Springfield, Massachusetts …The NHL announced today the four selected NHL Hall of Fame as Class of 2026.
Named the latest batch of inductees by the AHL Hall of Fame Selection Committee Chris Bourque, Alexander Giroud, Jim Wimmer and Wendell Young.
An induction ceremony for the Class of 2026 will be part of the celebration at BMO presents 2026 AHL All-Star Classichosted by the Rockford IceHogs. this NHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony Scheduled for February 11, 2026at the Coronado Theater in Rockford, Illinois.
The AHL Hall of Fame was established in 2006 to honor, recognize and celebrate individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in the American Hockey League, and its website is located at AHLHallofFame.com, which is accessible to fans around the world as part of the AHL Internet.
The American Hockey League has been in operation since 1936 and is the top developmental league for the players, coaches, managers, executives, broadcasters and staff of all 32 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90% of NHL players each year are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 130 honorary members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent their careers in the AHL.
Class of 2026: Chris Bourque
The son of Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque carved out a storied career in the AHL, becoming a three-time Calder Cup champion, two-time league scoring champion and regular-season and playoff MVP. Chris Bourque He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2004 and then turned professional, playing for the Portland Pirates of the AHL. His first career goal was the overtime winning goal. He won his first Calder Trophy as a rookie with the Hershey Bears in 2006 and went on to win back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. Bourque was selected to the AHL All-Star team three times and participated in six AHL All-Star Classic games. He scored a total of 251 goals and 495 assists and scored 746 points in 794 regular season games. Working with Portland, Hershey, Providence, Hartford and Bridgeport. He also leads the league in all-time playoff assists (83, first), points (118, tied for third) and games played (138, second).
Class of 2026: Alexander Giroux
Alexander Giroud In 11 seasons in the league, he was one of the most lethal offensive weapons in the AHL, climbing all the way to seventh on the all-time list with 368 career goals. His 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons were among the greatest seasons in AHL player history: leading the Hershey Bears to win the Calder Cup for two consecutive years, Giroux won the league MVP honors and the regular season scoring title in the 2008-09 season; became the fourth player in league history to score 50 goals in consecutive seasons; became the fifth player in history to score 60 goals in a single season; scored in 15 consecutive games, setting an AHL record. record; in two years, he scored 139 goals and 255 points in 181 games (regular season and playoffs combined). Giroux totaled 704 points in 771 games with Grand Rapids, Binghamton, Hartford, Hershey, Chicago, Oklahoma City and Springfield, and had 103 points in 118 Calder Cup playoff games, including a record five career playoff overtime goals.
Class of 2026: Jim Wimmer
Jim Wimmer He started his career on the left wing and later moved to the blue line, becoming one of the AHL's premier two-way defensemen during his 14-year career. Wimmer was drafted by the Buffalo Sabers in 1980, helped the Rochester Americans win the Calder Cup in 1983, and won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL's outstanding defenseman in 1985-86, when he scored 24 goals and 73 points in 73 games with the New Haven Nighthawks. He's been a reliable recall option for years: Wimmer played in 325 regular-season and 62 playoff games with five organizations in the National Hockey League, winning a Stanley Cup with Edmonton in 1988. He returned to Rochester to finish his career in the 1994-95 season, retiring with 124 goals, 307 assists and 431 points in 548 AHL games.
Class of 2026: Wendell Young
Currently in his 32nd season as a member of the Chicago Wolves, Wendell Young Following a stellar career, he managed to become one of the leading executives in hockey. Since the team moved to the AHL in 2001, Young has been instrumental in Chicago's Calder Cup championship as director of team relations (2002), assistant coach (2008) and general manager (2022). During his 15 years as Wolves general manager from 2009 to 2024, the team compiled a 571-375-136 (.591) record while capturing eight division titles. During his 18 professional seasons as a player, which included Stanley Cup championships with Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992, Young appeared in 138 games in the AHL, highlighted by the 1987-88 season, where he helped the Hershey Bears win the league's Outstanding Goaltender “Buzz” Bastian Award and the Calder Cup Playoff MVP Jack Butterfield Trophy for a postseason record of 12-0.
