Glancing at the glass case in the lobby of the Northtown Center in Amherst is like taking a step back in hockey history. Among the images on display are previous inductees into the New York State Amateur Hockey Association’s Hall of Fame, including some of the game’s greatest players, successful coaches and dedicated administrators. Without their individual and collective contributions the game would not have the rich history that we enjoy today.

NYSAHA created the Hall of Fame in 2013 as a way to recognize the pioneers who not only helped forge local associations but made their contributions at the state and national levels. Their hard work and selfless dedication fueled the dreams of countless players, many whom made their mark at the professional and international levels.

This year’s class is no exception. Over the course of their respective NHL careers,  Tim Connolly and Dustin Brown were two of the most decorated and successful players to ever emerge from the New York hockey community.

Tim Connolly

Syracuse

Tim Connolly started playing hockey at the age of 4 in his Baldwinsville neighborhood. His first foray onto the ice came at the New York State Fairgrounds and he quickly became a member of the Syracuse Stars Hockey Program. He routinely played on teams with players two years older than himself.   

After the Stars, Connolly played junior hockey in the Metro Toronto area. His skills were recognized by the Erie Otters, who drafted him in 1999. He would play two seasons in Erie, amassing a total of 64 goals and 66 assists in 105 games.

His deft puck-handling skills and extraordinary vision on the ice caught the attention of the New York Islanders, who selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He  played his entire rookie season as an 18-year-old and racked up 34 points, which was the third most for the rebuilding Islanders.

Connolly played in an era when clutching and grabbing were part of the NHL game. Those who watched him say the sky would be the limit if he were playing in today’s game, with its emphasis on speed and skill. 

His NHL career was cut short by injury, including concussion issues that caused him to miss the 2003-04 season. Still, he would score 131 goals and add 300 assists in 697 games with the Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs. 

He represented USA Hockey internationally in both the 1999 World Junior Championships and the 2001 World Championships. 

Connolly was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 2021. 

Dustin Brown

Ithaca

Dustin Brown started his hockey career at the age of 4 as a member of the Ithaca Youth Hockey Association. Dustin was a standout at a young age, and his full potential was recognized when he moved from playing defense to power forward. 

After a successful high school career where he led Ithaca to the state title, Brown was drafted as a 16-year-old by the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, where he played for three years.

Brown was drafted in the first round of the NHL draft by the Los Angeles Kings in 2003. He would spend his entire 18-year NHL career with the Kings, where he accumulated 325 goals and 387 assists in 1,296 regular season games. Under his leadership as team captain, the Kings made the playoffs eight times, winning the Stanley Cup twice. 

He also received the NHL Foundation Player Award and the Mark Messier Leadership Award for his on- and off-ice contributions. 

Brown was a regular on the international stage for Team USA. He played in two IIHF World Junior Championships, four IIHF Men’s World Championships, and two Olympic Teams. During the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, he served as an alternate captain on the silver medal-winning squad. 

Following his playing career, the Los Angeles Kings retired his number and erected a statue of him hoisting the Stanley Cup outside the home of the Kings to recognize his career and contributions to the organization. 

Brown was also inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023.