Alex Mogilny finally elected to Hockey Hall of Fame, along with Chara, Botterill and more
Russian NHL star's long wait for enshrinement is over after more than 15 years.
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No one doubted Alex Mogilny must be tired after a 16-year wait to take his rightful place in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
But if he’d been sitting on one of his famous witticisms for Tuesday’s long-awaited announcement, people were disappointed. It was 3 a.m. wherever the pioneering Russian defector was on the other side of the world and after thanking the selection committee he went back to sleep and skipped the media call.
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Alex Mogilny finally elected to Hockey Hall of Fame, along with Chara, Botterill and more Back to video
“Every year there’s a challenge,” mused outgoing Hall chairman Lanny McDonald, who said he, Mike Gartner and selection committee head Ron Francis also tried 15 times to call Joe Thornton before he picked up just prior to jumping on a plane. As of Tuesday evening, Francis McDonald and new Hall chairman Mike Gartner hadn’t hooked up to inform the holidaying Zdeno Chara, either. American Brianna Decker, elected with Jennifer Botterill on the female players’ side, got the news on a John Deere riding mower in her small-town Wisconsin home.
“Holy (bleep), Holy Doodle,” an excited Thornton did blurt out.
It was still a big day for Mogilny, and three first-year eligibles, Chara, Thornton and Duncan Keith. They joined Botterill and Decker in the players category, while builders nominated were Team Canadian manager/coach Daniele Sauvageau and Boston University coaching legend Jack Parker.
After waking up Mogilny, Francis joked it would be a good time for him to open a bottle of vintage red wine Francis gifted him in their year together as Maple Leafs in 2003-04. Mogilny had assisted on a Francis milestone or contract bonus point and they had a good laugh about it.
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In addition to having a Stanley Cup and the same or better scoring numbers than former Iron Curtain players who were in the Hall or not far from it, Mogilny was rewarded for his bold decision to bolt his handlers at the 1989 world junior hockey championships in Stockholm. A slew of Russian stars followed as the wall came down.
“You look back over the years of making these calls and I know what Santa Claus feels like,” McDonald said as he cedes his position to Gartner. “Today’s call, thenb when Kevin Lowe and Doug Wilson waited 21 and 28 years, Mike Vernon was a (Calgary) teammate of mine (who appeared overlooked until 2023) then Rogie Vachon going 37 years to get it.
“Jack coached one team for 43 years and probably never dreamed of it. And how cool was that today?”
The 80-year-old Parker’s long list of NHL grads includes Keith Tkachuk, Tony Amonte and Jim Craig.
“It was a lot of fun, but that’s because we won a lot and had assistant coaches who found those good players,’ Parker said. “We have a sign in our coaches office: ‘Kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care’. ”
The long-serving Thornton and dominant defenders Chara and Keith were among many impressive first-year candidates that included goalies Carey Price, Tuukka Rask and forward Ryan Getzlaf. The selection committee does not comment on players who missed the cut.
Thorton didn’t win a Stanley Cup, though he and Keith were on great Canadian Olympic teams before best-on-best was shelved. Keith and Chara were Cup champs and won numerous Norris Trophys between them to jump to the head of the Hall line.
“Joe was older than me, but made young guys comfortable at the athletes’ village,” Keith said. “He was such a personable guy.
“You have an appreciation of his size, skill and being so strong on the pucks. Finding teammates, making them better players all around.”
“I hope when people look back, they’ll say I was a good teammate who they loved going into battle with in a big game.”
At 6-foot-9, the Slovakian Chara was the backbone of the Bruins.
“He was Incredible to watch,” said Botterill, putting on her broadcast commentator’s hat. “What stands out to me was not just the size, but the leadership he played with. He got the ultimate sign of respect.”
Botterill, a multi-Olympian who played under Sauvageau, now the general manager of Montreal’s PWHL club, has inspired young girls on two fronts, the ice and the TV studio.
“One thing I’ve understood, not every girl in North America has to play hockey,” Botterhill said. “But I know now it’s a choice (thanks to the proliferation of women’s hockey programs and the PWHL).
