2012 Inductee PAUL Dipietro - Player
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2012 Inductee PAUL DiPIETRO - Player Born in and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Paul spent his entire OHL career with the Sudbury Wolves. He was drafted 102nd overall by the Montreal Canadians in the fifth round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, after a 56-goal, 119-point season with the Wolves. Spending two seasons in the AHL with the Fredericton Canadians he made impressive strides in his career and was called up to play with the Montreal Canadians in the middle of the 1991-92 season. The following season he led the Habs in their playoff run winning a Stanley Cup Championship. Through his 223 career NHL games he suited up for the Canadians, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings. Seeking to change the direction of his playing career, DiPietro moved to Europe in 1998, where he developed into a star in Germany, Italy and Switzerland. With his Swiss and Canadian dual citizenship, he has played for Switzerland in many international tournaments including the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, where he scored both of Switzerland’s goals in a 2-0 upset victory over Team Canada. After an extremely impressive international career and 11 years at EV Zug of the Swiss top league, he retired from the club in 2011 at the age of 41. That year the club honoured him by adding his name to the arena’s Wall of Fame. And now his name will be added to the Sault Ste Marie Hockey Hall of Fame. 2012 Inductee DAN RAYCROFT - Builder Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Dan started his officiating career in the 1960's, spanning over four decades. He reached the highest Level 6 Certification as an Official with Hockey Canada. He officiated at every level of sport from local minor in the twin Sault’s, to our highest levels being the Ontario Hockey League and USA College Level. During his career he was fortunate enough to be on the ice with such Soo Greyhound greats as Wayne Gretzky, Craig Hartsburg, Jeff Beukaboom, Bob Probert and John VanBiesbruck. Along the way he gathered many awards for dedication, and excellence in officiating. He is a two-time winner of the NOHA Sportsmanship and Dedication award, a two-time winner of the OHF award for Outstanding Contribution to Hockey Development in Ontario and a winner of the NOHA Most Deserving Official award. He was also heavily involved in the development of local officials by instructing and supervising since 1972 serving as the local Referee in Chief for 16 years, instructing at the Under 17 Development Camp for 12 years and overseeing numerous local high profile events. Dan continues today to contribute to hockey in the Soo as a Board of Director on the NOHA Executive Committee, and the Chair of the Referees Committee and Development Committee. He is a true Builder of the sport of hockey in Sault Ste. Marie. 2012 Inductee AARON GAVEY - Player Aaron's no stranger to the Soo Greyhounds. A member of the team from 1991 – 1994, he made three Memorial Cup appearances and was a key member of the 1993 Memorial Cup Championship Team. In 1993/94 he was also selected as a member of Team Canada at the World Juniors in which they went on to win the Gold. He was drafted 74th overall to Tampa Bay and played for six different NHL teams including Tampa, Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, and was a member of the 2000 Dallas Stars Stanley Cup Championship team. He played a total of 355 career NHL games. Spending each of his off seasons in the Soo with his wife Jennifer and his three children Joshua, Olivia and Elizabeth, he formally retired and took up full-time residency in the Soo in 2007. Since then he has been an active member in the coaching community, a Board Member for the Group Health Centre trust fund, and through his fundraising efforts for the “Kicking It Off” Soccer tournament. .