The East Coast Hockey League has formally inducted former Caps goalie, Olaf Kolzig into the ECHL Hall of Fame. Kolzig played two seasons in the ECHL with the Hampton Roads Admirals between 1990-1992, with season records of 11-9-1 and 11-3-0.It may seem strange that they should induct a player who logged so little time in the league. It all comes down to classification. He was inducted in the "Developmental Player" category. According to ECHL Hall of Fame guidelines,
Development Players must have begun their career in the ECHL and went on to a distinguished career in the NHL, playing a minimum of 260 regular season games in the NHL, AHL and ECHL.
That would definitely describe the former NHL All-Star, Vezina Trophy winner, and all-around fan favorite Kolzig. He deserves recognition. Enough so that we should all overlook the fact that Kolzig played more games for the AHL Baltimore Skipjacks during those same seasons that the ECHL is taking credit for developing his talents.
I think it's a safe assumption that Kolzig will someday have a banner hanging from the rafters of the Verizon Center next to Dale Hunter, Mike Gartner, Yvone Labre and Rod Langway. Olie the Goalie belongs in the Capitals Hall of Fame. I just hope we get to see those honors bestowed sometime before Ovechkin reaches retirement age.
