STL Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame

Paul Stastny

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:49:35 GMT

Player / 2025

Bio

Paul Stastny’s hockey journey is a tale of talent, perseverance, and legacy, deeply rooted in a family steeped in the sport. Born on December 27, 1985, in Quebec City, Canada, Paul grew up in a hockey-centric household as the son of NHL Hall of Famer Peter Stastny. Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, after his fathers NHL career took the family there, Paul was immersed in the game from an early age, skating and playing alongside his brother Yan and learning the nuances of hockey from his Father.

Paul began his hockey journey when the family settled in St. Louis at the start of his third grade year. Paul’s early years were marked by a natural aptitude and genuine love for the game of hockey. His earliest memories of hockey begin with the Creve Couer Comets where he played squirt and pee-wee hockey. He would then move up and play for the St. Louis AAA blues.

When he was a second year peewee, he would have the honor of representing the St. Louis Blues at the prestigious Pee-Wee Quebec tournament. After the AAA Blues, Paul would go on and play one season for the St. Louis Jr B Blues. During his time with the AAA and Jr B Blues, Paul was also attending Chaminade College Preparatory High School. To take advantage of additional ice time, he would end up playing for both his club team and his high school team. After a successful season of maturing and growing on and off the ice, he would follow in the footsteps of his brother Yan, and join the River City (Omaha) Lancers of the USHL. He spent two seasons as a Lancer before committing to the University of Denver. His freshman year as a Denver Pioneer proved to be a successful one as the team went on to win the National Championships title. After completing his sophomore year with Denver, Paul was offered a contract with the Colorado Avalanche and chose to leave school early to join his new team just down the street.

Selected 44th overall, and in the second round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, Paul joined the franchise his father and uncles once represented formerly known as the Québec Nordiques. In 2006, Stastny’s professional journey began with the same franchise where his father had once starred. He would make an immediate impact and end his rookie season as a Calder nominee. Paul went on to play eight seasons with the Colorado Avalanche.

Stastnys ability to perform in clutch moments and his leadership on the ice earned him the respect of teammates and opponents alike.

In 2014, as a first time free agent (UFA), Paul signed with the St. Louis Blues, returning to his hometown and his favorite childhood team. He spent just shy of four seasons in St. Louis, followed by two and a half seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, two seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, and playing out his final chapter for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Internationally, Paul represented the United States of America. He was fortunate and blessed to represent the flag at the 2007, 2012, and 2013 IIHF World Championships. He would also have the honor of wearing the Red, White and Blue as a 2010 Olympian in Vancouver and the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

Staying true to his understated character, he quietly stepped away from the sport with the same humility that marked his entrance and his tenure as a respected leader and versatile two way center. His career was defined by his thoughtful playmaking, consistency and hockey IQ. From a rookie point streak to a reliable two-way veteran, he honored the legacy of his family while forging his own path. Stastny’s impact was both quiet and profound the mark of a consummate professional.

Tim Deimeke

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:42:48 GMT

Builder / 2025

Bio

Tim is a proud 2nd Generation Brentwood High School graduate, Class of 1982 – Go Eagles, and have lived in Brentwood/Webster Groves and St. Louis County area since graduation.

Tim started playing hockey with his two older brothers and neighborhood friends in his early years. Played for the Brentwood High School Hockey Club Team, which at times was a struggle to keep enough players on the roster to play. After graduation Tim continued with the Club team coaching for two years. In 1985 family friend and Webster wings board member Chris Penn, older sister of, Rainbow Rocket James “Jimbo” Langhardt asked him to help coach at Webster and so began a journey of a lifetime.

1985-1998 Webster wings/St Louis Rockets.

1994/95 Assistant Varsity Coach Lindbergh High School Hockey.

1996 Assistant JV Coach for the Webster Groves High School Hockey Team.

1998-2017 Head JV coach and Assistant Coach Varsity.

2018-2021 Head Varsity Coach.

2014-present, Assistant Coach, Head Coach, Director, Gateway Locomotives/Blues special Hockey.

11/16/2019 American Special Hockey Day on Capitol Hill.

2024 Inducted into Brentwood High School Hall of Fame.

2025 American Special Hockey, Anaheim Festival Games scheduler.

2025 American Special Hockey Discipline Committee Chair.

2016-present Disabled Director, Mo Hockey.

