Derian Hatcher voted into the USA Hockey Hall of Fame

Earlier this week it was made official that former Dallas Stars Defensemen and Captain Derian Hatcher will be enshrined into the USA Hockey Hall-of-Fame as a member of the 5 member class. Others joining him include Ex NHL'ers Jeremy Roenick, Derian's Older Brother Kevin Hatcher who are being enshrined.

Also joining them will be Art Berglund who has been part of international hockey for nearly five decades and Dr. V. George Nagobads who has served as the team doctor for the Minnesota Golden Gophers Hockey Team for 35 years.

Derian Hatcher played 16 seasons in the NHL and had accumulated 331 points including 251 assists. After getting drafted in 1990, he spent a majority of his career with the then Minnesota North Stars turned Dallas Stars from 1991-2003 was a major part helping out some of the Stars Greats from the early years like Neal Broten, Shane Churla and Andy Moog in helping to build and popularize the sport of hockey in the DFW Area.

He was also the first American Born Captain to win the Stanley Cup when the Stars won the Cup back in 1999. This was a major part that ending the stereotype that American Born Players couldn't lead on big time teams. After he left the Stars, he also played for the Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers before retiring

Perhaps his most memorable moment not just in his career but in the Stars History came in the first Round of the 1998 Playoffs between the Dallas Stars & Phoenix Coyotes where Hatcher had a long suspension in the early portion of the playoffs on the road to the Western Conference Final before losing to eventual Champion Detroit before retiring in 2008.

Here's the Video:

His international presence was huge for Team USA where he was also part of the Gold Medal Winning Team that won the 1996 World Cup of Hockey Tournament by scoring 5 points in that event. Hatcher was also a member of Two Olympic Teams and played in the Ice Hockey World Championships twice.

He was another major part of the USA's Golden Generation which included the 2002 Olympic Silver Medal, and helped the Americans rise at the Junior Ranks which currently includes being the defending Champions at the U20 & U18 Levels right now.

Here's a link to the Full Story and Bios of this years Class. The Induction Ceremony will be taking place in Late October in Buffalo, NY.

USA Hockey Hall-of-Fame 2010

Derian Hatcher Bio

Kevin Hatcher Bio

Jeremy Roenick Bio

Dr. V George Nagobads

Art Berglund: