Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2019

The Hockey Hall of Fame announced their induction class of 2019 today.

Canadian women's hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser headlines the class of six. Joining her in the player category are NHL stars Guy Carbonneau and Sergei Zubov, and Czech hockey legend Vaclav Nedomansky. Long time GM Jim Rutherford and Boston College coach Jerry York were selected in the builder category.

The induction ceremony will take place on November 18th.

Wickenheiser was the only first-year eligible player to be selected. Other notable first timers Vincent Lecavalier and Patrik Elias were overlooked.

Wickenheiser retired as the all-time leading scorer after 23 years on the national team. The native of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan was the best women's player on the planet during that time, winning four Olympic gold medals.

Carbonneau, of Sept-Iles, Quebec, is a breath of fresh air for the Hall. Instead of looking at the many forwards who piled up large point totals during the high scoring 80s, Carbonneau was known as the premiere defensive forward of his time. He won three Selke Awards along with three Stanley Cups.

Zubov was a brilliant offensive defenseman who helped the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup in 1994 and the Dallas Stars in 1999.

Nedomansky played 12 seasons in Bratislava before becoming the first athlete from an Eastern European communist country to defect to North America to pursue a pro hockey career. He played in the WHA with Toronto and Birmingham before joining the Detroit Red Wings as a 33-year-old rookie in 1977. His NHL days were very late in his illustrious career, but he was a dominant player on the international scene and a true pioneer of hockey.

Rutherford has been a general manager in the NHL since the 1980s, winning Stanley Cups with Carolina and Pittsburgh (2).

York has been a head coach in the NCAA since 1972 and has won five national championships.