Legendary captain Zdeno Chára inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame

Zdeno Chára, remembered as one of ice hockey's greatest leaders and defencemen, was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame on Sunday ahead of the medal games at this year's World Championship.

The towering Slovak joined Swedish goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist and Kim Martin-Hasson, Denmark's Frans Nielsen, the Czech Republic's David Výborný, Canadian Vicky Sunohara, and Finnish hockey executive Kai Hietaranta. Chára became the 11th Slovak to receive the prestigious honour.

Zdeno Chára (5 photos)

The legendary captain

"It is an incredible privilege and honour to stand before you today as a new inductee to the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame," Chára said during his induction speech. "I stand on the shoulders of so many great players, coaches, and contributors who have shaped this sport, and I am humbled to join them all. First and foremost, I'd like to thank the committee for selecting me, and I would like to congratulate all the inductees."

He continued: "The Hall of Fame is not something you win – you have to earn it the hard way, and you cannot do it alone. This induction is not just mine, but a testament to all of you who stood beside me, pushed me, and believed in me. Hockey is much more than just a game – it is a way of life, a community, a culture."

Chára is particularly revered by NHL fans for his 14-season tenure as captain of the Boston Bruins, from 2006 to 2020. In 2009, he became the first Slovak to win the Norris Trophy, awarded to the league's top defenceman. Two years later, he led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup victory.

His NHL career began with the New York Islanders in 1997 – the same club with which he played his final game in 2022. Over the course of his career, he played in 1,680 NHL games, the most by any defenceman in league history. He recorded 209 goals and 471 assists for a total of 680 points.

Standing at 206 centimetres – the tallest player in NHL history – Chára earned a reputation as a formidable presence on the ice, renowned for his physical play and powerful slap shot. He still holds the NHL All-Star record for the hardest shot at 175.067 kilometres per hour. Remarkably, he surpassed his own record twice and won the competition five times – more than any other player.

The greatest reward

On the international stage, he helped Slovakia to two World Championship silver medals, in 2000 and 2012.

During his speech, Chára briefly switched to Slovak to thank his Slovak fans for their enduring support, saying none of his achievements would have been possible without them.

"Hockey has meant more to me than I can ever express," he said in closing. "The greatest reward has always been the ability to inspire others through my hard work, discipline, and dedication."