The ECHL has announced the Hall of Fame Class for 2024. The induction ceremony will take place on Monday, January 15th, at the Savannah Convention Center at 12 p.m., which is the same day that the ECHL All-Star Classic will take place.
June M. Kelly
June M. Kelly is the first lady of the ECHL, as her husband is Patrick J. Kelly, who was the first commissioner of the ECHL. As most people know, the Kelly Cup is named after Patrick, but the playoff MVP trophy was renamed in honor of June M. Kelly back in 2019. During her seven seasons with the league, she served as the administration and financial overseer of the league, which allowed her husband to build the league.
Jason Fitzsimmons
Fitzsimmons had a huge impact on the league on and off the ice and still does today as he currently serves as the Washington Capitals Director of Minor League Operations. During his four-year career as a netminder, he went 52-25-10 with a 3.39 GAA, .884 SV%, and three shutouts as he spent time with the Columbas Chill and South Carolina Stingrays, as a majority of his career came with the Rays. During the 1996-97 season, he’d go 8-1-1 with a 3.38 GAA, .885 SV%, and one shutout but would go 17-7 to lead South Carolina to their first-ever Kelly Cup Championship, and Fitzsimmons would also take home Kelly Cup MVP honors.
Once his playing career was over, he’d stay with the Stingrays as an assistant coach for four seasons, where he would win another Kelly Cup with the Rays. He would be named the head coach in 2002 and spent five seasons in that role where the Rays would go 188-126-46 before Fitzsimmons would leave to spend nine seasons as a pro scout before taking over as the Director of Minor League Hockey Operations for the Capitals.
Shawn Wheeler
Shawn Wheeler spent seven seasons in the ECHL as he spent time with the Greensboro Monarchs, Hampton Road Admirals, and Charlotte Checkers. He had 152 goals and 173 assists for 325 points in 294 games, including four seasons where he scored 30+ goals. Wheeler would be named three All-Star Games, which is tied for fifth in ECHL History. Once his playing career was over, he would spend a season as an assistant coach with the Checkers before he was named the head coach, becoming the first black coach in the ECHL.
Scott Burfoot
Scott Burfoot spent six seasons in the ECHL, where he played for the Erie Panthers, Roanoke Valley Rampage, Huntsville Blast, and Richmond Renegades. He put up 148 goals and 279 assists for 427 points in 298 games, which gives him a 1.43 point per game average which is sixth all-time in the ECHL, while also being named to four All-Star games, which is tied for third all-time in the league.
Brad Dexter
Decter is known as one of the best offensive-defencemen in the history as he put up 67 goals and 294 assists for 361 points in 464 games as he spent time with Raleigh IceCats , South Carolina Stingrays, Pensacola Ice Pilots, and Victoria Salmon Kings. He’s the second former Stingray in this years Hall of Fame Class. He won two Kelly Cups with the Stingrays. Dexter led all defenceman with 59 assists during the 1999-2000 season and is sixth among defenceman in all-time points and assists. He is currently in his first season as a pro scout with the Buffalo Sabres
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