Red Wings alum Mathieu Schneider, Harper Woods native Angela Ruggiero headline U.S. Hockey Hall class

By @MichaelCaples –

Two famous hockey names with Michigan ties are the headliners for this year’s U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction class.

Red Wings alum Mathieu Schneider and Harper Woods native Angela Ruggiero – joined by former NHL star Chris Drury and former USA Hockey president Ron DeGregorio – will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall as their official Class of 2015 during a ceremony in Boston on Dec. 17.

“This class is extraordinary and has had an extremely positive and wide-ranging impact on our sport,” said Jim Smith, president of USA Hockey, in a release. “The members of this Class represent the very best of our sport and we look forward to welcoming them as the 43rd class of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame officially in December.”

Schneider was a trade-deadline acquisition for the Wings in 2003, and he played three-plus seasons in Detroit from 2003-07. During his time in Hockeytown, Schneider recorded 164 points in 231 games from the blue line.

He won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993, and helped the U.S. win the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996. Over 21 professional hockey seasons, he recorded 743 points in 1,289 games.

“It’s just such an honor to be, not only be inducted, but to be inducted with the quality of people and friends like Chris and Ron that I’ve known for so long,” Schneider said. “Angela, I remember sitting in the lounge in Nagano after we had gotten knocked out, watching the women’s team win the gold medal, just an amazing, amazing feat, and an amazing milestone for hockey in the U.S.

“USA Hockey has given so many children, so many athletes, opportunities that just aren’t available in so many countries around the world. We’re all extremely privileged to be a part of USA Hockey, and this is, for me, one of the greatest days of my career. I appreciate everything that I’ve been able to achieve through the help and support of USA Hockey and obviously, you know, having the opportunity to play with so many other great athletes.”

Schneider said that the first time he put on a Red Wings jersey was one of the most memorable days of his career.

“It was such an honor to put on a Detroit Red Wings uniform,” he said. “For me, the first time I put it on was in Phoenix, I had just gotten traded the day before, and that was such a special moment. You walk into that dressing room, I had obviously a good friend in Chris Chelios, but Nicky Lidstrom, Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, I mean, you just look around that dressing room, it was a hall of fame dressing room. I think just putting that jersey on the first time was really one of the most special memories for me.

“Coming from the beginning of my career in Montreal, my first five-and-a-half years, just a tremendous organization, and you feel like you’re playing for something bigger than the jersey you’re putting on when you’re part of that history, in both of those organizations. Again, it was an honor and a privilege just to put on that jersey, and that was probably one of the most special days for me.”

Ruggiero will enter two different hockey halls of fame, as she was recently announced as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, as well. The longtime Team USA star – born in California before moving to Michigan – played in more games wearing the Red, White and Blue than any other ice hockey player in our country’s history.

She helped Team USA claim the first-ever gold medal awarded in women’s ice hockey at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games, and she grabbed three other Olympic medals (silver – 2002, 2010, bronze – 2006) during her career.

Ruggiero called in to the media teleconference call all the way from Malaysia, as she took a break from responsibilities as a director for the International Olympic Committee.

“I’m so excited today, calling from across the world, just so happy to be a part of this class,” Ruggiero said. “Ron, Matt, Chris, congratulations. You guys have all done so much for the sport of hockey in America, and it’s an honor to be named next to each one of you. I can’t say enough about USA Hockey and what they’ve done for my career… I grew up loving hockey, and my family loved hockey in California, blue collar family and fortunately I found hockey at a very young age when I was 7, when there wasn’t a lot in the state of California, but was able to compete on my first team in ’98 and just loved the 15 years I got to spend with USA Hockey.

“I grew as a person, I learned so many things through hockey, and can’t say enough about the opportunities I had because I wore that sweater for so long. Just really, really excited today, it’s a true honor. So many great players have come before me, and to be a part of that list, and with this distinguished class, as well, is amazing.”

Ruggiero is also the first female to play a position other than goaltender in a men’s professional hockey game in North America; she joined her brother, Bill, for a game with the Central Hockey League’s Tulsa Oilers in 2005. The Michigan natives were the first brother-sister pair to play in a professional game, as well.

During the teleconference, she credited Michigan’s hockey community for much of her success.

“I love Michigan,” Ruggiero said. “My family moved there in ’96, for my brother’s hockey, actually. Bill played for the Detroit Falcons first, and then Major Junior out there. My fondest memories, really, are getting ready for the Olympics. This was before the ’98 team, and my brother and I would train in the summertime, and I was so lucky that he had that group of players. We would go to different rinks, Mt. Clemens, wherever we could find ice, and join summer leagues.

“Because hockey was so popular in Detroit, relative to California, I think I really benefited from being able to come home every summer, starting in ’96, and get excellent training in the state of Michigan. Whether that was preparing me for an Olympics or my team at Harvard, it was guaranteed when I came home that there would be somewhere to play. I owe my off-season training and my summer training to the state of Michigan.”