“I’m hopeful (getting behind the camera) is a small part of growing the game, just like scouting and coaching. I’m happy to see women getting the opportunity in the future.”
THE HHOF CLASS OF 2025
Zdeno Chara, defenceman
BORN: March 18, 1977, Trencin, Slovakia
HALL CALL: NHL leader in games played by a defenceman (1,680), also third most by all players in the quarter century of 1997-2022 … Won the Norris Trophy in 2008-09,and was a six-time finalist for the award … Totalled 680 points (209 goals, 471 assists) … At 6-foot-9 was the tallest NHL player of his time ..: Unleashed a record105 miles-per-hour slap shot at an NHL all-star game.
DID YOU KNOW: Can speak seven languages.
Joe Thornton, centre
BORN: July 2, 1979, St. Thomas, Ont.
HALL CALL: Ranks 14th in NHL points with 1,539, seventh in assists at 1,109, all accomplished in 1,714 games, sixth-most the league’s history … Winner of the Hart Trophy in 2005-06, the only player to earn it after being traded at mid-season (Boston to San Jose), while also leading the league in scoring that season … At the Olympics in 2010, helped Canada to a gold, as well as the World Cup title in ‘04 and ‘16.
DID YOU KNOW: Retired as the last NHLer to score at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Alex Mogilny, right winger
BORN: Feb. 18, 1968, Khabarovsk, Russia
HALL CALL: Won the 2000 Cup with New Jersey, making him a member of international hockey’s Triple Gold Club … Topped the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs in scoring various years Scored 76 goals in 77 games for the 1992-93 Sabres … Won the 2003 Lady Byng Trophy … Had 30 points in 14 games during two trips to the world junior championships before defecting.
Duncan Keith, defenceman
BORN: July 16, 1983, Winnipeg, Man.
HALL CALL: Three Stanley Cups with Chicago, and winner of two Norris Trophys … Won Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014 … Earned the 2015 Conn Smythe Trophy as Hawks’ playoff MVP … Had 20 points in 30 international games … Was part of one of the NHL’s great defensive tandems with Brent Seabrook … Played 1,256 NHL games and a further 151 in playoffs.
DID YOU KNOW: At age 10, his minor hockey coaches switched him from forward to defence.
Jennifer Botterill, forward
BORN: May 1, 1979, Ottawa, Ont.
HALL CALL: Raised in the Winnipeg area, she attended Harvard University … While not all her NCAA scoring records were recognized, she was the first two-time winner of the Patty Kazmaier college player of the year award … Youngest player on the Canadian team in the 1998 women’s Olympics and won three golds in her career … Now an analyst with Sportsnet.
DID YOU KNOW: Had a 10-point game versus Boston College.
Brianna Decker, forward
BORN: May 13, 1991, Dousman, Wisc.
HALL CALL: Won the Patty Kazmaier Award with the University of Wisconsin in 2012 … With the Boston Pride of the old NWHL, recorded the first hat trick in that league’s history. Also played for the Calgary Inferno … Won six world championship gold medals for the U.S. and one Olympic gold.
DID YOU KNOW: Now an associate coach at Shattuck-St. Mary’s and assistant with the U.S. under-18 women’s team.
BUILDERS
Daniele Sauvageau, coach/executive
BORN: April 22, 1962, Montreal, Que.
HALL CALL: Head coach of the Canadian national women’s team that won gold at the 2022 Olympics … First coach of the Canadian women’s U-19 team and assistant at the first women’s hockey Olympics in 1998 … First female assistant coach of the Montreal Rocket of the QMJHL … Now general manager of Montreal Victoire in the PWHL.
DID YOU KNOW: Served as a front-line officer with the RCMP and local law enforcement for 33 years.
Jack Parker, coach
BORN: March 11, 1945, Somerville, Mass.
HALL CALL: Has 47 years in all as player or coach at Boston University, spending 1968-2012 behind the bench … Won three NCAA titles among 13 Frozen Four appearances … Graduated close to 20 players to the NHL … Won 897 games, the most by one NCAA school … Five-time coach of the year.
DID YOU KNOW: Was offered the Bruins’ head coaching job in the 1990s.
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