AHL Corridor of Fame declares Class of 2020 | TheAHL.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League in the present day introduced the 4 folks chosen for induction into the American Hockey League Corridor of Fame because the Class of 2020.Honored by the AHL Corridor of Fame Choice Committee because the 15th group of enshrinees are Robbie Ftorek, Denis Hamel, Darren Haydar and Fred Thurier.“Since 1936, the historical past of the American Hockey League has been outlined by the individuals who have helped construct upon its basis of excellence,” stated David Andrews, AHL President and Chief Government Officer. “Every of those 4 people carried out on the highest ranges all through their careers, and the AHL Board of Governors unanimously endorses the Choice Committee’s suggestion for his or her induction into the American Hockey League Corridor of Fame because the Class of 2020.”The Class of 2020 can be honored as a part of the festivities on the 2020 AHL All-Star Traditional introduced by Ontario Worldwide Airport, hosted by the Ontario Reign. The American Hockey League Corridor of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony is scheduled for January 27, 2020.Fashioned in 2006 to acknowledge, honor and have fun people for his or her excellent achievements and contributions within the American Hockey League, the AHL Corridor of Fame is housed on-line at www.ahlhalloffame.com and is accessible to followers worldwide with the press of a mouse as a part of the AHL Web Community.In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League serves as the highest improvement league for the gamers, coaches, managers, executives, broadcasters and employees of all 31 Nationwide Hockey League groups. Almost 90 % of NHL gamers every year are American Hockey League graduates, and greater than 100 honored members of the Hockey Corridor of Fame frolicked within the AHL of their careers. CLASS OF 2020: ROBBIE FTOREKA veteran of almost 5 a long time in hockey as a participant and coach, Robbie Ftorek efficiently mixed participant improvement with successful throughout a powerful tenure behind American Hockey League benches.A local of Needham, Massachusetts, Ftorek turned professional with the AHL’s Virginia Wings in 1972, simply months after successful a silver medal with the USA Olympic workforce in Sapporo, Japan. Ftorek would whole 141 factors in 138 AHL video games over 13 professional seasons earlier than signing on to function head coach of the New Haven Nighthawks in 1985.Ftorek led New Haven to a pair of playoff appearances and was in first place on Dec. 9, 1987, when he was promoted to go coach of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. After two seasons in L.A., Ftorek was named head coach of the AHL’s Halifax Citadels, and earned one other promotion to the NHL after simply 4 months when he was elevated to an assistant’s function with the Quebec Nordiques.Ftorek joined the New Jersey Devils group in 1991 and loved his best AHL success. He received back-to-back Louis A.R. Pieri Awards because the league’s excellent coach, first in 1994-95 as he led the Albany River Rats to a Calder Cup championship, after which in 1995-96 on the power of a 54-win, 115-point common season, the most effective campaigns in league historical past. Ftorek’s time guiding the Devils’ prime prospects helped propel gamers like Martin Brodeur, Invoice Guerin, Steve Sullivan, Scott Pellerin, Brian Rolston, Mike Dunham and Jay Pandolfo to prolonged NHL careers.After turns operating benches in New Jersey and Boston, Ftorek returned to the AHL and coached Albany once more from 2003 to 2006. He at present ranks 11th all-time with 354 wins as an AHL head coach, and stays the one coach within the final 30 years to win the Pieri Award twice. CLASS OF 2020: DENIS HAMELDenis Hamel was one of many American Hockey League’s most harmful aim scorers over his 12 years on the circuit.A local of Lachute, Quebec, Hamel broke into the professional ranks with the Rochester People in 1998 and helped the membership attain back-to-back Calder Cup Finals, main the workforce with 34 objectives through the 1999-2000 season whereas additionally making the primary of his three AHL All-Star Traditional appearances.Hamel additionally performed 130 video games with the Buffalo Sabres earlier than signing with Ottawa in 2003, and his three years spent with the Binghamton Senators included a 91-point marketing campaign in 2005-06 during which he additionally captured the Willie Marshall Award for main the league with 