Matt Cullen, Brianna Decker among U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2024

A number of star-spangled hockey players will be enshrined alongside some of the best in the game’s history.

On Thursday, USA Hockey revealed the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2024. This year’s group includes Matt Cullen, Brianna Decker, Frederic McLaughlin, Kevin Stevens and the 2002 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team.

“The impact of the Class of 2024 spans across the sport and each honoree,” president of USA Hockey Mike Trimboli explained in a release. “Is reflective of the extraordinary contributions necessary to earn the highest honor in American hockey. “Their stories are all unique and have positively impacted so many. We very much look forward to enshrining the Class in December.”

Cullen was a journeyman in the NHL but found success throughout his 21-year career. The Moorhead, Minnesota native played with eight different teams, taking home Stanley Cups with the Carolina Hurricanes (2006) and Pittsburgh Penguins (2016, 2017). The Anaheim Ducks took him in the third round of the 1996 NHL Draft, a team he spent six seasons with. He also played for the Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators.

“Quite an honor to be a part of this,” Cullen said during a media availability. “This is a fantastic class…it’s great to be having the ceremony in Pittsburgh, it will be a special event. It’s an honor, and I’m humbled.”

The former St. Cloud State product played in 1,516 games. He and Chris Chelios are the only two American-born players to have appeared in more than 1,500 games in the NHL. Cullen scored 266 goals and 465 assists in his career, including another 58 points in 132 playoff games. He also represented his country on the international stage, playing for the U.S. at the IIHF Men’s World Championship four times, winning bronze in 2004. Cullen was also on the 1996 IIHF World Junior Championship Team.

Decker was arguably one of the best players in women’s hockey for several years. The Dousman, Wisconsin native’s skill was noticeable from when she first donned the red, white and blue at the 2008 IIHF Women’s Under-18 World Championship. She helped the United States win gold in the first two editions of the tournament, and went on to be a force with the senior national team as well. With Decker in tow, the Americans won gold at the IIHF Women’s World Championship six times, earning MVP honors at the 2017 tournament.

“Super honored to be a part of this class,” Decker said. “You know when you start hockey at a young age, you don’t think about things like this, you just follow the path. It’s a pretty surreal moment being inducted.”

Decker also played an integral part in the U.S. winning its second gold medal at the Olympics, as the Americans beat Canada to win it all in Pyeongchang in 2018. She also has two Olympic silver medals and a pair of Women’s Worlds silvers to her resume. Professionally, Decker played in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, National Women’s Hockey League and PWHPA, winning the inaugural Isobel Cup with the NWHL’s Boston Pride in 2016.

At the University of Wisconsin, Decker was named the 2012 Patty Kazmaier Award winner for best women’s college hockey player. The second all-time leading scorer in program history, Decker helped the Badgers win the NCAA National Championship in 2011.

She has since stepped behind the bench, serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. at four of the last five Under-18 Worlds.

Stevens was one of the best power forwards of his generation. The Pembroke, Massachusettes native played 15 years in the NHL, 11 of which came with the Penguins. During his time in the Steel City, he was a crucial part of the team’s success in the early ’90s, helping the Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992.

“It’s quite an honor,” Stevens said. “It was a great, long run playing with great players, and the only reason why I’m going in here is because I played with great players. Very honored, and so happy it’s going to be in Pittsburgh.”

In 874 regular season games, which included stops with the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, he scored 329 goals and 397 assists, with another 106 points coming in 103 playoff appearances. His 55 goals during the 1992-93 were the most by an American-born player in a single season until Toronto Maple Leafs captain Matthews broke that mark 29 years later.

On the international stage, the former Boston College product played for the United States at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and the IIHF Men’s World Championships three times, captaining the U.S. to bronze in 1996.

McLaughlin might not have been a player, but his impact on the game led to the growth of the game throughout the Midwest. A Harvard graduate, he led a group of Chicago businessmen in founding the Chicago Black Hawks (since renamed the Blackhawks). Similar to the story of Bill Foley finding the name of the Vegas Golden Knights, the Blackhawks were named after the U.S. Army’s 86th Blackhawk Division of the 333rd Machine Gun Battalion, the group of which McLaughlin was the commander during World War I.

Frederic’s granddaughter, Castle McLaughlin, spoke on his behalf on Thursday.

“We know that he was passionate about promoting hockey, especially the Blackhawks,” Castle explained. “He had a particular interest in advocating for American-born players. I know he’d be very honored to be a part of this class.”

A native of the Windy City, McLaughlin wanted his new team to be competitive right away and wanted to fill the roster with Americans. The hands-on owner was able to find the right people to put together Stanley Cup Championship teams in 1934 and 1938. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963 as a builder, 19 years after he passed away.

The 2002 Paralympic Sled Hockey Team left a substantial mark on the game, as they were the first American team to win gold at the Paralympic Games. In just the third Winter Paralympics to host sled hockey, the U.S. used home ice to its advantage. Head coach Rick Middleton’s philosophies and coaching led the team to a dominant run in Salt Lake City, winning all six of its games, outscoring their opponents 26-6 along the way.

Kip St. Germaine represented his teammates at the press conference.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be inducted with them,” St. Germaine said. “It’s been a thrill and an incredible journey, and it continues to grow. We’re just excited to be a part of it.”

The U.S. had to defeat the reigning Paralympic champions, Norway, twice to take home the gold. Franklin Park, Illinois native Sylvester Fils was named the tournament MVP. His 11 goals and 18 points are still the most scored in a single Paralympic tournament.

The induction ceremony will be held on Dec. 4, 2024 in Pittsburgh. The celebration will also include the NHL’s Lester Patrick Trophy presentation.