Richter, Leetch Enter U.S. Hall Together

Mike Richter and Brian Leetch were Team USA teammates at the Calgary Olympics in 1988, the Nagano Games in 1998 and the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, where they won a silver medal.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minn., announced its newest enshrinees – a list that includes two prominent former Rangers.

Defenseman Brian Leetch and goaltender Mike Richter, who played together on three U.S. Olympic teams and were together in the Rangers organization for 15 years from 1988 to 2003, will enter the U.S. Hall this year. They become the 11th and 12th former Rangers to earn American hockey's highest honor.

Both players have already had their numbers retired by the Rangers organization, which will also retire their former teammate and close friend Adam Graves' No. 9 during the 2008-09 season.

It is only fitting that Richter and Leetch should enter the U.S. Hall together. The two first met in the USA Hockey junior program, and were teammates in international play from the mid-1980s, when they represented their country in numerous junior tournaments, including the 1986 and 1987 World Junior Championships.

Joining Richter and Leetch in this year's Hall of Fame class are former NHL star Brett Hull and Olympic women's hockey great Cammi Granato.

The induction ceremony will take place in Denver on Oct. 10. For more information on the event, visit USAHockey.com.