On December 12, 2011 the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame honored former Wisconsin Badgers Chris Chelios and Gary Suter with enshrinement in the Hall as part of its 2011 class.  Chelios and Suter were inducted alongside forward Keith Tkachuk, incomparable broadcaster Mike “Doc” Emrick, and Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider. 

Chris Chelios was a defenseman for the UW Badger hockey team from 1981 to 1983.  In 1983, Chelios was part of the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship team and earned All-Tournament team honors, as well as being named to the second WCHA All-Star team. 

In 1984, the stalwart defenseman played for the 1984 U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey team in the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Chelios played professionally for 26 years, earning multiple NHL All Star honors and hoisted the Stanley Cup on three different occasions—with the Montreal Canadians in 1986 and as a member of the Detroit Red Wings in 2002 and 2008. 

Gary Suter spent two years at the University of Wisconsin, playing defense for the Badgers from 1983 to 1985.  Following his time wearing Badger red and white, Suter made an immediate impact in the National Hockey League playing for the Calgary Flames, where he earned the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in the 1985-1986 season. 

Chelios and Suter join fellow Badger U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees “Badger” Bob Johnson, Bob Suter, Mark Johnson, and Mike Richter.

For more information about UW-Madison campus history, contact uwarchiv@library.wisc.edu or visit archive.library.wisc.edu.