Rusanowsky Headed to Hall of Fame

Another San Jose Sharks institution is headed to the Hall of Fame.

Dan Rusanowsky, radio voice of the San Jose Sharks since their 1991-92 expansion campaign, will be the recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.

Rusanowsky is being recognized along with Mark Mulvoy, who will receive the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for excellence in hockey journalism.

Rusanowsky, a Connecticut native, started his career as the voice of St. Lawrence University’s hockey team and the AHL’s New Haven Nighthawks. Since the San Jose Sharks’ first season, Rusanowsky has missed just 27 games, all from a serious car accident suffered in 2000.

Rusanowsky called his 1,000th Sharks regular season game in 2004, and his 2,000th in 2018.

“There are few individuals that are as closely associated with the San Jose Sharks as Dan Rusanowsky,” Sharks president Jonathan Becher said in a team press release. “Dan has always been one of the team’s greatest ambassadors and he has deftly described Sharks hockey over the airwaves for generations of Sharks fans. He is beyond deserving of this recognition and our organization and fans are extremely lucky to have him as the ‘Voice of the Sharks.’ ”

Rusanowsky follows long-time San Jose Sharks player, executive, and GM Doug Wilson into the Hall of Fame. Wilson was inducted in 2021.

“It’s a tremendous honor and is pretty overwhelming,” Rusanowsky told San Jose Hockey Now.

Rusanowsky and Mulvoy will receive their awards during Hall of Fame weekend, along with the other inductees. Rusanowsky and Mulvoy will be recognized as Media Honourees, as opposed to those inducted as Honoured Members. Honoured Members are selected by the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee, while the NHL Broadcasters’ Association is tapping Rusanowsky and the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association Mulvoy.

Hockey Hall of Fame induction weekend kicks off on Nov. 10. This year’s other inductees will be announced on Jun. 10.