For many years, Mike Modano was the face of American hockey.
The Dallas Stars center won a Stanley Cup and is the all-time goal-scoring and points leader amongst American-born players in the NHL. He was considered to be a great teammate, a hard worker and one of the most skilled players at his position.
After one of hockey's great careers, Modano can now add Hall of Fame to his already excellent resume.
Modano, along with New Jersey Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello, and player-turned-broadcaster Ed Olczyk, are the newest inductees to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
Modano was taken as the first overall pick by the then Minnesota North Stars in the 1988 NHL Entry draft as an 18-year-old and quickly became one of the best American players in the game.
Originally from Michigan, Modano made Minnesota his home before moving with the team to Dallas. The center is credited with helping expand the game of hockey to the South and bringing a championship to Dallas.
"In hindsight now, it's been a real remarkable transition the way the game has increased down here," Modano said to the Associated Press. "I'm real proud of being part of that when it first started and watching it evolve, see the popularity increase. It was great to see and it was fun to be a part of."
The team won the Stanley Cup in 1999 and Modano had one of his best seasons, accumulating 81 points on 34 goals and 47 assists. He also served as the team's captain.
Modano was known as an excellent passer and also helped grow hockey in America and change the notion that players from the U.S. were less skilled then their Canadian counterparts.
"We wanted to change what they thought of us as players, that we didn't belong at their level," Modano said. "It took a long time, but we always felt in the back of our minds that we could prove a lot of countries wrong, that we could play with them."
After retiring in 2011, Modano led the Stars franchise in a host of categories. He is the team's all-time leader in points (1,359), goals (557), assists (802), games played (1,459), goals (557), assists (802), as well as playoff points, with 145. He also has played in the most playoff games with 174 appearances.
Modano's most productive seasons came in 1993 and 1994 when he totaled 93 points each year. He had 60 assists in 1993 and scored 50 goals and had 43 assists while playing in 76 games in 1994.
He was active in international play, starring on the 1996 World Cup team that won a gold medal against Canada and on the 2002 U.S. Olympic team that won a silver medal.
Lamoriello, who was inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto three years ago, was also part of that 1996 World Cup of Hockey gold medal-winning team, serving as general manager.
"After the '96 World Cup, the American player is here," Lamoriello said. "That's when they got recognized, and the way you get recognized is when individuals have success. That was a long time ago. Now there's nothing to distinguish."
He most famously guided the New Jersey Devils to three Stanley Cup championships and two Eastern Conference titles, but also was active in international hockey.
"The Americans are here, if that's the way to say it, and here to stay in every way," Lamoriello said.
Lamoriello was a player, coach and athletic director for 22 years at Providence College, but is best known for his work at making the Devils a yearly contender for the Stanley Cup.
Ed Olczyk entered the Hall of Fame after a 16-year career in which he tallied nearly 800 points in 1,031 games. He was also a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team.
"I've just been really lucky throughout my entire career, and I've worn a lot of hats," Olczyk said. "I was a fan, I was a player, I was a coach, broadcaster and a dad, so on any given night, I can have one of those hats on. I love the game, and hockey has been my and my family's life."
Modano said of Olczyk:
"Just a class guy, his approach to the game and professionalism," Modano said of Olczyk, his teammate in the 1991 Canada Cup. "He was a lot of fun to be around, so we've always had that connection since 1991. He's been remarkable for the game and on TV, and what he's done with NBC. He's our face and voice of USA Hockey, I feel."
The three men helped grow the game of hockey in America and are deserving of enshrinement in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
