Original design for the International Hockey Hall of Fame in Kingston, Ontario

The first forty inductees into the Hockey Hall of Fame were selected during the 'Kingston-era' in the 1940's and 1950's. The International Hockey Hall of Fame was established in Kingston, Ontario on September 10th, 1943 by the National Hockey League and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.

Hockey's greatest builders and players from the formative years of the NHL were honoured with inductions held in 1945, 1947, 1950 and 1952. Among the first inductees were builders Lord Stanley of Preston and Frank Calder and players included; Georges Vezina, Art Ross, Lester Patrick and Howie Morenz.

New York Rangers legend Lester Patrick receives his induction scroll during a pre-game ceremony at New York's Madison Square Garden.

During those years there was no formal induction dinner as there is today. The President of the International Hockey Hall of Fame, Captain James T. Sutherland, would travel to NHL cities to present the formal induction scroll to a newly honoured member during a pre-game ceremony at an NHL game.

In 1958 the National Hockey League severed its ties with Kingston and established its own Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario. It did recognize the first forty inductees during the Kingston-era.

In 1966 the International Hockey Hall of Fame decided to honour two more members; Harvey (Busher) Jackson and Frederick (Bun) Cook. Both players were also later inducted by the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

International Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees

Players

Builders

Allan (Scotty) Davidson inducted in 1950. He was killed in action in World War I in 1915. • Bain, Donald • Baker, A.H. (Hobie) • Boon, Richard R. • Bowie, Russel • Clapper, Aubrey (Dit) • Cook, Fred (Bun) • Cook, William • Davidson, Allan M. (Scotty) • Drinkwater, Chas. Graham • Gardiner, Chas. R (Chuck) • Gerard, Eddie • Goheen, Frank (Moose) • Grant, Michael (Mike) • Griffis, Silas (Si) • Jackson, Harvey (Busher) • Johnson, Ernie (Moose) • Joliat, Aurel • Lalonde, Edouard C. (Newsy) • MacKay, Duncan (Mickey) • Malone, Joseph • McGee, Frank • Morenz, Howie • Nighbor, Frank • Patrick, Lester • Phillips, Thomas • Pulford, Harvey • Richardson, George T. • Ross, Arthur H. • Shore, Edward (Eddie) • Stuart, William H. (Hod) • Taylor, Fred (Cyclone) • Trihey, Harry • Vezina, Georges

(Left) Captain James T. Sutherland, President of the International Hockey Hall of Fame with NHL President Clarence Campbell during a pre-season NHL game in Kingston in the 1940's. • Allan, Sir Montagu • Calder, Frank • Hewitt, William A. • Nelson, Francis • Northey, William • Robertson, John Ross • Robinson, Claude G. • Stanley, Lord (of Preston) • Sutherland, James T.