Swede Day: Sedins, Alfredsson elected to Hockey Hall of Fame

Twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin and Daniel Alfredsson have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, a big day for Swedish hockey as they made up half of the class of 2022.

Goaltender Roberto Luongo, Finnish women’s star Riikka Sallinen and builder Herb Carnegie were also selected Monday for induction in November.

“It’s nothing you think about when you play the game of hockey,”henrik Sedin said.“but for us, we put our head down and put our work in every day. We get the most out of our talent. That’s what we’re most proud of today.”

The Sedins and Luongo are being inducted in their first year of eligibility. Alfredsson made it in his sixth year, ending the wait for the longtime Senators captain who helped them reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2007 and spent 17 seasons of his 18-year career in Ottawa.

“It’s such a privilege to have been able to play this sport for a living,” Alfredsson said. “It’s something I would have played for fun for my whole life; without a question to be recognized in this way is truly humbling.”

Alexander Mogilny and Jen Botterill were passed over for another year, along with Rod Brind’amour, now the coach of the Carolina Hurricanes after captaining them to the Stanley Cup in 2006.

Carnegie, who was elected posthumously, was a hockey pioneer as a Black player in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s — before Willie O’ree broke the NHL’S color barrier. Sallinen is the first Finnish women’s player elected to the Hall.

It’s the first Hall of Fame class without a Stanley Cup winner since 2016.