Pavel Datsyuk and Shea Weber Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame in First Year of Eligibility

In an exciting announcement, Pavel Datsyuk and Shea Weber have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, each in their first year of eligibility. The selection committee awarded these two former players with this prestigious honor for their outstanding contributions to the sport.

To be inducted into the Hall of Fame, candidates needed to receive at least 75 percent of the vote from the committee. Datsyuk, a former forward, and Weber, a former defenseman, easily surpassed this threshold with their remarkable careers.

Datsyuk, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings, showcased exceptional skills both offensively and defensively. He won the Selke Trophy three consecutive seasons from 2007-2010 as the league's best defensive forward, and the Lady Byng Trophy four straight seasons from 2006-2009 for his sportsmanship and high level of play. In his regular-season career, Datsyuk tallied 918 points, including 314 goals and 604 assists, in 953 games. Additionally, he excelled in international competitions, winning gold at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and the 2012 IIHF World Championship.

Weber, who played for the Nashville Predators and Montreal Canadiens, proved himself as a formidable defenseman. Throughout his career, he amassed 589 points, scoring 224 goals and providing 365 assists in 1,038 games. Known for his strong defensive presence, Weber was named a first-team NHL All-Star twice and a second-team All-Star twice. He also had an impressive international career, earning gold medals at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Joining Datsyuk and Weber in the Hockey Hall of Fame are three other players: former forward Jeremy Roenick, and former United States women's national team forwards Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl. In addition, former general manager David Poile and current NHL senior executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell were elected in the Builder Category.

The Class of 2024 induction ceremony is set to take place on November 11th in Toronto, where these outstanding individuals will be celebrated for their remarkable accomplishments in the sport of hockey.