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U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame announces Class of 2017

Ref. Kevin Collins

31 May 1998: Steve Yzerman #19 of the Detroit Red Wings talking to NHL Ref. Kevin Collins during a Western Conference Playoff game against the Dallas Stars at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Red Wings defeated the Stars 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport

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Congratulations to Kevin Collins, Jack Parker, Ben Smith, Ron Wilson and Scott Young, all five of whom will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

From USA Hockey’s announcement:

Officiating at the highest levels of hockey for parts of four decades, Kevin Collins (Springfield, Mass.) became one of the game’s most respected officials, accumulating a résumé that includes more than 2,000 NHL games as a linesman. His 296 games in the Stanley Cup playoffs rank as the most by an American official. ... A legendary figure in American hockey, Jack Parker (Somerville, Mass.) coached 1,484 games at the NCAA Division I level with Boston University over 40 seasons and won 897 of them, amassing a .643 winning percentage, three national championships, 11 conference titles and 21 Beanpot Tournament crowns. ... Ben Smith (Gloucester, Mass.) served as head coach of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team in 1998, 2002 and 2006, leading Team USA to the first-ever gold medal in women’s hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympic Games ... Ron Wilson (Bluffton, S.C.), the all-time winningest American head coach in National Hockey League history, amassed 648 regular-season coaching victories, 48 wins in the Stanley Cup playoffs and an Eastern Conference championship with the Washington Capitals in 1998. On four occasions, Wilson piloted his teams to more than 100 regular-season points. ... Scott Young (Clinton, Mass.) spent 17 successful seasons playing in the National Hockey League, winning two Stanley Cup championships (1991-Pittsburgh, 1996-Colorado) while amassing 342 goals and 415 assists in 1,181 regular-season games. The former Boston University Terrier ranks No. 15 among all American players in NHL games played, No. 12 in goals and No. 20 in points.

The Class of 2017 will be inducted later this year. The date of the ceremony will be announced during the summer.