Former New Jersey Devils players Scott Gomez and Zach Parise have been selected for induction into the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
Gomez, originally from Anchorage, Alaska, played for the Devils from 1999 to 2007 and again in the 2014-15 season. He was drafted by New Jersey in the first round (27th overall) in 1998 and spent eight seasons with the team, contributing to two Stanley Cup victories.
At age 45, Gomez is recognized for winning the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year in 2000 after recording 19 goals, 51 assists, and a total of 70 points across 82 games. During that postseason, he added another ten points over 23 playoff games as the Devils secured the championship.
“I was put in a great situation right from the get-go. Look at those (Devils) teams, you had to fit in right away and I learned from the best,” Gomez said. “Coming into the room, the leadership and guidance from all of those guys, they took it to another level. They cared, they nurtured you. They showed you how to be a pro. I’m here right now because of all of those guys.
“I was fortunate to play for the Devils.”
Over his time with New Jersey, Gomez accumulated 123 goals and 484 points in 606 regular-season games and contributed an additional 21 goals and 44 points during his 97 playoff appearances with the club. His NHL career spanned 17 years with a total of 181 goals, 575 assists, and 756 points over 1,079 games played for several teams including stops with New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and Ottawa Senators.
Gomez also represented Team USA in four international tournaments such as competing at the Winter Olympics in Turin in 2006.
Parise is a Minnesota native who played for New Jersey between 2005 and 2012 after being selected by them as their first-round pick (17th overall) in the NHL Draft of 2003. Serving as team captain during his tenure with New Jersey helped lead them to reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2012.
During his seven seasons with New Jersey, Parise scored a total of194 goals along with216 assists amounting to410 points over502 games; he also tallied21 goalsand43 pointsover61 postseason contestswiththe franchise.
Parise concluded his19-yearNHL careerwith434goals455assistsand889pointsin1,254gamesplayedacrossstintswithMinnesotaWildNewYorkIslandersandColoradoAvalanchebefore retiring followingthe2023-24season.
He represented Team USA nine times internationally including appearances at both2010and2014WinterOlympicGames;at Vancouverin2010hehelpedtheU.S.winasilvermedal—tyingtheGoldMedalGameagainstCanadawithlessthan30secondstoregulationbeforeCanada’sSidneyCrosbyscoredin overtimeforgold.PraisealsoearnedgoldmedalsfortheUnitedStatesatthe2002WorldU-18JuniorChampionshipandthe2004WorldJuniorChampionship.
In addition to Gomez and Parise’s selections,Bruce Bennett,a hockey photographer who has documented thesportforover50years,isalsobeinginductedintothe2025classoftheU.S.HockeyHallofFame.