Tim would like to thank all the players, coaches, officials and parents that have made the past 40 years such an incredible journey, and to his wonderful wife Debbie, she has done all the hard thankless work of a registrar, and to his family, without their love and support none of this would have been possible.

Dave Sivcovich Jr.

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:37:54 GMT

Builder / 2025

Bio

Dave grew up in Maplewood and his journey through St. Louis hockey started in 1963 while at a public session at the Winter Garden Ice Rink on DeBaliviere. His father recognized Eddie Olson from his Flyers days and they started talking. Eddie asked the boys if they wanted to play hockey and that fall, they started playing for Eddie at the recently opened Clayton Rink in Shaw Park.

In 1967 Dave got his AHAUS official’s crest and lined games for Eddie Olson, Bill McKenna, Jim Wentworth and his father Dave Sr.

High school hockey did not exist in 1968, so Dave continued to play for various clubs including Pepsi, a short stint with the Blue Flames and for a men’s team sponsored by Giesler-Jorgen Sporting Goods. His freshman year of college Dave played for Washington University.

Mizzou did not have a team when he transferred there so he did not pick it up again until he graduated. He played in several area men’s leagues at Immerfrost and Brentwood, including many seasons with the Falkland Islanders.

In 1993, his son Mike expressed interest in playing and Dave became part of the Webster Groves Hockey Association. He became a Level 4 coach and coached at levels from learn-to-play through Bantam. He was elected to the WGHA Board of Directors and served four years as President.

Outside of WGHA he coached Clayton High School for two seasons.

Dave joined the board of MAIHA-Youth Division and served as VicePresident and chairman of the Disciplinary Committee (if you ever played with Dave, you would realize what an irony that was, although, if Brendan Shanahan could do it for the NHL, why not?).

About that time, Dave started officiating again and rose to a Level 4 official who worked several regional tournaments and two national champions, the most memorable being Women’s Nationals in Green Bay, WI. He was an active member of MIHOA and was elected to that board of directors, serving as President for two years. He also served on the board of the Bill McKenna Memorial Scholarship Foundation for over 10 years.

Dave was elected to the Missouri Hockey Board of Directors and served as treasurer of that board for ten years.

Outside hockey, Dave operated his own business for 40 years. He has been active as a musician in the area since the late 1970’s. He has been a member of the Kirkwood Harley Owners Group for 25 years and served as Director of the chapter. As avid scuba divers, Dave and his wife Judy have travelled the world diving. Dave is a Master Scuba Instructor and part owner of a local dive shop, Great America Divers in St Charles. Dave and his very tolerant wife Judy have been together for 55 years and have two children, both hockey players.

Craig Heggs

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:31:55 GMT

Coach / 2025

Bio

Craig began playing hockey at age 15. He attended the Plager, Sabourin, Picard Hockey School at Winterland Ice Rink and got hooked. He joined the Valley Hockey Club. Craig’s High School did not have a hockey program but he was able to acquire extra ice time with a SR. team – the Missouri Mules. Playing 2 years of midgets and a year and a half with the Mules, he was selected by the St. Louis Chiefs Jr B Club. Playing 3 years of Jr B Hockey with the Chief’s, Winterland Comets & Affton Americans where in his final season he was chosen MVP of the Playoffs and participated In the National Tournament In New Jersey.

With his Jr time over, he accepted a walk on tryout with Northern Arizona University. He completed 3 seasons and graduated in 1983. HOF Ray Harrison, secured Craig an invitation to the Atlantic Coast Hockey League tryout camp where he was selected by the Mohawk Valley Stars of Utica, New York and played 2 seasons before an injured hand requiring 2 operations ended his playing days. It was while he was rehabbing from the 1st operation in St. Louis, that he contacted former Mule’s teammate and at the time Head Coach of his old Jr. Team HOF Matt Buha to inquire about working out with them before returning to Utica. Craig would reinjure his hand and return to St. Louis after only 9 games. Needing another operation, it was time to put playing aside. Buha invited him to return to the Jr B Team and work with him as an Assistant Coach.

