The St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame 2022 Inductees

 Headquartered in St. Charles, Missouri, the St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame (SLAHHOF) is an organization that honors those who have helped grow the sport of ice hockey in St. Louis and surrounding areas. Its inaugural class of inductees in 2008 included players Mark Smith and David Bates, as well as Bud Stege (coach), Charles Busenhart (coach), Eddie Olson (coach), Herman Kriegshauser (administrator), Tom Hurster (administrator), Bill McKenna (referee), and James Jost Sr. (builder).

The SLAHHOF hosted its 14th induction ceremony on Saturday, August 20, at the St. Charles Convention Center. The six-member class included four players (Dan Herr, Brandon Bollig, Neil Komadoski, Aaron Vickar), referee Jim Kehm, and builder Tom Zimmerman. A graduate of Hazelwood Central High School, Herr played roller hockey in his youth and won five gold medals at nationals. Herr later coached ice hockey in St. Louis for three decades.

Bollig, a 35-year-old native of St. Charles who played for the Triple-A Blues, spent two seasons with St. Lawrence University before beginning his pro career with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2009-10. Bollig made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011-12 and played parts of three seasons with the team, winning a Stanley Cup in 2013. He also spent two seasons with the Calgary Flames. Bollig recorded an NHL career-best 14 points with the Blackhawks in 2013-14. He announced his retirement in 2019 after two more seasons in the AHL.

Bollig wasn't able to attend the ceremony, but recalled memories of growing up playing hockey in the St. Louis area in a video shot beforehand. He remembers standing in the line in an "old-school" rink and sorting through hand-me-down ice hockey equipment: "To think starting there and ultimately ending and realizing that I was able to accomplish a childhood dream is an honor. And the fact that it's recognized here means a lot to me."

Komadoski is a veteran of 502 career NHL regular season games who was born in Canada but later played for the St. Louis Blues. He made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings in 1972-73 and spent six seasons with the team before joining the Blues in 1977-78. Komadoski recorded 25 points in 124 career regular season games with the Blues. His son, Neil Jr., was drafted by the Ottawa Senators and is now a scout for the Vancouver Canucks.

Vickar, born in St. Louis in 1976, played two seasons of college hockey each with the University of North Dakota and Lake Forest College. The 6-foot-1 goaltender last played for the Missouri River Kings of the United Hockey League in 2001-02.

Selected to the SLAHHOF in the builder category, Zimmerman helped save the Meramec Sharks hockey program from bankruptcy and grow it into the regional power it is today. He also led a high school program to win four state championships in six years and has helped grow the sport in St. Louis for more than five decades.

Kehm, meanwhile, refereed his first game while still playing youth hockey in St. Louis and later worked as a referee in the Central Hockey League. He also refereed a handful of NHL games.