On Saturday, September 23, Illinois State University Hockey Club alumni from various decades gathered to celebrate and honor the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2023.
The induction ceremony at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington featured speeches from inductees and a slideshow showcasing the team through the years. Everyone who attended the ceremony was then invited to watch the 2023-24 Division I team take on visiting Maryville. The Redbirds won 4-2.
This year’s class includes the 1995-96 team, coach Micheal Hernbrott, patrons Sue Jordan and Brian Ludy, and players Brian McAdam and Brian Reimel. The 50th anniversary of the 1972-73 team was also celebrated.
According to Hall of Fame (HOF) Committee Chairman Jim Petersen ’70, “We created the Hall of Fame to honor coaches, players, teams, and patrons who have distinguished themselves as members of the ISU Redbird Hockey family. I formed Club Hockey in 1969. Decades later, in 2018, Coach Hernbrott asked that I form a Hall of Fame. I prepared the necessary documents, and with the help of coaches and former players who served on a founding committee, we honored our first HOF Class in 2019.”
When asked what his highlight from the evening was, Peterson replied, “It gives me a great deal of pleasure to see the inductees celebrate their induction with their families. This year, we inducted the 1995-96 team that qualified for and played in the national tournament. They brought a great deal of energy and joy to the event as they reunited after 27 years. Each year, we induct a new class of HOF members and honor a former team on their 50th anniversary. That is always a highlight.”
