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Lidstrom, Fedorov, Ruggiero and Karmanos part of Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2015

MiHockey Staff

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By @MichaelCaples –

There were seven individuals announced for the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2015.

Four of them have strong Michigan ties.

Red Wings legends Nicklas Lidstrom and Sergei Fedorov and Michigan natives Peter Karmanos, Jr., and Angela Ruggiero have all achieved hockey immortality, the Hockey Hall of Fame announced today.

They will be joined by Chris Pronger, Phil Housley and Bill Hay at the induction ceremony on Nov. 9 in Toronto.

Lidstrom, one of the best defensemen of all time, patrolled the Red Wings’ blue line for his entire career, which spanned 1,564 NHL games. He finished with four Stanley Cups, seven Norris trophies for best defenseman, a Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP, and a remarkable plus-450 for his career plus/minus.

MORE: Red Wings legend Nicklas Lidstrom inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame

Fedorov, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, finished his NHL career with 483 goals and 696 assists for 1179 total points. He won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1994.

MORE: Former Red Wings great Sergei Fedorov enters Hockey Hall of Fame

Ruggiero, a Harper Woods native, was a four-time Olympic medalist and one of the best American-born players of all-time.

“I’ve visited the Hockey Hall of Fame many times, and never get tired of learning about the rich tradition of the inductees,” said Ruggiero, the fourth female ever elected for induction, via the HHOF. “The fact that I’m now joining them is very special, and the greatest accomplishment I can think of as a hockey player.”

Karmanos, meanwhile, enters in the ‘builder’ category for his work with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes and the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers. The Detroit native also built the Compuware AAA program, one of the best youth programs in all of North America, playing an important role in not only the growth of youth hockey in Michigan, but across North America.

“Being included in the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2015 ranks right up there with winning the Stanley Cup,” said Karmanos via the HHOF. “Hockey has a special place in my heart. It is the greatest team sport, and I believe the greatest game a boy or girl could play. Giving more kids the chance to play at the highest levels has truly been a labor of love.”