In or Out?

In addition to the players and builders entering the Hockey Hall of Fame tonight, two members of the media are being honored for their contributions to hockey over the years.

John Davidson wins broadcasters' Foster Hewitt Award and Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wins the writers' Elmer Ferguson Award.

There seems to be some debate as to whether that really means they are HHOF inductees or not. Red Fisher explains:

I own a blue blazer adorned with the Hockey Hall of Fame logo. Beneath it are the words: "Honoured Member." I was introduced at the induction ceremony by Gordie Howe in 1985, along with three players and two builders, but roughly 20 years later Hall of Fame chairman Bill Hay had this message for the media people who serve on the players' and builders' selection committee: "You know, you aren't members of the Hall," Hay said. "You are honourees."

Dick Irvin, Jr., who was a member of the committee and still is, promptly asked: "What do I do with my blazer which says 'Honoured Member' on it?"

"Oh, that was a mistake," Hay replied.