Patrice Bergeron, Cassie Campbell-Pascall highlight 2026 IIHF Hall of Fame class
A cast of memorable athletes is set to be enshrined among the greatest to ever play the game.
On Wednesday, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) announced the Hall of Fame Class of 2026. This year’s group will bring the total of players inducted to 258, with a couple of members of the Triple Gold Club being enshrined as well.
The biggest name on this year’s list is Patrice Bergeron. Along with a Hall of Fame career as a member of the Boston Bruins, the Quebec native did a lot of winning on the international stage. He first won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2004 IIHF Men’s World Championship before winning another title at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship, becoming the first player to ever accomplish the feat. The 2011 Stanley Cup champion also won Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014, as well as playing on the strong Canadian squad that won the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Fellow Canadian Cassie Campbell-Pascall was one of the leaders for her country, and the women’s game in general, as it started to enter the limelight in the late ’90s and early 2000s. The versatile player first broke onto the scene in 1994, winning gold with Canada at the third IIHF Women’s World Championship. She ended up winning eight golds at the Women’s Worlds, captaining Team Canada to Olympic gold in 2002 and 2006. A member of the Order of Canada, the Ontario native has made a lasting impact both on and off the ice.
Another member of the Triple Gold Club, Niklas Kronwall rose to prominence with both the Detroit Red Wings and his native Sweden in the mid-200s. In 2006, he won gold at both the Olympics and Men’s Worlds, earning tournament MVP honors in the latter. The bruising defenseman won his first and only Stanley Cup with the Red Wings two years later. One of Tre Kronor’s finest, Kronwall also won silver at the 2014 Olympics and 2003 world championship.
Thomas Vanek had an illustrious career from college to the pros and beyond. An NCAA national champion with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Vanek had a fruitful 14-year career in the NHL, but is also regarded as one of the best players in Austrian hockey history. Vanek was captain of Team Austria at the 2014 Olympics, playing for his country at three Men’s Worlds. He also played for Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup. Vanek will be the fourth Austrian to be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.
A couple of Swiss stars are also being honored. Goaltender Florence Schelling played more than any other player in the history of the Women’s Worlds. Beginning her international tenure in 2004 at the age of 15, she spent 15 years with the Swiss National Team, winning a record 21 games, while playing the most games (44) and minutes (2,578:35) in tournament history. Along with helping Switzerland win bronze at the 2014 Olympics, Schelling played every minute for her country in international competition from April 2013 to February 2018.
The Historical Committee waived the two-year waiting period for Andres Ambuhl, a staple of Swiss hockey. After retiring last year, he played in a record 151 games at the Men’s Worlds, appearing in 20 world championships. A three-time Spengler Cup winner, Ambuhl won three silver medals with the Swiss at the Men’s Worlds, taking home second place at the 2001 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship. He also represented his nation at the past four Winter Olympics.
Ralph Krueger is being inducted into the builder’s category. He was the head coach for Team Switzerland from 1998 to 2010, heading the team at three consecutive Olympics, as well as helping keep the country in the top division at the Men’s Worlds. The bench boss for the famous European squad that finished second at the World Cup in 2016 also won an Olympic gold with Team Canada, serving as a team consultant.
The induction ceremony will take place in Zurich, Switzerland this spring on the final day of the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship.