USA Hockey announced the members of its star studded 2023 induction class on Friday. Dustin Brown, Jamie Langenbrunner, Katie King Crowley, Brian Burke and Brian Murphy are set to be honoured at a ceremony on December 6th in Boston.
The USA Hockey Hall of Fame was incorporated in 1969, with its first class honoured in 1973. Inductees are chosen “on the basis of extraordinary contribution to the sport of hockey in the United States”. To date, there are over 200 members enshrined, with 2023’s class being the 51st induction in the history of the organization.
“It’s an amazing Class and a group that truly reflects extraordinary,” said USA Hockey President Mike Trimboli. “Their accomplishments are varied and far-reaching, and the positive impact they’ve had on the game — and will continue to have — will no doubt benefit generations to come.”
Dustin Brown is a 2x Stanley Cup champion with the Los Angeles Kings as well as a two-time Olympian. The Ithaca, NY native had an 18 year NHL career with over 1,296 regular season games played. During that time, he amassed 712 points (325G, 387A), along with a silver medal at the 2010 Olympic games, and a bronze medal at the 2004 IIHF World Championships.
Upon his retirement in 2022, the Kings unveiled a statue of him outside Crypto.com arena and also retired his number 23 jersey.
Jamie Langenbrunner was also a 2x Stanley Cup champion, and multiple time Olympian who played 1,109 regular season NHL games with Dallas, New Jersey and St. Louis. In 2009 he became the first player since Wayne Gretzky to score at least 2 goals in 3 consecutive games.
After his playing career, he entered the front office ranks where he currently serves as the assistant GM for the Boston Bruins.
Katie King Crowley was a dynamic scorer for the US Women’s Hockey teams from 1997-2006 where she was a 3x Olympic medallist. Her 14 Olympic goals are currently tied for 1st all time in US program history. A multi-sport athlete, Crowley attended Brown University where she holds several school records in both hockey and softball to this day.
Brian Burke is a hockey lifer who began as a player agent before breaking into the front office ranks with the Vancouver Canucks in 1987. Some of his famous moves include acquiring both Sedin twins in Vancouver, helping assemble the 2007 Stanley Cup winning Anaheim Ducks roster, and serving as Maple Leafs GM for several years where his sound bites were always a media favourite.
And finally Brian Murphy is one of only two Americans, and eight total individuals to have officiated over 2,000 NHL regular season games. Over the course of a 32 year career spanning 1988-2020 Murphy took the ice for 9 Stanley Cup Finals and over 300 playoff games. His international resume also includes Olympic games, and IIHF World Championships as well.
His work off the ice to help mentor and train the next generation of officials is ongoing and has helped push the game forward Stateside for years.
The class of 2023 comes on the heels of another impressive list of enshrinees last year which included sledge hockey standout Steve Cash, Jim Johannson, Joelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, Monique Lamoureux-Morando, and former Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
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