On Saturday, New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello and ex-NHLer Mark Recchi were inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Rosemont, Ill.
This year’s entry class held special significance as it was the NIASHF’s 35th anniversary induction. Other noteworthy entrants included Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, Olympic gymnast Alicia Sacramone and former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz, who must’ve married in or something.
The induction capped off what’s been a prestigious year for Lamoriello. On Oct. 15, he was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame alongside Ed Olczyk and Mike Modano and in June, the Devils made it to the Stanley Cup finals for the fifth time in his career.
As for Recchi, he now joins a select list of NHL players that have made the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame: Tom Barrasso, Dino Ciccarelli, Alex Delvecchio, Phil Esposito, Tony Esposito and John Mariucci.