Iginla, Hossa headline 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class

Prolific goal scorers and first-time eligibles Jarome Iginla and Marian Hossa highlight the 2020 class of inductees into the Hockey Hall of Fame, announced on Wednesday by the selection committee in Toronto. 

Iginla, whose 625 goals rank 17th in NHL history, and Hossa, a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, are among a group of honourees that also includes defencemen Kevin Lowe and Doug Wilson, Canadian women’s standout Kim St Pierre and long-time general manager Ken Holland.

“The Hockey Hall of Fame is proud to welcome these hockey legends as Honoured Members,” said Hall of Fame chairman Lanny McDonald. “Their contributions to the game of hockey are well documented and their election to the Hockey Hall of Fame is richly deserved.”

Iginla finished a stellar 20-year NHL career in 2017 with 1,300 points and twice won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy honouring the league’s top goal scorer. The Edmonton native also earned the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s points leader in 2003 and won gold medals representing Canada in the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics.

“This selection is hard to believe and makes me reflect and look back on my career,” said Iginla, who spent 16 of his 20 seasons with the Calgary Flames. “I was always just trying to make the NHL and this recognition means a lot to me and my family.” 

Iginla becomes the fourth black player to be enshrined, joining goaltender Grant Fuhr and pioneers Willie O’Ree and Angela James.

Hossa accumulated 525 goals and 609 assists over a 19-year NHL career that was cut short by a progressive skin disorder in 2017. The Slovak native was a key contributor to the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015 and made seven All-Star teams. 

“This honour means so much to me,” he said. “I would like to thank everyone who voted for me. I have learned so much about life through the game of hockey and am very appreciative of this recognition.”

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St Pierre, the seventh female elected to the Hall of Fame, helped Canada to three Olympic gold medals and five more at the Women’s World Championships as a goaltender. The 41-year-old recorded a 1.17 goals-against average for Team Canada during her international career. 

“Hockey has always been my passion and this is a very special honour,” she said. “When I was growing up it was only boys and when that changed my dream was able to come through. I’m grateful and would like to thank all of my coaches and family.” 

Lowe won five Stanley Cups as a shutdown defenceman with the Edmonton Oilers’ powerhouse teams of the 1980s and another with the New York Rangers in 1994. Wilson, the current general manager of the San Jose Sharks, compiled 237 goals and 590 assists over 14 seasons with Chicago and San Jose. 

Holland is recognised in the builder category as the architect of the Detroit Red Wings teams that captured the Stanley Cup in 1998, 2002 and 2008. He spent 22 seasons as the team’s general manager before taking the same position with the Oilers in May 2019.