burns into the Hall of Fame before he died fell short, but he will forever be immortalized among the best of the hockey world.  A distinguishing feature that the coach would have had – induction or not.

Dominik Hasek was likely the easiest choice for Hall of Fame induction.  Hasek won the Vezina Trophy as the leagues best goaltender six times.  He won the Hart Trophy twice, and has his name etched onto the Stanley Cup twice.  Hasek also has a slew of international awards, to include the Gold medal from the Nagano games.

Pat Burns makes it into the Hall posthumously – a year after a similar honor bestowed up Fred Shero.

Joining Burns and Hasek in the Hall will be first time ballot Peter Forsberg and Mike Modano.  Modano’s name makes it on the Stanley Cup in the same year that Dominik Hasek was denied his first chance at the Stanley Cup, the now infamous 1999 “No Goal”.

Second year ballot Rob Blake from the Los Angeles Kings rounds out the players and builders going into the Hall of Fame in November.

Joining the players and coach is long time referee Bill McCreary.  McCreay called almost 2,000 regular season NHL games, almost 300 playoff games, an All-Star Game, and participated in three Olympics as an official.

These men can call themselves inductees until November 17, 2014 – when they take their official place in the Hall of Fame alongside other great hockey names.  No longer is their legend in the eyes of the fans, but eternal.

Congratulations to this year’s Hockey Hall of Fame, Class of 2014.