The team played in the NAJHL Jr. B League based out of Detroit. Moving several players from Jr. B To Jr. A opportunities opened an opportunity for Craig to work with the Kalamazoo Wing’s of the NAHL and the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. When Buha stepped down as Head Coach, Craig was promoted by HOF Jim Jost Sr to lead the team. After 4 years the team had a league championship and National Tournament appearance in 1994. Craig joined the Danville Wings Jr A Hockey Club as an assistant to George Mizerany in 1995.In 1996 Craig was hired by Joe Baldarotta, Head Coach of the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. Craig was the 1st non alumni to be hired by the program and was met with skepticism by the Booster Club. While with the Pointers in 4 seasons the team record was 82 wins, 39 losses with 4 WSUC/WIAC Championships, 1 NCHA Championship and a NCAA Runner up in 1998.

Craig was inducted into the UWSP Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

Chris Butler

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:28:24 GMT

Player / 2025

Bio

Chris Butler began his hockey journey in his hometown of Kirkwood, Missouri. Playing youth hockey at the old outdoor rink for the Kirkwood Stars, developing a love and passion for the game of hockey. Butler transitioned to the St Louis Amateur Blues for two years of AAA hockey before joining the St Louis Jr B Blues. While competing for the Jr B Blues, Butler also player hockey for his high-school, Chaminade, for two seasons. Entering his junior year of high-school Butler chose to leave St Louis and play for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL.

Upon completing 2 years in Sioux City and being selected to the All-USHL First Team, Butler committed to the University of Denver and was selected in the 4th round, 96th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. During his Freshmen season at Denver, Butler was selected to play for Team USA at the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships. After completing 3 seasons of hockey for the University of Denver, Butler signed his first pro contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

As a professional, Butler, would go on to play 11 professional seasons between the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues Organization. During that period Butler was selected to compete for Team USA at the 2012 and 2013 IIHF World Hockey Championships, winning a bronze medal in 2013. Butler retired in 2019 as a member of the Blues organization as they won their first ever Stanley Cup.

Following his retirement in 2019, Butler transitioned into hockey operations. He worked as a scout for the Arizona Coyotes for two seasons, before being hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2022, where he currently serves as a player development coach.

Ben Bishop

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:23:29 GMT

Player / 2025

Bio

Ben starts his hockey career with the Kirkwood Stars. From Kirkwood, he moved onto the St. Louis Amateur Blues where he became one of the top goaltenders in the United States. Prior to leaving St. Louis for junior hockey, Ben was a standout goalie for Chaminade College Preparatory School.

Ben’s junior career saw him leave St. Louis for the Lone Star State where he suited up for the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League. While playing for the Tornado, Ben got an opportunity to play collegiate hockey at the University of Maine.

In the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Ben was selected in the 3rd round (85th overall) by the St. Louis Blues. He made his NHL debut with the Blues during in 2008 before being traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2012.

His breakout came after a trade to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2013. Bishop became the team’s starting goaltender and led them to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2015, where they fell to the Chicago Blackhawks. That same season, Bishop was a Vezina Trophy finalist—an honor he would earn again in 2016 and 2019. In 2017, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings briefly before signing with the Dallas Stars, where he enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career. Bishop was instrumental in helping Dallas reach the playoffs and was again a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2019.

Lindsay Middlebrook

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:53:37 GMT

Coach / 2025

Bio

NHL GOALTENDER…The New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota North Stars, New Jersey Devils, and the Edmonton Oilers. TEAMMATES… Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, Rod Gilbert, Bobby Hull, Morris Lukowich, Dino Ciccarelli, Bobby Smith, Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey, and the list goes on.

GOALTENDING PARTNERS… John Davidson, Doug Soetaert, Gary Smith, Pierre Hamel, Gilles Meloche, Don Beaupre, Chico Resch, Andy Moog and Grant Fuhr.

GOALIE COACHES…Johnny Bower, Al Smith, Les Binkley, Glenn Hall, Gump Worsley.

What is a little guy born in a small town 100 miles north of Toronto Canada, the youngest of six become associated with the above teams and players. When I think of the journey that I took, I shake my head every morning still wondering how all this happened.

On top of that, being inducted into my hometown’s Collingwood Hockey Hall of Fame, then being inducted into the St. Louis University Sports Hall of Fame, proudly having my St. Louis Billiken jersey and mask displayed in the Toronto Hockey Hall of Fame and then to top it all off, tonight’s induction into the St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame. I am blown away over all of this! Being able to coach youth hockey in St. Louis for the past 30 plus years has been the cherry on top of my hockey career. To be able to use my knowledge of the game to teach a group of kids and mold them into a winning team is very rewarding. The excitement they show when they realize that if they play in a system where every player is an important part of being a successful team, their buy in becomes easy. While your best players do need to be your best players to win tournaments and championships we have found out that the difference between a champion and a runner up is usually determined by the play of your third and fourth lines.

