RI Hockey HOF unveils 2020 class

By PETE FONTAINE
Posted 2/26/20

By PETE FONTAINE No matter that tag people refer to the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of 2020, their storied successes further enhances the Ocean State's reputation for continuously producing some of the nation's best ice hockey players. The

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RI Hockey HOF unveils 2020 class

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No matter that tag people refer to the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020, their storied successes further enhances the Ocean State’s reputation for continuously producing some of the nation’s best ice hockey players.

The “Spectacular Skaters” or “Super-Special Seven” as some people referred to while talking about the prestigious Class of 2020 during Saturday’s surprise announcement inside the Providence Civic Center, are also featured in yet another first, the non-profit’s “Wall of Fame” kiosk which chronicles the state’s rich hockey history.”

“This has been our mission form the outset,” Hall of Fame Chairman Vincent Cimini told an enthusiastic audience. “This state of the art touchscreen kiosk will provide a modern and engaging means to inspire and educate present and future generations.”

The unique kiosk, which drew rave reviews during Saturday’s unveiling, features videos recounting the careers and achievements of all RI Hall of Fame inductees to date while showcasing the milestones in the Ocean State’s illustrious hockey history and its global contribution to the game.

Thus, the Class of 2020 includes, in alphabetical order: Tim Army, David Capuano, Louis A. “Lou” Cimini, Jack Ferreira, Jim Fullerton, Paul Guay and Garth Snow. They’ll be enshrined in the RI Hockey Hall of Fame on Friday, August 28 at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln. Tickets are available at RIHHOF.com.

Locally, interest centers around David Capuano, Treasurer for the City of Cranston, who was born in Warwick back in 1968 and raised in Cranston.

Saturday’s announcement marked the third time in Capuano’s ice hockey career that he’s been elected to a prestigious Hall of Fame, his fist in 2008 for the University of Maine where he starred after a two-time All-State career at Mount St. Charles Academy and the second coming in 2016 when his Alma Mater added the former Hockey East standout to its prestigious Hall.

During his career with the Maine Black Bears, Capuano became the program’s first two-time All-American, sharing those honors with his brother Jack; his fist time around in 1988. He twice was chosen as a finalist for the coveted Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top collegiate ice hockey player.

“Cappie was also a two-time All-Hockey East and All-New England selection,” Cimini related. “He was the leader of Maine’s first two teams to reach the Frozen Four and his 1.85 points per game is the highest in Hockey East history in a minimum of 30 games.”

Although Capuano played only three seasons in Orono before turning pro, he remains the Black Bears all-time goals leader with 65 in 85 games. He also recorded the second most assists in Maine history.

Capuano’s talents were discovered during his schoolboy days at Mount, when he was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins as the 25th pick in the second round of the 1986 NHL entry draft. In 1987, he was selected to play for Team USA in the World Junior Games.

“Dave jumped right into the big-time the year after his college graduation,” Cimini noted. “He was then traded four times in as many years, the fist of those to Vancouver where he and Jack became the first brothers to suit up at the same time with the Canucks.”

In all, Capuano played for five NHL teams – Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Tampa, San Jose and Boston – and back on Feb. 321, 1991 he had the most productive single game as a professional when he recorded four assists on the Canucks’ way to the playoffs.

Capuano played his final four NHL games with San Jose during the 1993-94 season ands spent most of the year at home with the Providence Bruins, where he had his most productive professional season scoring 29 goals and 53 points before retiring.

He second Providence Bruin to be inducted into the RI Hockey Hall of Fame, the first being Cranston’s David Emma who won the prestigious Hobey Baker Award in 1991 during his storied career at Boston College before playing in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, Bruins and Florida Panthers.

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