TORONTO – Bill Hay, Chairman and CEO of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Jim Gregory and Pat Quinn, Co-Chairmen of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee, announced today Pavel Bure, Adam Oates, Joe Sakic and Mats Sundin have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Player Category. The vote took place today at the annual meeting of the Selection Committee in Toronto.

“The Hockey Hall of Fame is proud to welcome these four hockey legends as Honoured Members,” said Jim Gregory. “Their contributions to the game of hockey are well documented and their election to the Hockey Hall of Fame is richly deserved.”

Pavel Bure, a native of Moscow, Russia, joined the Vancouver Canucks for the 1991-92 NHL season and that season won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year. A six-time NHL All-Star, he was named to the first team in 1994. As a Florida Panther, he was the NHL’s top goal scorer for two consecutive seasons, from 1999 to 2001, before finishing his career with the New York Rangers in 2003.

“It is a tremendous honour to be selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame,” said Bure. “Growing up I never even thought I would be able to play in the NHL, much less make it into the Hockey Hall of Fame.”

Adams Oates played three seasons with RPI of the ECAC before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Red Wings in 1985. He went on to play 19 NHL seasons with seven teams, including four 100-plus point seasons. The sixth all-time NHL career leader in assists with 1,063, Oates retired in 2004.

“Growing up I was a guy who was kind of overlooked and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go to RPI and have the time for my game to mature,” said Oates. “This is a tremendous honour and I look back and realize how lucky I was to have great coaches to help me along the way.

Joe Sakic grew up in Burnaby, British Columbia, before starring with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League, winning the CHL’s Player of the Year Award in in 1987-88. Drafted 15th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1987 Entry Draft, Joe moved with the team to Colorado and went on to play his entire 20-year career with the same organization.

Sakic captained the team for 17 seasons, second longest in NHL history and won Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001. An NHL First Team All-Star on three occasions, Sakic also played for Canada at three Olympic Games, winning gold and being named MVP in 2002.

“As a kid I always dreamed about making the NHL, but never really thought at all about the Hockey Hall of Fame,” said Sakic. “I was fortunate to play 20 seasons, which gave me the opportunity to build on my list of accomplishments. Having great teammates and coaches was a key component of this.”

Mats Sundin was born in Bromma, Sweden and was the first European born player to be drafted first overall in the NHL Entry Draft, in 1989 by the Quebec Nordiques. Mats spent 13 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in goals with 420 and assists with 567. Sundin is the first Swedish-born player to reach 1,000 points in the NHL. He represented his home country internationally on 14 occasions, with the culmination being an Olympic gold medal in 2006.

“Three years have passed since I retired and it makes me realize how privileged I was to play my entire career in Canada, where hockey really matters,” said Sundin. “Having my hobby and love for a sport become my livelihood really allowed me to live out my dream.”

The 2012 Induction Celebration will be held on Monday, November 12th at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

MATS SUNDIN

• Born February 13, 1971 in Bromma, Sweden

• First European to be drafted 1st overall in an NHL Entry Draft, 1989

by the Quebec Nordiques

• Became first non-North American and 17th captain of the Toronto Maple

Leafs

• Spent 13 seasons with Toronto, 11 as team captain (1997-2008)

• Maple Leafs all-time leader in goals (420) and points (567)

• Holds Toronto records for most 20-goal seasons (13) and 30-goal

seasons (10), most game-winning goals (79), and most regular season

overtime goals (14)

• First Swedish-born player to reach 1,000 points in NHL

• Recorded 20+ goals for 17 consecutive NHL seasons

• Two-time NHL Second Team All-Star: 2002 and 2004

• Awarded the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2008

• Played in eight NHL All-Star Games: 1996-2002, and 2004

• Totaled 1,346 games played, 564 goals, 785 assists, and 1,349 points

over 16 NHL regular seasons

• Totaled 91 games played, 38 goals, 44 assists, and 82 points over 10

NHL postseason appearances

• Ranks tied for 21st in NHL regular season career goals scored and

tied for 27th in NHL regular season career points

• On February 11, 2012, he became the 16th player in Toronto Maple

Leafs history to have his number honoured

• Represented Sweden in 14 international competitions

• Member of Team Sweden at the 1990 World Junior Championship

• Named to the 1991 Canada Cup All-Star Team

• Played in two World Cups for Sweden (1996 and 2004), and was named to

the 1996 World Cup All-Star Team

• Played in seven World Championships for Sweden, winning three gold

medals: 1991, 1992, and 1998

• Named Best Forward and Tournament All-Star at the 1992 World

Championship

• Three-time Olympian: 1998, 2002, and 2006

• Captained Sweden to Olympic gold medal in 2006