The ECHL announced on Wednesday that the 2027 inductees for the ECHL Hall of Fame are Matt Hendricks, Jeff Jakaitis and Derek Nesbitt.
 
The 2027 ECHL Hall of Fame ceremony, presented by BFL CANADA and Sutton Special Risk, will take place at 5:00 p.m. MT on Tuesday, January 26, 2027 at the Grove Hotel Ballroom.
 
The three will be formally inducted as the 19th class of the ECHL Hall of Fame at a banquet that will be held in conjunction with the 2027 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Project Filter.
 
“The city of Boise has helped create ECHL history for over two decades,” said ECHL Commissioner, Ryan Crelin. “We are excited to bring the ECHL Hall of Fame event to the Steelheads’ community for the first time and celebrate our 19^th Induction class at this event, as it is a special gathering for the entirety of our league.”
 
“Sutton is proud to once again sponsor the prestigious ECHL Hall of Fame ceremony alongside our friends at BFL Canada,” said Sutton Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Carol Graham. “We look forward to celebrating the ECHL’s 39th Season and honoring this year’s outstanding Hall of Fame inductees.” 
 
“On behalf of BFL CANADA, I would like to extend our congratulations to the 2027 ECHL Hall of Fame inductees, said Nellie Lindner, BFL CANADA Vice President, National Practice Leader - Film and Entertainment. “We are proud to once again sponsor this special event and celebrate the individuals whose contributions have helped shape the league and its remarkable history.”
 
Individual Ticket Sales – 2027 ECHL Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
 
Matt Hendricks began his professional career in the ECHL with the Florida Everblades in 2004-05, recording 50 points (24g-26a) in 54 games and earning a spot in the 2005 ECHL All-Star Classic. After spending the next four seasons in the American Hockey League, he made his National Hockey League debut with Colorado during the 2008-09 season, and went on to total 116 points (54g-62a) in 607 career NHL games with the Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Nashville Predators, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild. Following his retirement, he joined the Wild’s front office, and is currently serving as General Manager and Alternate Governor of the AHL’s Iowa Wild.
 
Jeff Jakaitis enjoyed a standout seven-year career in the ECHL with Columbia, Charlotte, Gwinnett and South Carolina. He is the only three-time winner of the League’s Goaltender of the Year award, capturing the honor in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and is one of just four goaltenders to be named ECHL Most Valuable Player, which he received in 2015. During the 2014-15 season, he set an ECHL record with four consecutive shutouts and a 321:46 shutout streak. His shutout streak stands as the second best in professional hockey history, behind only Brian Boucher, who had a streak of 332:01 with the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes in 2003-04. Jakaitis is tied for the ECHL career record with 25 shutouts, is tied for 15th with a 2.36 goals-against average and ranks 18th with 128 career wins.
 
Derek Nesbitt played 11 of his 17 professional seasons in the ECHL, reaching the 20-goal mark four times, and recording 538 points (207g-331a) in 615 games with Atlanta, Idaho and Toledo. He reached the Kelly Cup Finals in each of his first two pro seasons - with the Gladiators in 2006 and Steelheads in 2007 - claiming a championship with Idaho while also representing the team in the 2007 ECHL All-Star Classic in Boise. Nesbitt played almost exclusively in the American Hockey League, along with a season in Austria, from 2007-15, before returning to the ECHL with Atlanta in 2015-16, where he played his final six seasons. He ranks 26th in ECHL history in assists and points, tied for 27th in goals and 16th in games played. Following his retirement, he was the Gladiators’ head coach for two seasons (2023-25) before transitioning to a front office role, and enters his second season as team’s Director of Community Engagement. His number is one of three retired in Gladiators’ history, along with Andy Brandt and 2010 ECHL Hall of Fame inductee Cam Brown.
 
The inaugural ECHL Hall of Fame class was inducted in 2008, and over the years, 71 individuals have been enshrined. Inductees are enshrined in the ECHL Hall of Fame, which is open around the clock online at ECHLHallOfFame.com, as well as being recognized at the league office in Shrewsbury, New Jersey and in the ECHL section at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario.

 

 
The third-longest tenured professional hockey league, behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League has grown from five teams in four states in 1988-89 into a coast-to-coast league with 30 teams in 23 states and one Canadian province for its 39th season in 2026-27.
 
Hall of Fame members are selected in five categories: Player, Coach, Developmental Player, Builder, and Referee/Linesman. No more than five candidates may be elected to the ECHL Hall of Fame each year with no more than three Players, one Coach, one Developmental Player, two Builders and one Referee/Linesman. The Coach, Developmental Player, Builder and the Referee/Linesman categories are dependent upon the number of candidates in the Player category.
 
The nomination and/or selection of candidates will be determined by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee and its Chairmen, Joe Ernst and Patrick J. Kelly.
 
Only members of the Selection Committee, the Board of Governors, teams or persons affiliated with the ECHL may submit official nominations which must be made in writing to the league office. Fans are encouraged to contact their team to propose names for nomination.
 
About the ECHL
 
Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 30 teams in 23 states and one Canadian province for its 39th season in 2026-27. There have been 784 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after playing in the ECHL, including two who made their NHL debuts in the 2026-27 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 29 of the 32 NHL teams in 2026-27, marking the 29th consecutive season that the league has affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.
 
About BFL CANADA
 
BFL CANADA was founded by Barry F. Lorenzetti in 1987 and has been headquartered in Montreal since its beginning. The President, CEO and Founder was quickly joined by others who shared his vision. From then on, the company became what it is today thanks to the constant addition of professionals who are recognized as leaders in their respective industries.
 
From modest beginnings to great success, BFL CANADA is proud of its achievements and the mark it has left on the insurance industry.
 
Today, BFL CANADA caters to the needs of clients, both large and small, from all industry segments.
 
About Sutton Special Risk
 
Since 1978, Sutton Special Risk has been a leading provider of Accident & Health, Life, and Contingency insurance products and services. As a Managing General Underwriter, Sutton underwrites on behalf of A-rated carrier partners who share our appetite for specialized risks. With a comprehensive suite of products, a consultative approach, and an unwavering commitment to exceptional service, Sutton delivers tailored solutions designed to meet the unique needs of amateur and professional athletes around the world.