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US Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2007

Aaron Broten
Bobby Carpenter
John MacInnes
John Vanbiesbrouck


AARON BROTEN
2007 United States Hockey Hall of Fame Enshrinee

Known as an outstanding playmaker and a solid two-way player, Minnesota-born and raised Aaron Broten left his mark on hockey in America from high school all the way to the National Hockey League.

Broten burst onto the Minnesota hockey scene as a player for Roseau High School.  There, he helped the Rams get to the Minnesota state tournament three times.  In his three-year career with the Rams, he totaled 260 points (150-150).  Broten was recruited to play hockey for the University of Minnesota, where he wasted no time in making an impact.

Broten was reunited with his line mates from Roseau High School his sophomore year at Minnesota.  He followed up his exceptional freshman campaign with another record-setting effort.  He set the Gophers’ all-time single-season record for assists (59) and points (106), and led Minnesota to the WCHA title and the NCAA championship game. 
 
In 1980, Broten was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the sixth round (106th overall) of the NHL Entry Draft.

Broten spent eight years in New Jersey and had his most successful professional season with the Devils.  In the franchise’s first year, he led the team with 55 points (16-39).  Broten set the Devils’ record for power-play goals in one game when he scored three against the New York Rangers in 1985.  He led the team once again with 79 points (26-53) in 1986-87.

Over his 12-year career, Broten also played for the Minnesota North Stars, Quebec Nordiques, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets.  He retired in 1992, having played in 748 NHL regular-season games.  Over his career, he totaled 186 goals and 329 assists for 515 points.

Internationally, Broten suited up for Team USA on eight occasions.  He participated in one world junior championship, five world championships and two Canada Cups. He tallied four goals and added three assists in five games to lead the 1979 U.S. National Junior Team.  In the 1987 World Championship, Broten recorded 11 points (5-6) in 10 games. 


BOBBY CARPENTER
2007 United States Hockey Hall of Fame Enshrinee

Carpenter’s spectacular playing career included winning three Stanley Cup titles – one as a player and two as a coach – and becoming the first player in the history of the United States, to go directly from high school to the National Hockey League.
                                    
NHL scouts took notice of Carpenter during his stellar career at St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, MA.  His sophomore year, he led the team to the 1979 Massachusetts State Championship with 54 points (23-31) in 23 games.  In his junior season, Carpenter totaled 65 points (28-37) in 33 games for the Eagles.  He played in only 18 games his senior season, but still amassed 14 goals and 24 assists for 38 points.  In his final two years at St. John’s, he was named Massachusetts High School Player of the Year.

Carpenter appeared on the cover of the Feb. 23, 1981, issue of Sports Illustrated, a rare feat for a hockey player, let alone a high school hockey player.  The story labeled him the “Can’t-Miss Kid” and the greatest high school hockey player in history. 

The Washington Capitals traded up to select Carpenter with the third overall pick in the 1981 NHL Draft.  At the time, no American-developed player had been selected that high in the NHL Draft.

Carpenter went on to have a highly successful 18-year NHL career, spending time with the Capitals, New York Rangers, LA Kings, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils.  In 1,178 NHL regular-season games, Carpenter compiled 728 points (320-408).  He totaled 63 points (25-38) in 144 Stanley Cup playoff games.  H ranks third all-time among American-developed players in NHL games played.

As an 18-yr old rookie, Carpenter played in 80 games for the Capitals in the 1981-82 season.  In the first game of his NHL career, he notched two points (1-1) against the Buffalo Sabres, just one year removed from high school. Carpenter tallied 32 goals and 67 points, both team records for a rookie at the time.  He also set the Capitals’ record for consecutive games played (442) from Oct. 7, 1981, to Nov. 22, 1986.

Carpenter became the first American-born player to record 50 goals in a season in 1984-85. That year, he led Washington with 53 goals and added 42 assists for 95 points and played in the 1985 NHL All-Star game.

Carpenter helped the Bruins win the President’s Trophy in 1989-90 and notched four goals and six assists on Boston’s run to the Stanley Cup finals.

When Carpenter joined the New Hersey Devils, he modified his game from that of a goal-scorer to more of a defensive-minded forward.  He became a valuable member of the penalty kill and in 1995, played a significant role in helping the Devils capture their first Stanley Cup title.

Carpenter went on to coach in the pro ranks, spending time as both an assistant coach and head coach with Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League and as an assistant coach with the Devils.  He helped guide New Jersey to two more Stanley Cups in 2000 and 2003.

Internationally, Carpenter participated in one world junior championship, one world championship and two Canada Cups.  He led the 1981 U.S. National Junior Team with nine points (5-4) in five games and was named the team’s most valuable player.


JOHN MACINNES
2007 United States Hockey Hall of Fame Enshrinee

There are few people who contributed to the game of hockey in the United States more than the late John MacInnes.  He will go down as one of the greatest coaches in the history of collegiate hockey and an American-hockey pioneer.

MacInnes played college hockey for the University of Michigan.  He competed for two seasons in goal for the Wolverines (1945-46/1949-50) and spent three years (1946-49) in the Detroit Red Wings system in the International Hockey League.  After his playing days, MacInnes took on a whole new role in the game of hockey.

