United States Hockey Hall Of Fame Announces 2003 Inductees
June 24, 2003
EVELETH, Minn. - The United States Hockey Hall of Fame announced today, four individual inductees and one team to the American ice shrine in Eveleth, Minnesota. The new inductees are John Cunniff (deceased), a native of South Boston, Massachusetts; Dick Dougherty of International Falls, Minnesota; Mark Howe, of Detroit, Michigan; Pat LaFontaine, born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Pontiac, Michigan and the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team. The 1980 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team is the second team to be inducted into the Hall. The 1960 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team was the first team to be inducted in 2000. In celebration of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame's 30th Anniversary, the Hall will formally induct all four men and the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team at the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minnesota on Saturday, October 18th, 2003.
"In this 30th Anniversary year, we are especially proud to be honoring these four outstanding American hockey greats," said United States Hockey Hall of Fame Board of Directors, President James Findley. "We are also thrilled to be inducting the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team to this year's class," said Findley.
The Hall's 30th Annual Induction Ceremony and Dinner is Saturday, October 18th, 2003. The Induction Ceremony will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 18th, at the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth. The social hour will follow at 4:30 p.m. at the ROCC (curling club facility) next to the Hall of Fame, and the dinner will begin at 6:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $40 per person, $20 for students 18 and under and $300 for a table of 8 people. Tickets can be obtained by calling the United States Hockey Hall of Fame at 1-800-HHF-PUCK or 1-800-443-7825.
INDUCTEE BIOGRAPHIES TO FOLLOW:
John Cunniff (deceased)
South Boston, Massachusetts
July 9, 1944 - May 9, 2002
A native of South Boston, Massachusetts, Cunniff was twice named All-American at Boston College, in 1965 and 1966. He was a two-time All-East selection in 1964 and 1965 and a three-time All-New England selection in 1964, 1965 and 1966. As a player in international competition, Cunniff was a member of the 1967 U.S. Men's National Team and the 1968 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team in Grenoble, France. He completed a 12-year minor league playing career in 1980.
His involvement in 13 seasons with the Devils organization includes serving as head coach of the NHL club for two seasons, in 1989-90 and 1990-91. During this time, Cunniff guided the Devils to a 59-56-18 record in 133 regular-season games and an appearance in the 1990 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Prior to joining the Devils' organization, he was an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins for three seasons. In addition, he guided the Hartford Whalers for 13 games as head coach in 1982-83.
Cunniff's extensive experience with USA Hockey includes serving as associate coach during the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway, assistant coach for the 1998 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team in Nagano, Japan, and assistant coach for the 2002 U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey Team in Salt Lake City, Utah. Cunniff was named assistant coach for the United States team that captured the championship in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. He was an assistant coach for four U.S. National Teams (1982, 1991, 1992 and 1993) at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Men's World Championships, and was an assistant on two U.S. National Junior Teams (1992 and 1993) at the IIHF World Junior Championships. In addition, Cunniff was an assistant coach for Team USA in the 1981 Canada Cup tournament.
Cunniff served as head coach of the Albany River Rats -- the top minor-league affiliate of the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils for five seasons (1996-2001). He finished in 2000-01 as the AHL's longest tenured head coach at the time. During the 1999-2000 season he led Albany to its fourth consecutive appearance in the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs, two of which included berths in the conference finals (1996-97 and 1997-98). After posting a record of 187-169-39 as head coach with Albany, Cunniff transitioned to New Jersey's scouting staff in 2001.
Cunniff was inducted into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997, he was named the 1998 Walter Yaciuk Award Winner for his outstanding contribution to USA Hockey's coaching education program and in 2002, he was posthumously honored with the USA Hockey Distinguished Achievement Award. Cunniff raised four children Christopher, Patrice, Paula and David. He passed away on May 9, 2002 following an extended battle with cancer.
Richard Dougherty
International Falls, Minnesota
August 5, 1932
Considered one of the top five players in the United States in the 1950's, Dougherty began his hockey career on the first varsity hockey team to come out of International Falls High School in 1949. He was a standout defensemen for the Broncos in 1950, when in that same year; he led his team to their first state tournament. He was also named to the All-Tournament Team in 1950.
Dougherty played three seasons for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers as a forward (1951-52, 1952-53 and 1953-54). In 1953-54, he was named to the American Hockey Coaches Association All-American Team. Dougherty is 10th on the Gophers' all-time scoring list with 187 points, and fifth with 109 goals. Dougherty helped Minnesota compile consecutive 23-win seasons and reach the NCAA Championship Game in 1953 and 1954. An avid point getter, Dougherty led the Gophers with 42 goals during the 1953-54 season, and tied for the team lead with 32 goals during the 1951-52 season.
In International competition, Dougherty also gained success. He was a member of the silver medal-winning 1956 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team that competed in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy. He also played for the 1955 U.S. Men's National Team that placed fourth in Dusseldorf and Dortmund, Germany at the IIHF World Championships. In addition, Dougherty played for the Warroad Lakers in 1955, which won the United States Senior National Championship in Great Falls, Montana. Dougherty completed his career as a Green Bay Bobcat of the United States Hockey League, where he played seven seasons from 1958-59 through 1965-66.
Dougherty resides in Green Bay. He and his wife, Judy, raised three children, John, Mary Jane and Jenny.
