RALEIGH, NC - The National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes today announced the establishment of the Carolina Hurricanes Hall of Fame to recognize players and contributors who have positively impacted the hockey club in such a way where their contributions cannot be overlooked. Rod Brind'Amour, Ron Francis and Glen Wesley, who have each had their jersey number retired by the Hurricanes, will receive immediate inclusion into the Hurricanes Hall of Fame. The inaugural Hall of Fame inductee(s) will be announced in the coming weeks, and the Hurricanes' inaugural Hall of Fame game will take place on Thursday, Feb. 16 against Montreal.
Canes Establish Hurricanes Hall of Fame
Brind'Amour, Francis and Wesley to be inducted automatically
"The Hurricanes Hall of Fame signifies that the organization has established great roots and tradition," said Brind'Amour, Hurricanes Head Coach and Hall of Fame inductee. "You have to start somewhere, and it's a big honor to be included. There are so many other Hurricanes who have and will put their stamp on hockey in Carolina, and it's important to recognize them."
Individuals nominated for the Hurricanes Hall of Fame will be broken into two categories: Players and Contributors. Eligible Players include skaters who have played at least 250 games with the Hurricanes, goaltenders who have played at least 100 games with the Hurricanes and any skaters or goaltenders who have won the Stanley Cup or other major NHL awards during their tenure with the Hurricanes. Players must demonstrate exceptional attributes in the areas of playing ability, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the Hurricanes, and they must not have played in a professional or international game during the season prior to their election. Eligible Contributors include non-uniform club personnel who have been employed by the Hurricanes for a minimum of 10 years and/or won the Stanley Cup or a major NHL award during their tenure with the Hurricanes. Contributors must demonstrate exceptional attributes in coaching, managerial or executive leadership, or have proven their ability in another significant off-ice role, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the Hurricanes, and they may be active or inactive in professional or international hockey at the time of their election.
Nominations for Players and Contributors may be submitted to the Hurricanes President and General Manager by all members of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee from August 1 through September 1 each calendar year. Each member may submit the name of one Player and one Contributor during each nomination cycle, and a maximum of one Player and one Contributor may be inducted into the Hurricanes Hall of Fame annually. However, there is no requirement that the maximum of either category be reached in any given election period. The nomination process will be blind to the Selection Committee, with the exception of the President and General Manager.
The Hurricanes Hall of Fame Selection Committee consists of the following individuals:
Seven days prior to the annual Selection Committee meeting in September, each member will receive the complete list of nominations along with the nomination forms provided by the individual committee members for review. At the annual Selection Committee meeting, the committee will first hold ballot elections in respect to the Player category, and secondly in respect to the Contributor category. Each committee member will receive a ballot listing all nominations received for each category and will then place their vote by secret ballot for one nominee in each category based upon their careful review of all nominations. For both categories, the President and General Manager will count the votes and reveal the top vote recipients to the committee. Any nominee receiving 70% of the vote, or nine votes with a 13-person committee, will receive automatic induction. If no nominee meets the requirements for automatic induction, a run-off ballot will be held for the two nominees receiving the most votes, with the nominee winning a majority of the run-off votes earning induction into the Hurricanes Hall of Fame.
The names of candidates who are nominated but not inducted in any given year shall not be disclosed at any time to the any person outside of the Hurricanes Hall of Fame Selection Committee, and eligible and/or nominated candidates shall not be informed of whether they have been nominated. No member of the Selection Committee or any other person present at the election meeting shall disclose any particulars from the Selection Committee's deliberations. After the Selection Committee has completed all balloting for election, the President and General Manager or a designated staff member will inform the inductees personally and release the names of those elected for general publication.