In 1952, MacInnes, who was born in Toronto, Ontario, was naturalized as a U.S citizen and became the director of the Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey League.  During his time with the league, MacInnes initiated the first Bantam classification for the under-13 age group.  After four successful years of building hockey in Ann Arbor, he left for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to become the men’s ice hockey coach at Michigan Tech University.

Over the next 26 years, MacInnes compiled a record of 555-295-39. Michigan Tech soon became known as a national power in collegiate hockey under MacInnes.  He guided the Huskies to three NCAA championships (1962, 1965 1975) and seven Western Collegiate Hockey Association titles. MacInnes was named NCAA Coach of the Year twice (1970, 1976) and WCHA Coach of the Year six times.

MacInnes coached 21 All-Americans and his teams posted winning records against every WCHA team.  His teams finished in the top four of the WCHA 17 times, more than any team in the league during his tenure.  The Huskies never missed the WCHA playoffs under MacInnes.  Of all his accomplishments, MacInnes was most proud of the fact that 94 percent of his hockey letter winners graduated with degrees.  When he retired in 1982, MacInnes left as college hockey’s all-time winningest coach.

Hockey in the State of Michigan would not be the same without John MacInnes   He served on the Board of Directors for the Copper Country Junior Hockey League from 1962-67.  MacInnes co-founded the Great Lakes Invitational Tournament in 1965, a tournament his team won nine times, including five-straight titles (1976-80). The trophy awarded to the most valuable player of the GLI Tournament is named in his honor.  MacInnes was also instrumental in starting high school hockey in the Upper Peninsula in 1969.

In 1980, MacInnes was named as a charter member of the American Hockey Coaches Association’s exclusive Pinnacle Club.

After his death in March of 1983, the impact that MacInnes had on the game was remembered.  The ACHA created the John MacInnes Award in 1983, an honor that yearly recognizes those who have shown a great concern for amateur hockey and youth programs.  MacInnes received the National Hockey League’s prestigious Lester Patrick Award in 1986.  In August of 1991, the Student Ice Arena at Michigan Tech was re-named the John J. MacInnes Student Ice Arena, and in 1999, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Committee bestowed upon MacInnes its Legend of College Hockey Award.

MacInnes has been inducted into the University of Michigan Hall of Honor, Michigan Tech University Sports Hall of Fame, State of Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame.


JOHN VANBIESBROUCK
2007 United States Hockey Hall of Fame Enshrinee

No American-born goaltender has won or played in more games in the National Hockey League than John “Breezer” Vanbiesbrouck.

After going unselected in the Ontario Hockey League’s midget draft, Vanbiesbrouck tried out for the league’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.  He made the team and had great success in his rookie campaign.  That season (1980-81), he won 31 games for the Greyhounds and earned the OHL’s Dinty Moore Trophy as the rookie goalie with the lowest goals-against average.

His performance caught the year of the New York Rangers, which selected him in the fourth round (72nd overall) of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft.  That same year, he made his NHL debut as an emergency call up.  In the game, the 18-year old made 30 saves and helped the Rangers earn a 2-1 victory.

After one more season with Sault Ste. Marie, Vanbiesbrouck was sent to the Rangers’ Central Hockey League affiliate, the Tulsa Oilers.  In his rookie season with Tulsa, he earned CHL First Team All-Star honors, the Terry Sawchuk Award for fewest goals against and the Tommy Ivan Award as the CHL’s most valuable player.  The following season (1984-85), he was promoted to the Rangers full time.

Over his 20-year NHL career, Vanbiesbrouck spent time with the Rangers, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils.  He played in 882 regular-season games and compiled a career record of 374-346-119.  His 374 wins and 882 games played rank first among American-born goaltenders in NHL history.  His career included 40 shutouts and a 2.98 goals-against average.  In 109 Stanley Cup playoff games, Vanbiesbrouck went 28-38, with five shutouts and a 2.67 GAA.

In 1986, Vanbiesbrouck was awarded the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender for the 1985-86 season.  He had a 31-21-5 record, three shutouts and a 3.32 GAA in that campaign. He also helped the Rangers win the President’s Trophy in 1991-92.

When Vanbiesbrouck was left unprotected in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft, the Florida Panthers made him their first pick.  He quickly became the face of the young franchise. During his first season with the club, he recorded 21 wins and 2.53 GAA en route to being named an NHL Second Team All-Star and runner-up for the Vezina Trophy.

In 1995-96, Vanbiesbrouck led the Panthers on an improbable run to the Stanley Cup finals.  During his five seasons with the team, he was named an all-star three times (1994, 1996-1997) and never had a GAA above 2.87.

Vanbiesbrouck continued his superb play after he signed as a free agent with the Flyers in 1998.  He won 27 games and posted a 2.18 GAA in 1998-99.  In the 1999-2000 season, Vanbiesbrouck compiled a 2.20 GAA and won 25 games for Philadelphia.

Following his retirement as a player in 2002, Vanbiesbrouck has remained involved in hockey.  He bought a share of his old junior team, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and served as head coach and general manager of the team. After stepping away from the Greyhounds, he worked with the Belle Tire elite youth hockey organization in Detroit.

On the international scene, Vanbiesbrouck has played for Team USA in two world junior championships, four world championships and two Canada Cups. He was also part of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team that competed at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.