Ciccarelli, Granato, Jimmy D lead Hall call

Dino Ciccarelli and his 608 goals are headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The longtime forward was announced Tuesday as one of three players to be inducted in Toronto this November. Ciccarelli, an undrafted free agent, spent 19 seasons in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars, Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. He added 592 assists in 1,232 games.

"I'm very honored," said Ciccarelli, who retired during the 1998-99 season. "I didn't want to get too excited this year. When I got the call, I knew if it was going to happen, it was going to happen at a certain time. When I got it, (I was) just very excited and very honored to be a part of the Hall of Fame. You start thinking of all the people along the way that helped you. It's a little emotional. I just lost my mom a few months ago and my dad a few years ago. It would have been nice for them to be around, but I know they're going to be down watching with a big smile on their face."

Ciccarelli will be joined by two women -- Cammi Granato, a 15-year member of the U.S. Women's National team, and Angela James, the Central Ontario Women's League's leading scorer eight times and an MVP on six occasions. James also played for four gold-medal World Championship teams and was a medalist in 12 National Championships.

"I'm really at a loss for words," said Granato, who was ECAC Player of the Year in 1991, 1992 and 1993 while playing for Providence College. "I'm just so incredibly honored to have gotten this call and to know that I'm in the Hockey Hall of Fame with such great players that I watched my whole life. It's almost unfathomable as a woman. It's overwhelming. I'm very thankful."

Added James: "This is a day that I never really thought would ever happen. I'm really honored to represent the female hockey players from all over the world. I'm very emotional, very excited and very honored to know that I'm going to be amongst players I watched growing up and worshiped and watched on TV. To be inducted into a class of 2010, I'm just really speechless. I'm certainly going to enjoy this journey for the next couple of months, that's for sure." 

There will also be two inductees in the Builder Category -- Jim Devellano, who has seven Stanley Cup rings on his resume, and Darryl "Doc" Seaman, a founding owner of the Calgary Flames. Seaman passed away in January 2009 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Devellano, 67, just completed his 28th season in the Detroit Red Wings' organization. After helping Bill Torrey build one of the greatest dynasties of all-time with the New York Islanders, Devellano became GM of the Red Wings in 1982. It was there where he helped turn around the Original Six franchise, which has won four Stanley Cups during Devellano's tenure. He is currently the club's Executive Vice President.

"I'm just delighted and thrilled," said Devellano, who was a recipient of the Lester B. Patrick Award in 2009. "In our sport, I think this is the pinnacle. I really appreciate this wonderful honor. It's terrific. I'm very excited and very appreciative. It was a long road. When you're a general manager or a vice president, there are two big things that you can accomplish -- one is to win a Stanley Cup and the highest individual honor is the Hockey Hall of Fame."

Seaman was a co-owner of the Flames when they won the Stanley Cup in 1989. He also played a role in Calgary being awarded the Olympic Games in 1988. Seaman was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

"My family is indeed honored to have this bestowed on our father," Bob Seaman said. "Growing up in Saskatchewan, Doc developed a deep love for the game of hockey and it continued throughout his whole life. He had a wonderful, wonderful love for the game."

The induction ceremony will take place at the Hockey Hall of Fame on Nov. 8.

Follow Brian Compton on Twitter: @BComptonNHL