2009 Inductees to the Hockey Hall of Fame

Ok, you are going to start hearing a bit of buzz in the hockey community as the induction ceremony is upon us. So, when you hear these names- you will have a bit to contribute to a conversation. A Clever Girl would start with, "Brett Hull? Isn't he being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year?" or "How cool is it that he and his father are the only father and son to be inducted into the Hall of Fame."

Non-Clever Girls start conversations with "Did you know ..." which automatically says to him you think he doesn't know and will end in an "I know" or "Of course I knew that", so what is the point? Another bad way to begin is "Who are the only father and son ...". This puts him on the spot and he might not laud you after he fumbles around in front of others only to not know the answer.

Clever Girls ask questions of their companions- even if they already know the answer. Oh and my least favorite Non-Clever Girl statement is "Want to make a bet?" Grrrr.

Brett Hull and his father, Bobby Hull, have the illustrious honor of being the only father and son to be inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame. This fearsome forward has an uncanny way of finding the net and did so when he scored the game winning goal in triple over time against the Buffalo Sabres to secure the Stanley Cup for the Dallas Stars in 1999. Soon after, Hull signed with the Detroit Red Wings and it wasn't long before he helped them obtain a cup as well.

Steve Yzerman began and ended his long running career (longest serving Captain in the history of the NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings. Though he has always personified grace and ingenuity- this gritty center was never afraid to get physical. In 1997, Steve Yzerman's dedication to the Red Wings culminated in a Stanley Cup win against the Philadephia Flyers which ended a 42 year Stanley drought. It would be his first of three cups as Captain and after retiring in 2006, Yzerman soon took the position of Executive Vice President of the Detroit Red Wings.

Brian Leetch began his NHL career with the New York Rangers and ended it sixteen years later with the Boston Bruins. He was one of the most accomplished defensemen in the history of the game and helped the Rangers end their Stanley cup drought of over fifty years in the 1993-94 season. When Mark Messier departed in 1997, Brian was named Captain and remained so until he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2003.

Lou Lamoriello is the only inductee this year who did not actually play in the NHL- after playing hockey in college and serving as a coach and athletic director, his love for hockey and gift for management and organization landed him the job of President of the New Jersey Devils. Soon after, he took over as General Manager of the team and lead them to three Stanley Cups during his tenure. Though he has had to assume the role of head coach several times with the Devils, he is the longest running General Manger of a single team in the history of the NHL.

Luc Robitaille played for five different teams during his NHL career and both started and finished with the Los Angeles Kings. In 2001, he signed with the Detroit Red Wings and finally secured his first Stanley Cup as the Wings celebrated their third in six years. He retired after 19 years in the NHL as the highest scoring left winger in the history of the league.

I know it's last minute notice, but an amazing Christmas gift for the ULTIMATE hockey fan would be a weekend visit to Toronto for this ceremony. Visit Break Away Weekend for details. On Friday will be an autograph session with the Detroit Red Wings! On Saturday guest speakers include Bobby Hull and Ted Lindsay. Sunday the festivities continue with the induction ceremony and Monday rounds out the experience with an Induction Gala.

When are we leaving?