Michigan Sports Hall of Fame 2023 class: Henrik Zetterberg, Richard Hamilton lead class
Two key cogs to Detroit last great teams are the highlights of the next group of local sports legends to be honored by the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
Former Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg and former Detroit Pistons All-Star Richard Hamilton are two of the biggest names in the MSHOF's class of 2023, which was announced Monday night.
The organization will host its enshrinement ceremony on Sept. 14 at the Sound Board Theater at MotorCity Casino. Tickets begin at $25 and are available at mshof.org. Here's a look at the class of 2023 in alphabetical order:
Rick Comley
The Burlington, Ontario, native became a fixture in the state's college hockey scene for parts of five decades. After his playing career as Lake Superior State, Comley became an assistant coach there under Ron Mason. After one season, Comley was named head coach, where he won the CCHA and NAIA championships.
He moved on to Northern Michigan, where he coached from 1976-2002, where he lead the Wildcats to the Frozen Four three times, including in 1991 when NMU won the national championship in an 8-7, triple-overtime thriller over Boston U. in St. Paul, Minnesota. Comley later replaced Mason again, this time at Michigan State, from 2002-11, leading the Spartans to the Frozen Four in 2007.
Mike Emrick
The St. Clair resident was the "voice of the NHL" for American audiences for decades. Starting his career for the Port Huron Flags in 1973, "Doc" worked his way in the AHL and then as the first play-by-play announcer for the New Jersey Devils in 1982. He also worked for CBC and ESPN and was the lead announcer for NHL coverage on Fox, OLN/Versus, NBC and NBC's Olympic hockey coverage from the mid-1980s until his retirement in 2020.
Richard Hamilton
Hamilton was the leading scorer for the 2004 Detroit Pistons, which won the NBA championship, and averaged 18.4 points per game in nine seasons with the team. He helped the Pistons reach the Eastern Conference finals six straight seasons and is the organization's all-time leading scorer in the playoffs.
The man known as "Rip" grew to NBA fame with his continuous motion on the court, was widely considered the most in-shape player in the game, and sweet shooting mid-range game. He was a three-time All-Star — 2006-08 — all with the Pistons.
Colleen Howe
"Mrs. Hockey" was not only the agent for her husband, Gordie Howe, and sons Mark and Marty, but she is credited for leading the charge to bring Junior A hockey to the United States. Howe died in 2009.
Ryan Miller
The East Lansing native was the 2001 Hobey Baker Award winner as a goalie at Michigan State, where he set an NCAA record with 26 career shutouts, was a three-time CCHA Goaltender of the Year and a two-time league MVP. He went on to have an 18-year career in the NHL, where he was the 2010 Vezina Trophy winner as the league's best goaltender. That year, he helped the United States to an Olympic silver medal and as named that tournament's MVP in Vancouver.
Miller is 14th all-time in NHL wins by a goalie and is the Buffalo Sabres' all-time leader in saves, wins and games played for a goalie.
Dawn Riley
The Detroit native and Michigan State alumnae sailed in four America's Cup races and two Whitbread Round the World races. She is considered the most decorated woman in U.S. sailing history and a member of the National Sailing and International America's Cup Halls of Fame.
Sierra Romero
One of the best college softball players of the last 10 years, Romero burst onto the scene at Michigan, where she was the Big Ten Player of the Year as a freshman in 2013. She was the conference player of the year three times, a three-time All-American and named national player of the year by multiple outlets in 2016. Romero led the Wolverines to three trips to the Women's College World Series and was an all-tournament selection in 2015.
Romero, who represented the U.S. in the 2015 Pan Am Games, is U-M's all-time leader in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage and batting average and the NCA's all-time leader in runs scored.
Lorenzo White
The Hollywood, Florida, native remains the gold standard for running backs at Michigan State, where he was the first Big Ten running back to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. The two-time consensus All-American was fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1985 and 1987, the latter of those two years helped the Spartans win the Rose Bowl.
White remains the school's all-time leader in rushing yards, rushing attempts, rushing touchdowns and yards from scrimmage. He was a first-round NFL draft pick in 1988 and was a Pro Bowler in 1992.
LaMarr Woodley
A state champions with Saginaw, Woodley joined the Michigan football team in 2003 and became a key member to a defense that went to three Rose Bowls. As a senior, Woodley was a unanimous first-team All-American, the Ted Hendricks Award winner as the nationals top defensive end and the Lombardi Award winner as the nation's top lineman.
Woodley finished his U-M career with 24 sacks, tied for fourth most all-time at the school, and his 12 in 2006 remains the second most in a season. The second-round pick by the Steelers in 2007 had a nine-year NFL career, helping Pittsburgh win the Super Bowl in the 2008 season.
Henrik Zetterberg
Zetterberg, drafted by the Red Wings in the seventh round in 1999, played his entire NHL career in Detroit and quickly emerged as an elite player. A perennial contender for the Selke and Lady Byng awards, Zetterberg was the Conn Smythe Award winner, helping lead the Red Wings to the 2008 Stanley Cup championship.
When Nicklas Lidstrom retired in 2012, Zetterberg was selected as 36th captain of the Detroit Red Wings, which he held until his retirement in 2018. Zetterberg is in the top 10 all-time in Red Wings history in games played, goals, assists, power play goals and game-winning goals.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Sports Hall of Fame 2023: Henrik Zetterberg, Richard Hamilton
