NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



U.S. National Team

Angela Ruggiero Named to IIHF Hall of Fame Class of 2017

January 17, 2017 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Angela Ruggiero (Panorama City, Calif.) has been named to the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame Class of 2017 it was announced today by the IIHF.

"Angela is one of the greatest players in the history of women's hockey and is richly deserving of this honor," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "And while her competitive playing career is over, it's terrific that she continues to be a major contributor to international sport."

Ruggiero will become the 22nd American, and 13th American player, to be enshrined into the IIHF Hall of Fame. She will be the third U.S. women's hockey player (Karyn Bye, Class of 2011; Cammi Granato, Class of 2008) to be inducted.

Ruggiero made her international debut in 1996 at the age of 16, and went on to help the U.S. claim the first-ever gold medal awarded in women's ice hockey in the Olympic Winter Games in 1998 as the youngest member of the team.

Ruggiero earned three other Olympic medals (silver-2002, 2010; bronze-2006) and was named the top defenseman in the Olympic Winter Games in both 2002 and 2006. She also competed at 10 IIHF Women's World Championships, being honored as the tournament's top defenseman four times (2001, 2004, 2005, 2008) and helping Team USA capture gold four times (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011).

In total, Ruggiero finished her career in 2011 with 208 points (67-141) and more games played (256) for Team USA than any other ice hockey player in the country's history.

The 2017 IIHF Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on May 21, the final day of the 2017 IIHF Men's World Championship, in Cologne, Germany. Ruggiero will be inducted alongside former players Saku Koivu, Uwe Krupp, Joe Sakic and Teemu Selanne. Builder Dieter Kalt and coach Tony Hand round out the Class of 2017.

Check out the U.S. National Team Statistics

• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...

United States Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2017


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central