Ben Lovejoy '06 Inducted Into New Hampshire Legends of Hockey Hall of Fame

CONCORD, N.H. – Former Dartmouth men's hockey standout and longtime National Hockey League (NHL) player Ben Lovejoy '06 was inducted into the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey Hall of Fame Sunday afternoon as a member of the Class of 2021.

Lovejoy joins his former head coach Bob Gaudet '81 (2018), Rich Ryerson '80 (2018) and Seaver Peters '54 (2010), Charlie Holt '46 (2002) and Eddie Jeremiah '30 (2002) as the sixth Dartmouth player inducted in the state's hall of fame. Former head coach George Crowe is also an inductee, going in in 2004.

The former Big Green blueliner was inducted in the player category alongside Lauren Slebodnick, a Cornell goaltender from 2010-14. Brian Murphy, a longtime NHL linesman, went in as an official, while Paul Chalue and Bruce Valley went in as members of the builder and media categories, respectively.

Lovejoy played three seasons in Hanover from 2004-07 after transferring following a freshman season at Boston College. In that time wearing the green and white, Lovejoy suited up for 86 games and amassing 54 points (11-43-54). He would earn All-ECAC Hockey Third Team honors as a senior in 2007, before beginning his pro career as an undrafted player.

After a few seasons in the AHL that included an all-star game appearance, Lovejoy finally broke through as an NHL regular and played 11 seasons for Pittsburgh (twice), Anaheim, New Jersey and Dallas. It was in his second stint in Pittsburgh that Lovejoy would help the Penguins to the 2016 Stanley Cup, becoming the first New Hampshire native to etch his name on the trophy as a player.

That 2016 Stanley Cup also made Lovejoy the first Dartmouth player since Myles Lane '28 in 1929 with the Boston Bruins to claim hockey's top prize.

Lovejoy arranged for the Stanley Cup to attend Sunday's ceremony at the Grappone Convention Center in Concord where he posed for pictures with those in attendance, including Gaudet and former Dartmouth women's interim head coach and longtime St. Lawrence men's head coach Joe Marsh, who was the event's keynote speaker. The Canaan native also spent his day with the Cup in 2016 at Thompson Arena, hosting a six-hour event on the arena concourse for Dartmouth fans and members of the community to get up close with the fabled trophy.

Lovejoy retired from the NHL with 20 goals and 81 assists for 101 career points. His plus-51 rating is the best by a former Big Green skater at the NHL level. The defensive defenseman also holds the Dartmouth record for most NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games with 76 over eight appearances.

He ranks as the Granite State's all-time leader in games played at the NHL level with 544, while second in assists and total points.

Lovejoy's former team kicks off the 2021-22 season this weekend with a pair of home games against Harvard (8 p.m.) and UConn (8 p.m.) Friday and Saturday at Thompson. Tickets can be purchased through the Dartmouth Ticket Office online or by calling 603.646.2466.

Schedules