Who's Next?

Much of hockey-loving Canada was left with the same question after Hockey Night in Canada's 10-hour marathon on Saturday.

Who the hell is P.J. Stock, and has anyone ever absorbed so much air time and said so very little?

But that was but a small blemish on what was a terrific Hall of Fame weekend, with Ron Francis, Al MacInnis, Scott Stevens and Mark Messier to be inducted Monday night, along with builder Jim Gregory.

As soon as that august group is installed, the chatter will almost immediately turn to next year and another intriguing discussion over who deserves to be honoured next.

So let's get ahead of that discussion, shall we?

Well, for starters it's time for a woman. Past time, really, and hopefully they'll get this ball rolling next year. Pick one of Shirley Cameron, Geraldine Heaney, Cammi Granato, Angela James, France St. Louis - whoever.

And for the rest?

Well, Igor Larionov should be a slam dunk. In fact, he should have been inducted this year. Only Mark Messier, really, had greater credentials, and the way in which the Hall of Fame selection process is still shrouded in complete and impenetrable secrecy makes it difficult to understand how the great Russian wasn't selected.

But, happily, his wait should only last a year.

Next, in my mind, should be former Edmonton sniper Glenn Anderson, one of the best big-game scorers in NHL history. There are suggestions personal grudges are behind this peculiar omission, which has gone on for several years, and again, the secret manner in which the votes are tabulated and nominations are made only adds to the speculation.

But Anderson was better than any number of the players who have been voted in recently, notably Bernie Federko and Clark Gillies.

Next year should be the year.

Finally, if you need a builder, then Lou Lamoriello should be your man. Not only has he won three Cups in New Jersey, he built a terrific college program in Providence and built the U.S. squad that stunned Canada at the 1996 World Cup.

Larionov, Anderson and Lamoriello, plus a deserving female. Then you'd have back-to-back outstanding classes of inductees.

Comments

[Don]

I agree, how the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee has omitted women from induction is beyond me. Canada has had an amazing women's team/program. The US has had a great women's program as well. Both producing excellent players who have advanced their sport into our living rooms.
Sometimes we do wonder at the selections, especially Glenn Anderson's omission.

[Ted]

I'm somewhat surprised that you mentioned Glenn Anderson seeing as "character" is one of the criteria for election to the HOF. Why then wouldn't you also include Dino Ciccarelli whose exploits were well documented in the press?

Glenn Anderson, Deadbeat Dad: Anderson was involved in bitter legal battle over child support for a boy he fathered out of wedlock in 1989. The case was settled out of court in the middle of a November 2002 trial in Vancouver. He had been sued by his ex-girlfriend, Patricia O'Connor, who gave birth to Anderson's son, Nicholas. Anderson was accused of owing O'Connor more than $125,000 in child support and hiding his financial assets so that his son couldn't lay claim to them. Anderson had no relationship with his son at the time of the suit, which was one of Canada's most high-profile "deadbeat dad" cases.

Ciccarelli's career featured several controversial moments, both on and off the ice. In 1987 he pleaded guilty to indecent exposure and received probation. Then on January 6, 1988, in a game played at Maple Leaf Gardens, Ciccarelli attacked Maple Leafs defenceman Luke Richardson with his stick. As a result of this incident, Ciccarelli was convicted of assault, fined $1000, and sentenced to one day in jail.

Maybe once all the old farts like me who remember these incidents are long gone, those individuals may be included in the HOF.

[Shaun]

on a side note -- Nice to FINALLY see the hot stove back with the proper people. It became a must miss so far this season.

My question is why is it limited to only 4 each season? Why not a baseball type system where there is a # of votes and if you reach the percentage then you are in. It's seems short sided to me that you are determined by year and not by your career.

Ted, the "deadbeat" issues shouldn't really matter when it comes to HOF. And remember there are always two sides to every story. Glenn deserves to be in the HOF as a big part of the Oilers team.

[Marijan Kalman]

First commission should be REVAMPED.From 16 members from N.A. and 2 from Europe it should change to 16 from Europe and 2 from N.A. From 18 members at least five should be women.

For this group to say that goons like Stevens and one dimensional players like MacInnis are better then Makarov, Larionov is beyond being stupid.It is IDIOTIC.

Makarov and Larionov are PhD-s as HOCKEY PLAYERS for Stevens and MacInnis!!!!!

They were better skaters,puck handlers, scorers and they won more titles than all four inductees together.
If Commission was from Europe these two would not be even nominated.

This induction means that Nicklas Lidstrom is in same league with Stevens or Pronger. Lidstrom is 16 times better than these goons, so they should not be in the same Hall.
Now they should make new Hall of Fame for players like Lidstrom, Sakic, Larionov, Yakushev, Forsberg, Kasatonov..... REAL HOCKEY PLAYERS NOT GOONS.
This is what happens when you have bunch of IDIOTS making important decisions.If they were few women in the commission this wouldn't happened.

I can't believe that Scotty Bowman is member of this body.I have now to question his sanity after this years decision.

I wish whole Toronto stays without Hydro from 6-11 pm tonight so nobody could listen to this travesty...

Marijan
Toronto

[stephen]

The Hall of Fame is meant to honour the best hockey players in the world. Is there a woman who's among the best hockey players in the world? I'm not aware of one, but if there is let us by all means vote her in at once. Any person -- regardless of sex -- who plays among the greats should be included, but unless you can be the best among the world's best (and not simply your sex's best), you don't belong in the hall.

[chris]

Memo to "old fart" Ted: get over yourself!

It's what you do on the ice that should matter whether you get into the Hall, not whether you're a "good guy of character" you think is important. Otherwise, you'll end up trying to dig into the past of player's lives to see if they meet the criteria.

Glenn Anderson deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, whether you believe him to be or not.

[Joe Nix]

"Now they should make new Hall of Fame for players like Lidstrom, Sakic, Larionov, Yakushev, Forsberg, Kasatonov..... REAL HOCKEY PLAYERS NOT GOONS."

agreed, maybe an honest Hall of Fame, not this Hall of Sham of biased personal interest selections behind a veil of secrecy. Or just forget the whole thing and push development and publishing of statistics including time on the ice, etc., in varying game situations. Let the goons and "big names" rise or fall on facts.

[Joel]

I agree with Stephen. At the very least, there has to be a female Gretzky to merit consideration. Even a female Gretzky couldn't survive the AHL (maybe a goalie excepted).

[Michael]

>>"Who the hell is P.J. Stock, and has anyone ever absorbed so much air time and said so very little?"

PJ Stock is an ex-NHL player.

as for your second question. The answer is "Yes. Don Cherry".