Cammi Granato, three-time ECAC Player of the Year, two-time Olympian and 15-year member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, was today announced as one of the first two female members in the 65-year history of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Granato will be formally inducted into the Hall on Nov. 8 as part of the Class of 2010 that also includes Dino Ciccarelli and Angela James in the player category, as well as Jimmy Devellano and Daryl “Doc” Seaman in the builder category.
A trailblazer from her early days, Granato began playing organized hockey in kindergarten at a time when women’s ice hockey didn’t exist. She played with boys through high school, going on to become one of the most talented female athletes in the world and using her fame and success to carry the sport to new levels.
“Cammi’s extraordinary accomplishments have played an integral role in the growth and popularity of women’s hockey not only in the United States, but all over the world,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director for USA Hockey. “Her contributions to the sport are immeasurable and she is more than deserving of this extremely prestigious honor.”
Prior to becoming a star on the world stage, Granato earned a scholarship at Providence College, where she completed a legendary four-year playing career. Beyond establishing many scoring records for the Friars (139 goals in 99 games), Granato captured ECAC Player of the Year honors in three consecutive years from 1991-93, while leading the team to back-to-back conference titles in 1992 and 1993.
Granato will become just the ninth American-born player in the Hockey Hall of Fame and the first from Illinois, adding to the 244 players and 337 total enshrinees currently in the Hall.
A member of the U.S. Women’s National Team from 1990-2005, Granato is the program’s all-time scoring leader with 343 points (186-157) in 205 games. She was one of the team’s initial members and served as the captain of the squad throughout countless international games and tournaments. Upon her retirement in 2005, Granato was the world’s all-time leading scorer in International Ice Hockey Federation competition with 96 points (54-42) in 54 games. Today, she still holds the world record with 54 goals in international play.
The Downers Grove, Ill., native achieved international fame by captaining Team USA to the gold medal at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, the first time women’s ice hockey was included in the Games.
After those Olympics, there was an explosion of female hockey programs in the United States and Granato was launched into the spotlight, making her one of the most recognizable female athletes in the world. Her picture on the Wheaties box, her first book, broadcasting for the National Hockey League and the annual Cammi Granato Gold Medal Hockey Clinic for Girls all followed.
From 1998 through 2002, Granato continued to lead Team USA, becoming one of the most potent goal scorers of all time. At the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Granato captured her second Olympic medal, this time a silver.
In her last international competition and ninth World Championship in 2005, Granato led Team USA to the gold medal, its first-ever in an IIHF World Women’s Championship.
