SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League immediately introduced the 4 folks chosen for induction into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame because the Class of 2026.
Honored by the AHL Corridor of Fame Choice Committee as the newest group of enshrinees are Chris Bourque, Alexandre Giroux, Jim Wiemer and Wendell Younger.
The induction of the Class of 2026 will happen as a part of the festivities on the 2026 AHL All-Star Traditional introduced by BMO, to be hosted by the Rockford IceHogs. The American Hockey League Corridor of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony is scheduled for February 11, 2026, on the Coronado Theatre in Rockford, Unwell.
Shaped in 2006 to acknowledge, honor and rejoice people for his or her excellent achievements and contributions within the American Hockey League, the AHL Corridor of Fame is housed on-line at AHLHallofFame.com and is accessible to followers worldwide as a part of the AHL Web Community.
In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League serves as the highest growth league for the gamers, coaches, managers, executives, broadcasters and employees of all 32 Nationwide Hockey League groups. Almost 90 % of NHL gamers annually are American Hockey League graduates, and greater than 130 honored members of the Hockey Corridor of Fame hung out within the AHL of their careers.
CLASS OF 2026: CHRIS BOURQUE
The son of Hockey Corridor of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque carved out his personal legendary profession within the AHL as a three-time Calder Cup winner, a two-time league scoring champion and an MVP in each the common season and the playoffs. Chris Bourque was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2004 and turned professional with the AHL’s Portland Pirates, the place his first profession purpose was an additional time game-winner. He gained his first Calder Cup as a rookie with the Hershey Bears in 2006 and took on a starring function on the crew’s back-to-back championship groups in 2009 and 2010. Bourque, who was voted a First Staff AHL All-Star on three events and performed in six AHL All-Star Classics, totaled 251 objectives and 495 assists for 746 factors in 794 regular-season video games with Portland, Hershey, Windfall, Hartford and Bridgeport. He additionally ranks among the many league’s all-time playoff leaders in assists (83, 1st), factors (118, T-Third) and video games performed (138, 2nd).
CLASS OF 2026: ALEXANDRE GIROUX
Alexandre Giroux was one of the vital deadly offensive weapons within the AHL throughout his 11 seasons within the league, climbing all the way in which to seventh place on the all-time listing with 368 profession objectives. His 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons are among the many biggest ever by an AHL participant: in main the Hershey Bears to back-to-back Calder Cups, Giroux gained each league MVP honors and the regular-season scoring title in 2008-09; grew to become the fourth participant in league historical past with consecutive 50-goal campaigns; was the fifth participant ever to attain 60 objectives in a single season; set an AHL report by scoring objectives in 15 straight video games; and amassed 139 objectives and 255 factors in 181 contests (common season and playoffs mixed) in the course of the two-year span. Giroux totaled 704 factors in 771 contests with Grand Rapids, Binghamton, Hartford, Hershey, Chicago, Oklahoma Metropolis and Springfield, and added 103 factors in 118 Calder Cup Playoff video games, together with a report 5 profession playoff additional time objectives.
CLASS OF 2026: JIM WIEMER
Jim Wiemer started his profession as a left wing earlier than transitioning to the blue line, the place he grew to become one of many AHL’s premier two-way defensemen over a 14-year profession. Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 1980, Wiemer helped the Rochester Individuals win a Calder Cup title in 1983 and captured the Eddie Shore Award because the AHL’s excellent defenseman in 1985-86, when he recorded 24 objectives and 73 factors in 73 video games for the New Haven Nighthawks. He spent a few years as a dependable recall possibility: Wiemer performed a complete of 325 regular-season video games and 62 playoff contests within the Nationwide Hockey League with 5 organizations, successful a Stanley Cup championship with Edmonton in 1988. He returned to Rochester to complete his profession in 1994-95, retiring with 124 objectives and 307 assists for 431 factors in 548 AHL video games.
CLASS OF 2026: WENDELL YOUNG
At the moment in his thirty second season as a member of the Chicago Wolves group, Wendell Younger has adopted a embellished enjoying profession with a profitable run as certainly one of hockey’s main executives. For the reason that crew’s transfer to the AHL in 2001, Younger has been instrumental in successful Calder Cup championships as Chicago’s director of crew relations (2002), assistant coach (2008) and normal supervisor (2022), and through his 15 years because the Wolves’ GM from 2009 to 2024 the crew compiled a report of 571-375-136 (.591) whereas capturing eight division titles. Over his 18 professional seasons as a participant – which included Stanley Cup titles with Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992 – Younger made 138 appearances within the AHL highlighted by a 1987-88 season through which he gained the “Baz” Bastien Award because the league’s excellent goaltender and the Jack Butterfield Trophy as MVP of the Calder Cup Playoffs after backstopping the Hershey Bears on an ideal 12-0 postseason run.
