SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch have announced three people for induction into the Syracuse Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026 taking place on Saturday, Dec. 5.
 
The Class of 2026 will enshrine Ben Groulx, Vance Lederman and Tyler Johnson on Saturday, Dec. 5 with a ceremony at the Upstate Medical University Arena at 1 p.m. The inductees will also be honored during a pregame ceremony when the Crunch host the Hamilton Hammers at 7 p.m.
 
Groulx served as the ninth head coach in Syracuse Crunch history from 2016 to 2023. Groulx led the Crunch to the North Division title in his first season before guiding the team to its second ever Calder Cup Finals appearance in 2017. That began a seven-year run as head coach during which the Crunch posted a 256-152-35-27 record. Groulx led the Crunch to two North Division titles (2016-17 and 2018-19), one Eastern Conference Championship (2016-17) and playoff appearances every season in which the playoffs were held during his tenure. Groulx holds the Crunch franchise record for most wins by a coach (256), led the team to its highest points percentage season in club history (0.671, 2018-19), and had a 0.611 points percentage with the Crunch, the highest among all coaches to complete at least one full season.  
 
Lederman has been one of the pillars of the Syracuse Crunch since the franchise was founded in 1994. Lederman has served as an irreplaceable liaison between the front office and the Crunch's fans, corporate partners, players, coaches and NHL partners in his role as senior vice president of business operations and chief financial officer. Lederman has been a driving force behind many tentpole events to ensure the organization's vibrancy and strength in the Syracuse community, including the first outdoor game in AHL history, the first pro hockey game ever at the iconic Carrier Dome and two AHL All-Star Classics. He has been recognized by the AHL by earning the Thomas Ebright Award in 2024 and the James C. Hendy Memorial Award in 2014-15.
 
Johnson ushered in the Tampa Bay Lightning affiliation in Syracuse with one of the finest offensive seasons in Crunch history. The 2012-13 season marked Johnson's second professional campaign, and the then 22-year-old led the AHL with 37 goals and topped the Crunch with 65 points. He became the first and – to date – only Crunch player to win the Les Cunningham Award as AHL MVP. He was also the first Crunch player to win the Willie Marshall Award. Johnson scored the first playoff hat trick in Crunch history and finished the postseason with 10 goals, 11 assists and 21 points to lead the Crunch to their first Calder Cup Finals appearance. Johnson went on to play 747 NHL games, adding 433 points, and won a pair of Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
 
The Syracuse Hockey Hall of Fame was created to honor and celebrate individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions to hockey in Syracuse. The Syracuse Hockey Hall of Fame is housed on the second floor of the Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
The Inaugural Class of the Syracuse Hockey Hall of Fame was inducted on Nov. 23, 2024 and included Scott Walker, Howard Dolgon, Ed Kochian, Alan Taylor and Brian Elwell. The Class of 2025 included George McPhee, Zenon Konopka, Mike Angelidis and Gabriel Dumont.
 
Single game tickets and ticket packages for the 2026-27 season are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Crunch office located inside the Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial at 800 S. State St. in Syracuse, by calling the office at 315-473-4444 or online through Ticketmaster. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), X (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@syracusecrunch).