University of Minnesota Athletics
Vanek Called into IIHF Hall of Fame
12/8/2025 11:45:00 AM | Men's Hockey
NCAA champion Gopher to be inducted in Class of 2026
MINNEAPOLIS - Former University of Minnesota men's hockey forward Thomas Vanek is one of seven figures from the world of hockey that will be inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame in 2026. The induction ceremony will take place on the final day of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Zurich, Switzerland.
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An NCAA champion with the Golden Gophers, he is considered the greatest player in the long history of hockey in Austria and the fourth Austrian to be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame. Born in Baden bei Wien, Austria, Vanek represented his country on the international stage as team captain at the 2014 Olympic games in Sochi, played in three World Championship between 2004 and 2009, skated in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey for Team Europe, and played in the 2004 World Junior Championships.
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As one of the most prolific scorers in program history, Vanek posted 113 points in just 83 games behind 57 goals and 56 assists and twice was named to the All-WCHA Second Team. His 1.36 points per game ranks 10th in Minnesota history, while his 62-point rookie campaign remains the third-most ever for a Maroon and Gold freshman.
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Vanek began his career at Minnesota by guiding the team to its second of back-to-back NCAA titles in 2003 where he was named the MVP of the Frozen Four. He led the Maroon and Gold in goals (31), assists (31) and points (62) during the 2002-03 campaign, one goal shy of John Mayasich's rookie record of 32 goals, and was the first freshman to pace the team in scoring since 1969-70. After earning WCHA Rookie of the Year honors, he went on to score the game-winning goal in both the NCAA semifinal against Michigan in overtime and the final against New Hampshire.
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In his second and final season in Dinkytown, Vanek was named a Second Team All-American after putting up 51 points on 26 goals and 25 assists. Thanks to his team-leading offense, Minnesota reached the second round of the NCAA Midwest Regional following a conference playoff title as the fifth-seeded Gophers upset Minnesota Duluth and North Dakota to claim the WCHA Final Five championship.
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During Vanek's 14-year NHL career, he played in 1,029 games and tallied 789 points on 373 goals and 416 assists with eight different teams. He joined the Buffalo Sabres in the fall of 2005 for his professional debut and went on to score 25 goals as a rookie, his first of 10-straight seasons with 20 or more goals, and twice was a 40-goal scorer in the league. In his final year with Buffalo in 2013-14, Vanek was named captain for home games, becoming the first Austrian to wear a 'C' for an NHL team.
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The 2026 class includes icons from women's and men's hockey, historic leaders, and generational talents, bringing the total number of Hall of Fame honorees to 258 since 1997. Vanek is joined by five other players: Swiss goalie Florence Schelling, Canadian Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Swiss forward Andres Ambuhl, Canadian Patrice Bergeron, and Swede Niklas Kronwall, along with Swiss builder Ralph Krueger.
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An NCAA champion with the Golden Gophers, he is considered the greatest player in the long history of hockey in Austria and the fourth Austrian to be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame. Born in Baden bei Wien, Austria, Vanek represented his country on the international stage as team captain at the 2014 Olympic games in Sochi, played in three World Championship between 2004 and 2009, skated in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey for Team Europe, and played in the 2004 World Junior Championships.
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As one of the most prolific scorers in program history, Vanek posted 113 points in just 83 games behind 57 goals and 56 assists and twice was named to the All-WCHA Second Team. His 1.36 points per game ranks 10th in Minnesota history, while his 62-point rookie campaign remains the third-most ever for a Maroon and Gold freshman.
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Vanek began his career at Minnesota by guiding the team to its second of back-to-back NCAA titles in 2003 where he was named the MVP of the Frozen Four. He led the Maroon and Gold in goals (31), assists (31) and points (62) during the 2002-03 campaign, one goal shy of John Mayasich's rookie record of 32 goals, and was the first freshman to pace the team in scoring since 1969-70. After earning WCHA Rookie of the Year honors, he went on to score the game-winning goal in both the NCAA semifinal against Michigan in overtime and the final against New Hampshire.
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In his second and final season in Dinkytown, Vanek was named a Second Team All-American after putting up 51 points on 26 goals and 25 assists. Thanks to his team-leading offense, Minnesota reached the second round of the NCAA Midwest Regional following a conference playoff title as the fifth-seeded Gophers upset Minnesota Duluth and North Dakota to claim the WCHA Final Five championship.
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During Vanek's 14-year NHL career, he played in 1,029 games and tallied 789 points on 373 goals and 416 assists with eight different teams. He joined the Buffalo Sabres in the fall of 2005 for his professional debut and went on to score 25 goals as a rookie, his first of 10-straight seasons with 20 or more goals, and twice was a 40-goal scorer in the league. In his final year with Buffalo in 2013-14, Vanek was named captain for home games, becoming the first Austrian to wear a 'C' for an NHL team.
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The 2026 class includes icons from women's and men's hockey, historic leaders, and generational talents, bringing the total number of Hall of Fame honorees to 258 since 1997. Vanek is joined by five other players: Swiss goalie Florence Schelling, Canadian Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Swiss forward Andres Ambuhl, Canadian Patrice Bergeron, and Swede Niklas Kronwall, along with Swiss builder Ralph Krueger.
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