56 objectives.NHL stints with Atlanta and Philadelphia adopted earlier than he returned to Binghamton in 2007; his first season again noticed him chosen to captain the Canadian AHL All-Star workforce on the occasion hosted by the Senators, and later earn the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as AHL Man of the Yr for his excellent work within the Binghamton neighborhood.Hamel accomplished his AHL tour with the Adirondack Phantoms, main the workforce in objectives in each 2010-11 and 2011-12.Hamel ranks 11th in AHL historical past with 338 objectives, topping the 20-goal mark in every of his final 10 seasons within the league, and totaled 651 factors in 850 video games. CLASS OF 2020: DARREN HAYDARHighly embellished, record-setting ahead Darren Haydar was a dominant performer over his 11 seasons within the American Hockey League.The native of Milton, Ontario, made a direct splash when he joined the Milwaukee Admirals in 2002-03, posting 75 factors in 75 video games and incomes the Dudley (Pink) Garrett Memorial Award because the AHL’s excellent rookie. The subsequent yr, Haydar adopted a 59-point common season by tallying 11 objectives and 26 factors in 22 postseason contests as Milwaukee captured its first Calder Cup championship.Haydar helped the Admirals again to the Calder Cup Finals in 2006, potting 92 factors within the common season and 35 extra within the playoffs. He then signed with the Atlanta Thrashers that offseason, setting the stage for one of the memorable campaigns in AHL historical past.Now with the Chicago Wolves, Haydar recorded a degree in 39 consecutive contests to start the 2006-07 season, averaging higher than two factors per sport through the longest scoring streak in AHL historical past. He went on to steer the league with 122 factors on the yr and earn MVP honors earlier than tallying 24 factors in 15 playoff outings, ending first general in playoff scoring for the third time in 4 springs.In 2007-08, Haydar wore the captain’s “C” for the Wolves and led them to a Calder Cup championship, on the best way turning into the AHL’s all-time chief in postseason objectives and factors. He spent one season in Grand Rapids and one in Cleveland earlier than returning to Chicago for his last three years within the league.The main profession scorer for each the Admirals’ and Wolves’ AHL franchises, Haydar totaled 788 factors in his 780 regular-season AHL video games, rating 14th all-time in scoring and 10th in assists (496), and he stays the league’s all-time chief in postseason objectives (63) and factors (143). CLASS OF 2020: FRED THURIERFred Thurier was one of many first bona fide stars within the fledgling days of the American Hockey League.Thurier’s professional debut got here with the Springfield Indians in 1937, and two years he later he was the membership’s main scorer with 60 factors in 54 video games. Thurier was named a First Group AHL All-Star as he recorded 60 factors in 41 video games in 1940-41, and he added 44 factors in simply 22 AHL contests in 1941-42, splitting time between Springfield and the NHL’s Brooklyn People.The native of Granby, Quebec, missed components of the subsequent two seasons whereas enlisted within the Canadian Military throughout World Conflict II, however rapidly returned to dominance with the Buffalo Bisons. He scored 33 objectives and totaled 73 factors in solely 39 video games through the common season and added 18 factors in 9 playoff contests because the Bisons rolled to the 1944 Calder Cup championship.After skating for the New York Rangers within the NHL in 1944-45, Thurier completed his profession over seven seasons with the AHL’s Cleveland Barons. He helped the Barons to a Calder Cup in 1948 after scoring a personal-best 36 objectives, and within the following years continued to climb the AHL’s profession leaderboard. On the ultimate day of the 1950-51 season, Thurier notched each his 300th aim and his 700th level, turning into the primary AHL participant ever to achieve both of these plateaus; a month later, Thurier and the Barons had been Calder Cup champions once more.Freddie “The Fox” Thurier retired in 1952 with extra factors in skilled hockey than some other participant thus far, together with 319 objectives, 425 assists and 744 factors in 642 AHL video games and a league-record 85 factors in postseason play. Thurier’s post-playing profession didn’t take him too removed from the motion; he served as an AHL linesman from 1953 to 1962.Thurier handed away in 1999 on the age of 82.  19-10-10_ahlhofstats