THE BETTMAN FILE

Born: June 2, 1952, in Queens, N.Y. Longest serving active commissioner in pro sports ... Under Bettman, league has grown in size from 21 to 31 (soon to be 32) teams, generating more than $3 billion US in revenue ... First to put Nhlers in the Olympics and then recently pulling them out, judging it wasn’t in league’s best interests ... Added former players to positions of influence such as player safety ... A graduate of Cornell University and New York School of Law ... A father of three ... His Dad and grandfather owned a nut importing company in the New York City area.

BRUCE BENNETT / GETTY IMAGES FILES NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says he himself was surprised by his early induction to the Hockey Hall.