Phil Housley is officially part of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The 51-year-old assistant coach of the Nashville Predators was inducted Monday night in Toronto, introduced by Buffalo Sabres legend Pat LaFontaine. Housley spent eight of his 20 NHL seasons in Buffalo, but also made stops in Winnipeg, St. Louis, Calgary, New Jersey, Washington, Chicago, and a game in Toronto.
He amassed 1,232 points in almost 1,500 games, fourth-highest among all NHL defensemen, and the Predators have been fortunate enough to have him mentoring their impressive blue line for the past three years. Players like Roman Josi, Seth Jones, Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm have all blossomed under his tutelage, and continue to get better. Let’s not forget he also guided young Team USA to their most recent gold medal in the 2013 World Junior Championship.
It’s a well earned achievement, and perhaps a little later than some would have wanted. Congrats, coach. Here’s to plenty more productive years behind the bench, and hopefully a few more chances for to finally capture the Stanley Cup.
Phil Housley is officially a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. #HHOF2015 https://t.co/yDWB9z8l54
— NHL (@NHL) November 10, 2015
Phil Housley waited the longest, had a career of exceptional scoring from the blueline- namely among US-born NHLers pic.twitter.com/JrEHCpq4Z8
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) November 7, 2015
Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Housley’s plaque at the Hall of Fame induction this morning. #Preds pic.twitter.com/dCdFNWRjmF
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) November 9, 2015
From center ice to the back of the net. #PhilHousley pic.twitter.com/Nd8TOzI3nT
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 10, 2015
21 seasons. 1,232 points. @SAPSports takes a look at 2015 Hall of Fame inductee, Phil Housley. #HHOF2015 https://t.co/rDczKctNrA
— NHL (@NHL) November 9, 2015
Sabres take out full-page ad in The News to congratulate Hall of Famer Phil Housley. pic.twitter.com/CozXeqkClj
— John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) November 9, 2015
Someone took this off for a minute – #HHOF2015 @philhousley6 pic.twitter.com/v8xucMKUCe
— Karin Housley (@KarinHousley) November 7, 2015
Once again, congrats coach.