Charlie Stryker’s overriding desire to see girl’s hockey grow and prosper was very evident to anyone who met and got to know him. During the early years of our existence, his involvement and planning helped point us in the direction of success, that can be measured both by where we are today, and his influence on others to help us get there. Two examples we can all agree with, are the establishment of our Senior Classic (initially called the Maroon & Gold Series), and the Junior Festival, that so uniquely provided our top Juniors a stage for a college coach audience. The collaboration with two of this year’s inductees (Tim Morris and Tom Maeckelbergh), set these programs in motion, and moved us all to the level of play we have today. Charlie provided a great example for all of us who followed, by trying and succeeding, in creating great opportunities for girls to play the great game of hockey in this, the State of Hockey. Charlie did all this with an incredible work ethic, and a desire to move the game forward rather than take credit for any success along the way. One coach described Charlie’s hockey philosophy as “battle hard between whistles, but hugs and handshakes after the game”. Charlie was an SPA, and Williams College grad and coached hockey for 26 years, during which he started the St Paul United Girl’s Hockey Team in 1996. His involvement very early in the MGHCA, included Executive Secretary, Treasurer, and Executive Board Member. He was co-founder and Director of the MGHCA Senior Classic, and MGHCA Junior Festival. He was also a member of the All-State Selection Committee, and the Ethics Committee. Charlie was an evaluator and coach for USA Hockey’s Lake Placid Development Camp, and a Minnesota Hockey Board of Director alternate, as well as an Associate Member of the ACHCA college hockey coaches group. Charlie was on the MSHSL Ad Hoc Committee, the High School Girl’s Sports Assn., and a USA Hockey member at the time of his death. In 2003, the Minnesota Wild and 3M renamed their High School Hockey Coach of the Year Award, the Charlie Stryker High School Girls Hockey Coach of the Year. The college hockey ACHCA honored his memory in 2006 with their Joe Burke Award for contribution and dedication to women’s hockey. Charlie in his own words describes how he wants to be remembered as a coach. He said, “I do my best to encourage each player I come in contact with, to have a positive, favorable, and fun experience playing the game of hockey. I stress playing the game with respect, and treating your opponent as you would want them to treat you. I do not encourage my players to win at all costs, and I do try to lead by example.” We all know that Charlie left us too early, but we all learned much from him and what he did while he was here. Charlie lives on in the memory of his wife Joan, and his children, Nathan, Adam, and Breane. We welcome Charlie into our first Hall of Fame Class.