Sunday at the Radisson Royal Hotel in Moscow, the International Ice Hockey Federation inducted seven new members into its Hall Of Fame. Former Capitals forwards Peter Bondra and Sergei Fedorov were honored along with Valeri Kamenski (player), Ville Peltonen (player), Gabor Ocskay (Richard “Bibi” Torriani Award), Pat Quinn (Builder Category), Ben Smith (Builder Category), and Nikolai Ozerov (Paul Loicq Award).

Bondra, who scored 503 goals and led Washington to its only Stanley Cup Final appearance, is a legend in Slovakia for scoring the biggest goal in the country’s international history. With 100 seconds remaining in the 2002 World Championship gold medal game, Bondra scored on a shot from the left circle to lift Slovakia to a 4-3 win over Russia. It was the country’s first gold medal in international competition.

“I’d like to thank Slovakian hockey. I was always proud to play for my country, Olympics or World Championships,” Bondra said in his acceptance speech, according to the IIHF. “My dream was to always play for the national team and score the game-winning goal for a gold medal. My dream came true.”

Bondra represented Slovakia on seven occasions in international competition, including the 1994 Winter Olympics qualifying tournament, the 1998 Winter Olympics, the 2006 Winter Olympics, the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, and the World Championships in 2002 and 2003. He scored a tournament-leading seven goals (including the tournament-winning goal) and ranked third among all players with nine points in the 2002 World Championship. Bondra also won a bronze medal in 2003, notching five points (three goals, two assists) in eight games. Overall, Bondra played 47 games and scored 35 goals for his home country.

Photo: Russian Hockey Federation

Fedorov, who spent the final two seasons of his 20-year NHL career in Washington, scored 1,179 points in his NHL career. During international competition, Fedorov three gold medals with the Soviet Union and Russia. He had 33 points in 38 games, which included 17 goals. Fedorov also won a silver and bronze medal in the Olympics.

“I am so honoured and so pleased that this life of hockey that has given me so much joy has brought me to this place and this special recognition.” Fedorov said. “I had a lot of fun during my career but it’s not alway that easy. There were a lot of tears and a lots of negative things. But all that is overcome when you achieve an honour like today’s induction into the HOF.”

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