Wednesday, August 10, 2016

U.S. Hall Names 2016 Class

1996 World Cup team, Belisle, Janney make up this year’s U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees.

U.S. Hall Names 2016 Class
The U.S. defeated Canada in a best-of-three championship series in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

Bill Belisle, Craig Janney and the 1996 U.S. World Cup of Hockey team will be inducted in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as its class of 2016, USA Hockey announced Monday.

Belisle coached numerous future NCAA players as the longtime coach at Mt. St. Charles Academy in Rhode Island. Janney starred at Boston College before his prolific NHL and international career. The 1996 World Cup champions featured 18 NCAA alumni on the roster and were led by head coach Ron Wilson, former star at Providence.

“This is a truly magnificent class,” said Jim Smith, president of USA Hockey. “Each member of the Class of 2016 has had an extraordinary impact on our sport and is most deserving to take their place among the hockey immortals in the United States.”

Belisle enters his 42nd season at Mt. St. Charles, having established the Mounties as a national power and a truly dominant team in Rhode Island. He has led the team to 32 state championships in 41 years and 990 victories.

Janney spent two years at Boston College, where the Hartford, Conn., native set a Hockey East single-season record with 74 points and 51 assists in 1986-87. He was a first-team All-America selection before joining the U.S. Olympic team and then the Boston Bruins in 1987-88.

Former college stars were instrumental in the United States’ 1996 World Cup championship. Tournament MVP Mike Richter (Wisconsin) led the way in goal, with Brett Hull (Minnesota Duluth) pacing the tournament in goals (7) and points (11). Brian Leetch, a teammate of Janney’s at Boston College, shared the tournament lead in assists with 7.

USA Hockey will reveal the date and location of the 2016 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration later this month.