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Women Inducted to Hockey Hall of Fame for First Time

Cammi Granato and Angela James became the first women inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada, this week.Hall of Fame Chairman Bill Hay told the Canadian Press “It’s time for females to be in. Changing the voting regulations to accommodate under the player category for two women, and the maximum of four players who are male, really fits with our long-range plan.”

According to the NHL, Granato said, “I’m just so incredibly honored to have gotten this call and to know that I’m in the Hockey Hall of Fame with such great players that I watched my whole life. It’s almost unfathomable as a woman. It’s overwhelming. I’m very thankful.” She was Eastern College Athletic Conference Player of the Year from 1991 to 1993 and a 15-year member of the US Women’s National team. Granato played on five professional teams over 19 seasons and scored a total of 608 goals.

At the start of her career, James told the New York Times that women wore pink uniforms but, “we didn’t care if we were wearing polka-dots, we just wanted to play.” She told reporters, “This is a day that I never really thought would ever happen. I’m really honored to represent the female hockey players from all over the world.” James was the leading scorer for the Central Ontario Women’s League eight times and a six-time MVP. She was also a medalist in 12 National Championships and played on four gold-medal World Championship teams.

Sources:

Canadian Press 6/22/10; NHL 6/22/10; New York Times 6/22/10

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