By Kim Dunbar

When the Sharks organization moved to Worcester five years ago, Michael Mudd ~ now president of the team ~ was surprised to learn that there was no recognition of the city’s rich hockey history.

“There are a lot more than just professional players here,” said Mudd.  “There are people who were born here and are doing great things outside of Worcester as well as coaches and administrators who have helped grow the sport.”

Worcester is the birthplace of Olympians Jim Campbell (retired), Bill Guerin (Pittsburgh) and Tom Poti (Washington).  It’s also the original site of Denis Leary’s celebrity hockey game, home to the 2006 Holy Cross men’s hockey team that defeated top-ranked Minnesota in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, and a repeat host of the ECAC Tournament.

“New England and hockey go hand in hand,” said Mudd.

Because of a surplus of what Mudd considers “many worthy candidates,” the Sharks organization has created the Worcester Hockey Hall of Fame (WHHF). Hesitant to take all the credit for the idea, Mudd shared that he consulted others before setting the wheels in motion.

“I called some people I trust who have been in Worcester a lot longer than me for their opinion,” said Mudd, who was met with overwhelming support.  A search committee composed of seven individuals, whom Mudd said run the gamut of titles and backgrounds, sifted through a deep pool of nominations and named its first class of inductees:  Larz Anderson, Eddie Bates, Marvin Degon Sr., Kelly O’Leary, Terry Virtue, and Scott Young.  They will be inducted into the WHHF during the January 22 game ~ which also happens to be IceCats Night.

“The IceCats were special to this city,” said Mudd, adding that they had planned to salute Worcester’s first AHL team this season and it seemed appropriate to do so on a night honoring Worcester’s hockey history.  “They brought the AHL to Worcester and we’re grateful for the road they paved for us.  They did a lot of great things for this sport.”

The evening will feature a Scratch bobblehead giveaway, video tributes and appearances from former IceCats players (ahem…Jim Campbell?) and Scratch himself.

This is the type of history Mudd is hoping to collect for the WHHF.  While the Hall will be a website for now, he hopes it will have space inside the DCU Center someday.  “It’s a very proud creation to be a part of,” he added.

WHHF nominations can be emailed to halloffame@sharksahl.com. For more information on IceCats Night, visit www.sharksahl.com.