Eddie Olczyk named to U.S. hockey hall

By Clare Walters For The Herald-News July 11, 2012 8:36AM
Palos Heights native Eddie Olczyk is one of three members of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012, USA Hockey announced Wednesday.

 Ed Olczyk | File photo

Olczyk, Lou Lamoriello and Mike Modano will be enshrined in the fall, at a date and location to be announced.

“What a remarkable class,” USA hockey president Ron DeGregorio said. “The positive impact this group has had on our sport is one that will be felt for decades to come.”

Olczyk was the third overall pick of the 1984 NHL draft by the Blackhawks. He played 16 years in the NHL, including two stints with the Hawks, and won a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994.

He finished his career with 342 goals, 452 assists and 794 points in 1,031 games.

Now an analyst on Blackhawks games and NHL games on NBC broadcasts, Olczyk also spent parts of two seasons as the coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“The Chicago Blackhawks would like to congratulate Eddie Olczyk and his entire family on the well-deserved honor,” Hawks CEO John McDonough said in a news release. “Eddie’s positive impact is felt through the entire organization, starting from the youth hockey level all the way to our players, coaches and front office staff. He is a great ambassador for the game of hockey and the city of Chicago. We couldn’t be more proud to have him as a member of our Blackhawks family and appreciate everything Eddie does for the club on a daily basis.”

Lamoriello, the longest-tenured general manager in the NHL, led New Jersey to Stanley Cup championships in 1995, 2000 and 2003.

Modano is the NHL’s all-time leader among American-born players with 561 goals and 1,374 points. He played 20 seasons with the Stars franchise before finishing his career with one season (2010-11) in Detroit.