In our early AAA days we used to get spanked pretty good when playing against the Michigan and Canadian teams. But each year our roster got stronger and stronger until eventually we became pretty successful against those same teams. It got to where we had four top lines and most teams didn’t have the depth to compete with us. This formula held true throughout my whole career, our three National Championships with the Chesterfield Falcons were because other teams couldn’t match our depth. (Great goaltending didn’t hurt either!) To quote from the late great major league baseball player Lou Gehrig,

“Today I feel like the luckiest person on the face of the Earth.” And I mean that sincerely, I am blessed with a wonderful wife and daughter, a couple of beautiful grandchildren, and the most awesome family anyone could ever hope for.

As I continue my love for hockey, as a coach for the past 30+ years, watching my former players grow into successful young adults, seeing them get married, having children and getting back into hockey as their first time coaching. These things are very, very rewarding to me and I can’t thank my former players enough for that opportunity"

Rick Zombo

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 13:16:34 GMT

Scott Bokal

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:55:57 GMT

Rob Kellogg

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:53:33 GMT

Mike McKenna

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:50:50 GMT

Mike Croghan

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:46:39 GMT

Jay Varady

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:43:27 GMT

Connor Dunlop

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:27:51 GMT

Steve Cash

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:31:27 GMT

Perry Turnbull

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:14:12 GMT

Julie Iler

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:11:40 GMT

Henry Langenberg ✞

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:07:04 GMT

Derek Schooley

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:00:50 GMT

Bob Gassoff

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 18:48:18 GMT

Dan Herr

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:38:31 GMT

Aaron Vickar

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:35:52 GMT

Tom Zimmermann

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:32:52 GMT

Neil Komadoski

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:29:31 GMT

Brandon Bollig

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:26:14 GMT

Jim Kehm

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:21:31 GMT

Tom Ward

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 16:07:41 GMT

/ 2013

Bio

Mark Staub

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 16:01:04 GMT

Goalie / 2013

Bio

Ralph Taylor ✞

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 21:04:33 GMT

Builder / 2020

Bio

Our dad, Ralph “Bouncer” Taylor was born October 2, 1905 in Toronto, Canada. He was a professional ice hockey player who played for 13 seasons. He played for the Chicago Black Hawks in the organization’s second year in the NHL and he played for the New York Rangers of the NHL in the late 1920’s. His career also included seasons in the IHL and the AHL. His final professional team was as a player-coach for the St. Louis Flyers of the AHL.

After coaching in the 1939 season, dad did the color for the Flyers’ games. It was in the St. Louis area where dad bought a home and raised his five children.

Dad’s greatest contribution in life were twofold: his love for our mom, Ann Hayes, his partner for 37 years before Dad succumbed to cancer in 1976; and his passion for engaging young men in athletics.

In the late 1940’s, Richmond Heights, a small suburb west of St. Louis, seized upon Dad’s sports credentials and asked him to organize and lead a boy’s baseball league. With his connection to the sports world and his work with various sports equipment companies he was able to equip eight teams in 1950. In 1952, Dad noticed a significant gap in who got to play. So, he added enough new teams to include the suburb’s black kids.

In 1957, Steinberg skating rink opened in Forest Park. Dad became manager of the professional skate shop, selling and renting skates to a growing number of outdoor ice-skating fans. Within a few years, dad co-founded the Missouri Amateur Hockey Association (along with other retired hockey pros: Shrimp McPherson and Jim McKeever). Thus, dad fulfilled a life-long dream of teaching hockey to kids and seeing the game become a defining presence in the sports life of his adopted community.

Today, Dad’s great-great-granddaughter, Payton Adams, continues his legacy. Payton is the starting goalie for an allboys hockey team, the Meramec Sharks.

Dad died on July 3, 1976. Our family jokes about the timing of his passing. Being a native Canadian, Dad was a committed member of the British empire. He made sure that we understood that Washington was ‘really a traitor’. Needless to say, our understanding of history was a bit confused. But Dad’s death on that date spoke volumes to us. Dad was not going to celebrate the Bicentennial!

