Ben Groulx, Vance Lederman and Tyler Johnson will enter the Syracuse Hockey Hall of Fame on Dec. 5, the Syracuse Crunch announced Thursday.
The Class of 2026 induction ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. at Upstate Medical University Arena. The three honorees will also be recognized before the Crunch host the Hamilton Hammers at 7 p.m. that Saturday, according to the team’s announcement.
Groulx holds the Crunch coaching wins record
Groulx coached Syracuse from 2016 through 2023, compiling a 256-152-35-27 record over seven seasons. His 256 victories are the most by a coach in franchise history.
In his first season, he guided the Crunch to a North Division title, the Eastern Conference championship and the franchise’s second Calder Cup Finals appearance in 2017. Syracuse won another division title in 2018-19 and reached the postseason in every season during his tenure in which the AHL held playoffs.
The Crunch said Groulx’s 2018-19 team posted the highest single-season points percentage in franchise history at .671. His overall .611 points percentage with Syracuse leads coaches who completed at least one full season with the club.
Lederman recognized for decades of leadership
Lederman has been part of the Crunch organization since its founding in 1994. As senior vice president of business operations and chief financial officer, he has worked with fans, corporate partners, players, coaches and the team’s NHL partners.
His work has included helping organize the first outdoor game in AHL history, the first professional hockey game at the Carrier Dome and two AHL All-Star Classics, according to the team.
The AHL recognized Lederman with its Thomas Ebright Award in 2024 and the James C. Hendy Memorial Award for the 2014-15 season.
Johnson led Syracuse to its first Calder Cup Finals
Johnson’s 2012-13 season helped launch the Crunch’s affiliation with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In his second professional season, the then-22-year-old led the AHL with 37 goals and paced Syracuse with 65 points.
He won the Les Cunningham Award as the league’s most valuable player and the Willie Marshall Award as its leading goal scorer. The Crunch said he remains the franchise’s only Les Cunningham Award winner and was its first Willie Marshall Award recipient.
Johnson also recorded the first playoff hat trick in Crunch history. He finished that postseason with 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points, helping Syracuse reach its first Calder Cup Finals.
He went on to record 433 points in 747 NHL games and won Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021.
Hall of Fame enters its third induction year
The Syracuse Hockey Hall of Fame honors achievements and contributions to hockey in Syracuse. It is housed on the arena’s second floor.
Its inaugural class, inducted Nov. 23, 2024, included Scott Walker, Howard Dolgon, Ed Kochian, Alan Taylor and Brian Elwell. George McPhee, Zenon Konopka, Mike Angelidis and Gabriel Dumont joined in 2025.
Crunch single-game tickets and season ticket packages are available through Ticketmaster or the team office inside the arena at 800 S. State St. in Syracuse. The office can be reached at 315-473-4444.
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