Hockey Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport of ice hockey. The Hockey Hall of Fame in Canada is in the Canadian National Exhibition building at Yonge and Front streets in Toronto.
The Hockey Hall of Fame honors individuals in three categories: players, referees and linesmen, and builders. A builder contributed to the sport other than as a player or official, for example, as a league or team executive. Individuals are eligible three years after the end of their careers. However, the waiting period can be waived. A selection committee elects new members annually. The Hockey Hall of Fame building opened in 1961, though the first selections for the hall had been made in 1945.
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame opened in 1973. The hall honors players, coaches, administrators, and referees who have made major contributions to hockey in the United States.