Mark Howe
Detroit, MI
May 28, 1955
A Detroit, Michigan native, Howe, was already considered one of the finest young players in the game, when at age 16, he was a key member of the silver medal -winning 1972 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team that competed in Sapporo, Japan. Howe also competed in the team's Pre-Olympic Tour that season, as well as the 1981 Canada Cup, where he notched four assists in six games played for Team USA.
Howe exploded onto the pro hockey scene in 1973-74 with 38 goals, and 41 assists. He was named WHA Rookie of the Year and was a key member of the Houston Aeros' championship team in his first year. Howe played an amazing 22 seasons in the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association, beginning with the 1973-74 season and ending with the 1994-95 season.
In his 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, (1982-83 to 1991-92), Howe is the team's all-time leader among defensemen in goals (138), assists (342) and points (480). He holds the record for the second-highest scoring defenseman in professional hockey after Paul Coffey, with 1,247 points (197-545-742 in 929 NHL games and 208-247-505 in 426 WHA games). Howe was a three-time runner up for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the NHL's best defenseman in 1983, 1986 and 1987. A three-time First-Team All-Star in 1983, 1986 and 1987, Howe also played in four NHL All-Star Games in 1983, 1986, 1987 and 1988. In the 1985-86 season, Howe led the NHL with a plus/minus rating of +85. Howe played in three Stanley Cup Finals in 1985, 1987 and 1995 and won two Avco Cups as a member of the WHA's Houston Aeros in 1974 and 1975. In 1974, Howe received the Lou Kaplan Award as the WHA's Rookie of the Year. Howe was inducted into the Philadelphia Flyer's Hall Of Fame in 2001.
Howe and his wife, Ginger, reside in Detroit and have three children, Travis, Nolan and Azia.
Pat LaFontaine
St. Louis, Missouri
February 22, 1965
LaFontaine, born in St. Louis Missouri, and raised in Pontiac, Michigan, had an outstanding international career in addition to his 15-year National Hockey League career. He played one season (1982-83) of junior hockey for Verdun in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and was honored as the Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year. His USA Hockey playing experience includes leading his team in scoring with 10 points (5-5) in six games as a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team that competed in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. He was also a member of the 1989 U.S. National Team. LaFontaine helped lead Team USA to the title at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, scoring four points in five games. At the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, LaFontaine tallied one goal and one assist in four games played. LaFontaine was also a key component for the U.S. on the 1987 and 1991 Canada Cup tournaments.
Reaching the 1,000 point plateau in his final NHL season, LaFontaine is currently sixth all-time among Americans in points with 1,013 and third in goals with 468. LaFontaine played eight seasons with the New York Islanders (1983-84 through 1990-91 seasons), and six seasons as a Buffalo Sabre (1991-92 through 1996-97) where he captained the team from 1992-97. He finished his career with the New York Rangers in 1997-98. Remarkably, LaFontaine scored at least 40 goals in six consecutive seasons in the NHL. He played in 5 NHL All-Star Games in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993. After posting career-best marks for points (148) and assists (95) for the Sabres, LaFontaine was elected as an NHL Second Team All-Star in the 1992-93 season.
He received the Dodge/NHL Performer of the Year Award in 1989-90 after scoring 105 points, including a career-high, 54 goals for the Islanders. He was also awarded the NHL's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 1994-95 for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, and the USA Hockey Distinguished Achievement Award in 1993.
LaFontaine and his wife, Marybeth, reside in Lloyd Harbor, New York with their three children, Sarah, Brianna and Daniel.
1980 Gold Medal Olympic Hockey Team
Herb Brooks - Head Coach
Craig Patrick - Assistant Coach
Warren Strelow - Goalie Coach
Ralph Jasinski - General Manager
George Nagobads - Physician
Gary Smith - Trainer
Bud Kessel - Equipment Manager
Robert Fleming - Chairman, United states Olympic Hockey Committee
Bill Baker
Neal Broten
Dave Christian
Steve Christoff
Jim Craig
Mike Eruzione
John Harrington
Steve Janaszak
Mark Johnson
Rob McClanahan
Ken Morrow
Jack O'Callahan
Mark Pavelich
Mike Ramsey
Buss Schneider
Dave Silk
Eric Strobel
Bob Suter
Phil Verchota
Mark Wells
Entering the Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, the Americans were a decided underdog. Facing Sweden in the opening game, Bill Baker scored with 27 seconds remaining in the third period to gain a 2-2 tie. The goal acted as a catalyst for the young U.S. Team, which then upset Czechoslovakia 7-3. The inevitable letdown occurred against less highly regarded opponents, Norway, Rumania and West Germany - but victories were nonetheless gained.
This set the stage for the unexpected showdown in the medal round with the perennially powerful Soviets. The result was a historic 4-3 American victory produced by Mike Eruzione's goal midway through the third period. The gold medal was won two days later when the miracle Americans scored three goals in the third period to defeat Finland 4-2.
Their Road to the Gold:
Game 1 USA - 2 vs Sweden -2
Game 2 USA - 7 vs Czechoslovakia - 3
Game 3 USA - 5 vs Norway - 1
Game 4 USA - 7 vs Romania - 2
Game 5 USA - 4 vs West Germany - 2
Game 6 USA - 4 vs Russia - 3
Game 7 USA - 4 vs Finland - 2
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