Three NHL stars who helped shape American hockey over the past two decades are heading to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
Joe Pavelski, Zach Parise, and Scott Gomez will lead the 2025 class, marking their incredible contributions to the sport both in the NHL and on the international stage.
Pavelski, who just hung up his skates last year, put together one of the most impressive careers ever for a seventh-round draft pick. The Wisconsin native racked up 1,068 points in 1,332 games with the Sharks and Stars, proving that draft position doesn’t define destiny.
He’s already finding success in retirement too – he just won a celebrity golf championship in July.
“Captain America” lived up to his nickname, leading Team USA at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and helping secure silver at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
Parise, drafted 17th overall in that same legendary 2003 draft class, was an absolute force in his prime. He put up back-to-back 80-point seasons with the Devils in the late 2000s and finished with 434 goals – pretty remarkable for someone who battled injuries throughout his career.
On the international stage, Parise was even more impressive. He dominated for Team USA at every level, from junior tournaments to the Olympics. His performance at the 2010 Olympics was particularly special – he led all American scorers and made the tournament All-Star Team during their silver medal run.
Then there’s Scott Gomez, who broke barriers as the first Latino player and first Alaskan to win the NHL’s Rookie of the Year award. He piled up 756 points across 1,079 games with seven different teams before retiring in 2016.
The class also includes women’s hockey star Tara Mounsey, who won Olympic medals in 1998 and 2002, and legendary photographer Bruce Bennett. Bennett’s been capturing hockey’s biggest moments since 1974 – he’s shot an incredible 7.5 million photos and isn’t done yet. He’ll be back behind the lens at the 2026 Olympics in Italy.
It’s a class that really shows how far American hockey has come, from breaking cultural barriers to producing some of the sport’s most consistent stars.
