SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League today announced the four individuals selected for induction American Hockey League Hall of Fame if Class of 2027.
Honored by the AHL Hall of Fame Selection Committee as a recent editor Dave Fenives, Ross Fitzpatrick, Doug Gibson and: Tom Mitchell.
The induction of the Class of 2027 will take place as part of the festivities 2027 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Rectifiwill be hosted by the Cleveland Monsters. It American Hockey League Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony is intended February 8, 2027In Cleveland.
In addition, the AHL announced that a special 18-man Class of the 90th anniversary The league’s early adopter will open next month as the AHL celebrates the anniversary of its first games played on Nov. 7, 1936.
The AHL Hall of Fame, formed in 2006 to recognize, honor and honor individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the American Hockey League, is located online at: AHLHallofFame.com and is available to fans worldwide as part of the AHL Internet Network.
In existence since 1936, the American Hockey League serves as the premier league for the development of players, coaches, managers, executives, broadcasters and personnel for all 32 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of NHL players each year are American Hockey League alumni, and more than 130 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees spent time in the AHL during their careers.
CLASS OF 2027 DAVE FENIVES
A prolific two-way defender, Dave Fenives Signed with the Buffalo Sabers in 1979 at the age of 19 and made his debut with the Rochester Americans the following season, beginning a 13-year professional career. Fenives would go on to score 321 points in 710 American Hockey League games while also skating in over 200 NHL contests. The Ontario native was voted to the postseason AHL All-Star team three times and was selected as the winner of the Eddie Shore Award, given to the league’s outstanding defenseman in both 1987-88 and 1988-89. A respected leader, Fenives served as captain and won the Jack Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP for the Americans’ 1987 Calder Cup championship season, and he wore the “C” again the following year when his Hershey Bears won the 1988 title.
CLASS OF 2027: ROSS FITZPATRICK
Ross Fitzpatrick Played 10 seasons in the American Hockey League with the Maine Mariners, Springfield Indians, Hershey Bears and Binghamton Rangers and topped the 20-goal mark eight times, highlighted by a 50-goal campaign with the Bears in 1985-86. Fitzpatrick has 308 goals and 311 assists for 619 points in 554 AHL games, ranking him 14th all-time in average (1.12) among players with at least 500 career points. A two-time second-team AHL All-Star, Fitzpatrick also scored 11 goals in 12 playoff games during Hershey’s 1988 Calder Cup championship run, and he led the league in assists while finishing second in the scoring race with 103 points in 1989-90. Fitzpatrick, a 1980 draft pick by Philadelphia, played 20 games with the Flyers and has been a scout with the organization since 2006.
CLASS OF 2027 DOUG GIBSON
Doug GibsonA seven-year playing career in the AHL saw him right from the start when he posted 31 goals and 82 points as a rookie with the Boston Braves in 1973-74. In his second year skating with the Rochester Americans, Gibson was named AHL MVP after becoming the first player in league history to lead the team in goals (44), assists (72) and points (116) in the same season. He earned his second MVP award in 1976-77 after a 97-point campaign with the Americans before moving to Hershey, where he spent three seasons with the Bears. In November 1979, the 26-year-old Gibson added coaching duties to his role as team captain and was the unanimous winner of the Louis Ari Pierre Award as the league’s Coach of the Year after leading Hershey to the 1980 Calder Trophy.
CLASS OF 2027: TOM MITCHELL
A native of Vanderhoof, BC. Tom Mitchell became the face of AHL hockey in Binghamton, N.Y., during his more than 40 years as owner and executive. Along with his business partners Bob Carr and Jim McCoy, Mitchell purchased the Binghamton Whalers franchise in 1985 and he would serve as managing partner of the Whalers and later the Binghamton Rangers for 12 seasons. After the franchise was sold and moved to Hartford, Mitchell was named executive vice president of the AHL’s Wolf Pack in 1997 and was a special advisor to the club when they won the Calder Cup in 2000. Mitchell was then instrumental in bringing AHL hockey back until 2000. – including the Sens’ 2011 championship season. During his career, Mitchell received both the James C. Handy Award (1988) and Thomas Ebright Award (2010) for his contribution to the AHL.
