by FOXSports.com

Updated: August 13, 2008, 1:35 PM EST 70 comments

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The National Hockey League announced the Class of 2008 on Tuesday — Brett Hull, Brian Leetch, Mike Richter and 2-time Olympic goal medalist Cammi Granato. The new class will be formally inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on October 10 at the University of Denver.

The foursome is a highly decorated group, with 23 NHL All-Star Games between Hull, Leetch and Richter and Olympic medals earned by all four new Hall members — including Granato, arguably the greatest female player of all time.

"The Class of 2008 is one of the most accomplished groups that's ever been inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame," said Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey. "It is indeed with great pleasure that we welcome them to the group of hockey immortals in our country."

In a 21-year career, the outspoken Hull scored 741 goals (third-most in NHL history) — including three straight 70-goal seasons from 1989-92. Hull scored a career-high 86 goals 1990-91 to earn him the Lester B. Pearson Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy as league Most Valuable Player. Twice Hull played on Stanley Cup winners, with Dallas in 1999 and Detroit in 2002.

Hull played for Team USA at the Winter Olympics in both 1998 and 2002, where he teamed with both Leetch and Richter to win the silver medal.

Leetch was known as one of hockey's most productive offense threats during his 18 NHL seasons, all spent with the New York Rangers. The blueliner twice was named Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's best defenseman and earned 11 All-Star berths. He is one of only five backliners in league annals with over 100 points in a season and just one of seven to record over 1,000 points in his career.

Richter, Leetch's long-time teammate with the Rangers, is quite possibly Team USA's most highly decorated goalie. According to NHL.com, he is one of only 10 Americans ever to compete in at least three Olympic Games, including 2002's silver-medal winning squad. He also led Team USA to the World Cup of Hockey championship in 1996 and was named the tournament's MVP.

Granato might be the most decorated of this Hall of Fame class, approaching the level on Wayne Gretzky's impact for women's hockey across the United States and the world. Granato was Team USA's all-time leading scorer and gained international acclaim after captaining the 1998 U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in the first year women's hockey was an Olympic sport. She also played for Team USA in 2002, winning a silver medal