God bless you dad!

Joey Vitale was born in St. Lous MO. He is one of six children under his parents, Sam and Mary Anne.

He followed in his older brothers foot steps and started playing hockey at age 7 for the Affton Americans. All of his youth hockey was spent at Affton until high school when he played for the CBC cadets. He won 3 state championships wearing the purple and gold under John Jost.

He played two seasons for the Junior Blues and was coached by Jack Behan. He left St. Louis at the age of 17 and played in the USHL for the Sioux Falls Stampede.

He received a full scholarship to play Division 1 hockey at Northeastern University where he was a three year captain.

In 2005 Joey was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins and would later sign with their minor affiliate, the Wilkes Barre Penguins in 2009. He spent 3 years in the minors before getting his first call up to the NHL, and playing in his first NHL game against the LA Kings on February 10th, 2011.

Joey played 234 games in the National Hockey League split between the Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, and Detroit Red Wings.

He currently resides in Kirkwood MO with his wife Brianna and three children, Summer, Harper, and Bode.

Joey is now a broadcaster for the St. Louis Blues along with his partner Chris Kerber.

He enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and kids. And he has a deep passion for baking sour dough bread.

Joey would like to thank all his family, friends, team mates, fans, coaches, mentors, and community for supporting him through all his years. He loves you all!

Yan Stastny

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 21:03:10 GMT

Player / 2020

Bio

Yan Stastny was born in Quebec City in 1982. The family he moved to the United States, more specifically New Jersey at age 7 and then to St. Louis, Missouri at age 10 when his father joined the St. Louis Blues and where the family would finally settle to call St-Louis home. St-Louis is where Yan flourished and grew in the sport of hockey, In 1996, Yan made his first STL select team as a member of the St-Louis Blues Pee-Wee select team for the renowned Quebec International PeeWee Hockey Tournament.

He was admitted at Chaminade High School where he played hockey for the school team for two years. He then transferred to Parkway Central High School due to the fact that Chaminade would not let him miss classes to play junior hockey. During his final years of high school, he played for the Junior B St. Louis Jr. Blues before moving up to the Junior A St. Louis Sting.

Following graduation, Yan played for the Omaha Lancers, a Junior A team in the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2000- 2001 season. He helped them win the Clark Cup playoff trophy and the Gold Cup National Championship over the Texas Tornado that year. Following his stint in Omaha, he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame for two years where he played for the Fighting Irish under coach David Poulin before being drafted into the NHL.

Stastny was drafted in the 8th round (259th overall) in the 2002 NHL entry draft by the Edmonton Oilers. After playing 51 games of the 2005–06 season with the American Hockey League (AHL)’s Iowa Stars, Yan made his NHL debut on March 1, 2006 with the Edmonton Oilers against the St. Louis Blues, the last team for which his father played. Eight days later, he was traded by the Oilers back to the Boston Bruins. On January 16, 2007, the Boston Bruins traded him to his hometown St. Louis Blues. It was a dream come true for Yan to represent the team and town he grew up in.

On March 3, 2010, the St. Louis Blues traded him to the Vancouver Canucks. He played for the AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, to conclude the 2009–10 season and to conclude his professional North American career. On June 29, 2010, Stastny joined CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League and started his next hockey chapter in Europe.

After a season with Mora IK in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Stastny returned to the German DEL, signing an initial try-out contract with the Schwenninger Wild Wings on August 2, 2015. He later secured a one-year deal on August 31, 2015. He went on to play in Sweden and Austria for two more years before calling it a career and hanging up his skates.

Yan’s style can be described as a sound speedy centerman. He displayed leadership qualities throughout this career and worked incredibly hard on and off the ice.

He played for Team USA in the 2005 IIHF World Championships, making the Stastnys the first hockey family known to have represented four different countries in international play (his father played for Czechoslovakia, for Canada in the 1984 Canada Cup as a naturalized citizen, and for Slovakia after the Dissolution of Czechoslovakia). He went on to represent the United States two more times at the IIHF World Championships in 2006 and 2011.

Yan currently resides in Colorado with his wife Marguerite and their four children. They have twin girls, Mila & Reagan (3), Brooks (22 months) and Quinn (6months). Yan is currently working at a scout for the Las Vegas Golden Knights.