The NHL lockout has stopped the play of hockey this season, but one thing it did not stop was the induction of a new class to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
In a ceremony on Monday night, formers Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic, Toronto Maple Leafs center Mats Sundin, Boston Bruins center Adam Oates and Vancouver Canucks winger Pavel Bure were all inducted into the Hall of Fame.
"I think it's the biggest achievement you can get in hockey," Bure said to the Associated Press. "The selection committee combines everything you've done for hockey worldwide, so for me it's a huge honor. It feels great."
Bure spent the bulk of his career with the Vancouver Canucks, leading them to the Stanley Cup Finals against the New York Rangers in 1994. The series went seven games, with the Rangers coming out on top.
His career was shortened by knee injuries, but him impact on the league was profound. Known as the "Russian Rocket" by many players and fans, Bure played in only 702 games, but scored an impressive 437 goals over 12 seasons.
Bure won back-to-back scoring titles while playing with the Florida Panthers and also was a Calder Memorial Trophy winner as the leagues best rookie in 1992.
Sakic spent his entire 20-season career with the Avalanche and was the captain of the team for a number of years. He scored 625 goals with the team and finished his career with over 1,000 assists and 1,641 points.
The NHL lockout was the topic of conversation before and after the ceremony--and during it as well.
Both NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman were at the ceremony. Bettman made a speech that left some of the crowd feeling uncomfortable after he alluded to the current NHL lockout.
"Being here in this great Hall, the sanctuary of our game, celebrates everything that is good and right about hockey," Bettman said during his speech, according to Yahoo Sports. "Even in difficult times, we find ourselves reassured to be here to recognize ultimate achievements on the ice. All of us - fans, teams and players - look forward to the time the game returns there."
HERE is a link to a video of Bettman's speech.
Before the ceremony, Sakic spoke about the current lockout and the one in 2004 that robbed him of a full season.
"I lost a year of hockey," Sakic said Monday prior to the induction ceremony, according to ESPN.com. "It would have been 21 years instead of 20. That's what you lose."
Sakic currently works with the Avalanche as an adviser and is looking forward to the start of the new season.
"I remember coming back that next training camp, I was pretty excited to be back and playing the game," Sakic said. "You realize how much you miss the game."
Sundin also chimed in on the lockout, commenting that his Maple Leafs teams were on a roll of six straight playoff appearances when the lockout hit.
"It was awful," Sundin said. "I think it's devastating."
Sundin played 13 seasons with the Maple Leafs and scored 564 goals in his career. He had 785 assists and 1,349 points over 18 NHL seasons.
"I think it's huge," Sundin said. "The National Hockey League is kind of representing the game of hockey. It's the biggest representative of the game of hockey in the world. When the NHL is not going, people lose focus on hockey.
Oates finished his career in 2004 with the Edmonton Oilers before the lockout began.
"I thought about (continuing to play) because I wasn't happy with my year in Edmonton, so I didn't really want to go out that way," he said. "I was considering it, but (the lockout) made it easy."
Oates is currently a head coach with the Washington Capitals and finished his career with 1,420 points as well as 341 goals. He played with many teams over his career, the bulk coming with the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals. His 1,079 assists are the sixth-highest total in NHL history, according to USA Today.
Earlier this year Dallas Stars legend Mike Modano and New Jersey Devils President Lou Lamoriello were inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
