COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Keith Tkachuk, Chris Chelios, Mike Emrick, Ed Snider and Gary Suter will be enshrined as the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2011, it was announced today by USA Hockey. The five-member class will be formally installed into the Hall in Chicago this fall, with a date to be announced in the near future.

American Idol Keith Tkachuk joins Chris Chelios, Gary Suter, Ed Snider and Mike Emrick as this year's U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees (Getty Images).





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Career Highlights | Tkachuk Says Goodbye More: Tkachuk Career Stats | Salute to No. 7 Photos Keith Tkachuk joins Chris Chelios, Gary Suter, Ed Snider and Mike Emrick as this year's U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees (Getty Images).

“It is an honor and a privilege to join such a prestigious club,” said Tkachuk. “To finish my career in St. Louis and now enter the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame alongside Chris Chelios, Mike Emrick, Ed Snider and Gary Suter is one of the true highlights of my career.“The Blues organization would like to congratulate Walt and thank him for the nine incredible years he spent in St. Louis,” said Blues President John Davidson. “He has not only been instrumental in the growth of our franchise but the overall growth of hockey in the United States.”After being drafted 19th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, Keith Tkachuk went on to play 19 seasons in the NHL and is one of only four American-born players to score 500 career NHL goals.All total, the forward appeared in 1,201 games and recorded 1,065 points (538-527).Tkachuk made his NHL debut at the age of 19 and was named captain of the Jets by his second season with the team.The Melrose, Mass., native broke the 50-goal barrier in back-to-back seasons (1995-97) in the midst of Winnipeg’s relocation to Phoenix. Tkachuk recorded a career-high and NHL-leading 52 goals during the 1996-97 campaign with Phoenix, which also marked the first time an American-born player led the NHL in goals.After 10 years with the Winnipeg/Phoenix organization, Tkachuk was traded to St. Louis, where he would eventually retire after nine seasons (2000-10) with the organization. His stay in St. Louis was interrputed by a brief stint with Atlanta late in the 2006-07 campaign.A five-time NHL All-Star and four-time Olympian (1992, 1998, 2002, 2006), Tkachuk, who played college hockey at Boston University (1990-91), represented his country a total of eight times, including earning a silver medal at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City and helping the U.S. win the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.