| Stan Fischler, Paul Holmgren and Peter McNab to be enshrined |
| COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Stan Fischler, Paul Holmgren, and Peter McNab will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as the Class of 2021, it was announced by USA Hockey. “Stan, Paul and Peter have all had an enormously positive impact on American hockey over the course of many decades,” said Mike Trimboli, president of USA Hockey. “Their extraordinary contributions to our sport continue today and will be felt for generations to come. Our warmest congratulations to each of them on their well-deserved selection and we look forward to the formal enshrinement ceremonies later this year.” ABOUT STAN FISCHLER  Stan Fischler (Brooklyn, N.Y.) is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster whose career in hockey coverage spans eight decades and continues today. America’s foremost hockey historian, Fischler’s work has brought the sport’s stories, characters and excitement to an expansive reading and viewing audience. His articles, books and televised reports have enhanced the understanding and enjoyment of the game for countless youngsters and adults throughout the country. Devoted to the game since his youth, Fischler served as a publicist for the New York Rangers right out of college in 1954 before rising to writing jobs with the Brooklyn Eagle and later the New York Journal-American from 1955 through 1966. Fischler turned to broadcasting in 1973, contributing rink-side analysis on games of the World Hockey Association New England Whalers. Two years later, he joined what is today known as MSG/MSG+ — a relationship that lasted more than 40 years — and covered the three NHL teams in the New York City metropolitan area, including the New York Rangers, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils. His in-game reports and post-game interviews were key elements of the broadcasts. Fischler had an ice-level vantage point for the area’s eight modern-era Stanley Cup champions, beginning with the Islanders’ four-peat performance from 1980-83, continuing with the Rangers’ title in 1994 and following with the Devils’ triumphs in 1995, 2000 and 2003. His television work received a number of Emmy awards from the New York chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, including for “best program/feature segment” (Five For Fischler) and outstanding “on-camera talent, sports reporting.” Fischler retired from broadcasting following the 2017-18 season.The multi-dimensional Fischler is the author or co-author of some 100 books on hockey, including The Hockey Encyclopedia, Everybody’s Hockey Book, and Hockey Chronicle. He has written for many notable publications, including the New York Times, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and The Hockey News. His prose earned a spot in the book Best American Sports Writing of the Century in 1999 and he was awarded the prestigious Lester Patrick Trophy in 2007 for outstanding contributions to American hockey. At age 89, Fischler continues today to publish The Fischler Report, which has been in circulation for more than 30 years and covers wide-ranging topics related to the NHL and hockey in general. Additionally, he currently writes weekly columns for NHL.com, the New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils. The native of Brooklyn, New York, has also served as a mentor to numerous interns who have gone on to successful careers in sports media, sports management, public relations and beyond. ABOUT PAUL HOLMGREN  Paul Holmgren’s (Saint Paul, Minn.) exemplary career in hockey is highlighted by more than 40 years with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers over parts of six decades, in addition to major contributions to American hockey on other stages, including serving as an original member of the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group and helping guide Team USA to the 1996 World Cup of Hockey championship.The St. Paul, Minnesota, native, is the only person ever to serve as a player, assistant coach, head coach, general manager and president of the Flyers and today serves as senior advisor for the club. Drafted from the University of Minnesota in the sixth round of the 1975 NHL Draft, Holmgren’s NHL playing career began with the Flyers on March 25, 1975. It was the first of 500 games he played for Philadelphia in parts of nine seasons. He helped the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Final in 1976, and again in 1980 when he became the first American-born player in NHL history to record a hat trick during the Stanley Cup Final. He earned a spot in the 1981 NHL All-Star Game and was the lone American on the Campbell Conference entry. Holmgren was traded to the Minnesota North Stars on Feb. 23, 1984, and retired following the 1984-85 season.In 10 NHL campaigns, he played in 527 regular-season games and recorded 323 points (144G, 179A). Holmgren helped his teams to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his nine full seasons in the league and contributed 51 points (19G, 32A) in 82 playoff appearances.Holmgren became an assistant coach for the Flyers following retirement and was promoted to head coach in 1988. In his first season, he guided Philadelphia to the Conference Finals. Holmgren spent four years behind the Flyers bench before spending parts of four seasons with the Hartford Whalers as head coach and/or general manager. He returned to the Flyers in November of 1995 as