Schneider to be inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Defenseman Mathieu Schneider, who won a Stanley Cup against the Kings in 1993 and joined the club in 2000 for nearly three full productive seasons, will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, USA Hockey announced Monday. Schneider joins Ron DeGregorio, Chris Drury and Angela Ruggiero in the 2015 hall class, which will be honored on Thursday, Dec. 17 at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel.

A power play specialist and puck distributor who played with an edge and was armed with a potent shot, Schneider signed with Los Angeles in the summer of 2000 and remained with the club until he was traded to Detroit on March 11, 2003 for Sean Avery, Maxim Kuznetsov, a 2003 first round draft pick and a 2004 second round draft pick.

Schneider is tied for 63rd in Kings history with 124 points (37-87=124), recorded over 193 games. His 37 goals rank 10th all-time amongst Kings defensemen, while his 21 power play goals rank seventh. Schneider led the club in scoring with nine points (0-9=9) during the club’s run to the 2001 Western Conference Semifinals, where they fell in seven games to eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado. At the outset of the season, Los Angeles had a capable and productive back end that included Schneider, Rob Blake (who was ultimately traded to the Avalanche), Lubomir Visnovsky, Jaroslav Modry and Phillipe Boucher, amongst others.

Of his nine assists in the 2001 Stanley Cup Playoffs, three came on Scott Thomas, Jozef Stumpel and Bryan Smolinski’s third period goals during the Game 4 comeback (and subsequent win over Detroit) that was dubbed the Frenzy on Figueroa.

Schneider, who was born in New York City, currently serves as the NHLPA Special Assistant to the Executive Director. In 1,289 games with the Kings, Canadiens, Islanders, Maple Leafs, Rangers, Red Wings, Ducks, Thrashers, Canucks and Coyotes, he totaled 223 goals, 520 assists and 743 points.

From USAHockey.com:

A two-time NHL All-Star Game participant (1996, 2003), Schneider completed his career with 743 points (223-520) in 1,289 NHL games. He is among the top five American defensemen of all-time in nearly every statistical category, including games played (3rd, 1289), points (5th, 43), goals (4th, 223), power play goals (3rd, 100), and game-winning goals (4th, 36). He is also sixth in assists (520).

Schneider put on the Team USA sweater at four international events, highlighted by helping the U.S. earn the inaugural World Cup of Hockey title in 1996. He also participated in two Olympic Winter Games (1998, 2006) as well as the IIHF World Junior Championship (1988).