a scout and less than two months later was tabbed director of pro scouting. He earned the role of director of player personnel in August of 1997 and was promoted to assistant general manager on June 14, 1999, a role he held for seven seasons before taking over as the team’s general manager on Oct. 22, 2006. During his time as general manager, Holmgren led the Flyers through one of the most successful stretches in franchise history, with five consecutive playoff appearances from 2008-12 and seven playoff series wins during that time. That run included Philadelphia’s eighth trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010 after qualifying for the playoffs on the last day of the regular season. In his eight years as general manager, Holmgren’s teams posted a 307-234-73 record and made six playoff appearances. He was promoted to team president on May 7, 2014, and served five seasons in the role, overseeing both the business and hockey operations of the franchise. Holmgren has been involved with U.S. teams on the international stage on multiple occasions, including as an assistant coach for Team USA at the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996 when the U.S. secured the tournament title, and also in the 1988 Olympic Winter Games. He also was the assistant general manager of the 2006 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, general manager of the 2006 U.S Men’s National Team and assistant general manager for Team USA in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. In addition, Holmgren was a founding member of the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group in 2007 and served for eight seasons in helping select U.S. Men’s National Teams. As a player, Holmgren represented Team USA at the inaugural World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in 1974. ABOUT PETER McNAB  During his remarkable NHL playing career, which spanned parts of 14 seasons (1973-87) with four teams, Peter McNab (Vancouver, B.C.) had seven straight seasons with 70 or more points and six straight with 35-plus goals and helped his teams to Stanley Cup Playoff appearances 10 times, including a trip to the 1975 Stanley Cup Final with Buffalo. He ranks 19th among Americans in NHL history with 813 points in 995 regular-season games, including 363 goals and 450 assists. Drafted 85th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1972 NHL Entry Draft, McNab played three seasons (1970-73) of college hockey at the University of Denver and helped the Pioneers to three top-four NCAA finishes. His final season, McNab led the Pioneers to an NCAA runner-up finish and was not only named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team, but also earned First-Team All-WCHA honors after a team-leading 72-point season which included 32 goals and 40 assists. All total, McNab averaged 1.61 points per game in 105 total games and his 170 (78G, 92A) career points rank 10th best in program history.Following his collegiate career, McNab led the Cincinnati Swords of the AHL with 73 points (34G, 39A), despite playing in just 49 of the team’s 76 games. He also debuted with the Buffalo Sabres that season, competing in 22 contests. McNab solidified a spot on the Sabres roster for the next two years where he tallied 99 points in 132 regular-season games. He helped Buffalo to the Stanley Cup Final in 1974-75 and also to regular-season titles in both the Adams Division and Prince of Wales Conference.The center spent the next eight years (1976-84) of his NHL career with the Boston Bruins where he helped the team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven of his eight campaigns. He recorded at least 70 points in seven-straight seasons (including four years with 80-plus points) and 35-plus goals in six-straight. McNab earned a spot in the 1997 NHL All-Star Game and tallied a career-high 86 points that season. The next year he recorded a career-high 41 goals. McNab ranks 11th in Bruins history in goals (263), 13th in points (587) and is eighth in playoff goals (38).McNab concluded his NHL career playing 78 games over two seasons in Vancouver and 117 contests in two seasons with New Jersey. On the international stage, McNab played for the U.S. Men’s National Team at the 1986 IIHF Men’s World Championship.McNab transitioned to a career in broadcasting following his playing days, including eight years as a color analyst for the New Jersey Devils. He was hired by the Colorado Avalanche in a similar role in their inaugural season in 1995 and will enter his 26th campaign with the Avs in 2021-22. NOTES: The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2021 will be enshrined together with the Class of 2020 at a formal Induction Celebration in December of 2021 … U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees are chosen on the basis of extraordinary contribution to the sport of hockey in the United States … The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame was incorporated in 1969 and inducted its first class in 1973 … The Class of 2021 will be the 49th installed to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. To date, there are 190 enshrined members. For information on the members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, visit USHockeyHallofFame.com … The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, located in Eveleth, Minnesota, is open daily. For hours of operation and admission prices, visit USHockeyHallMuseum.com or call 800-443-7825. |
