NEWS: Marian Hossa Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2020

Marian Hossa is headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

On Wednesday, the 19-year NHL veteran was elected to the 2020 induction class in his first year of eligibility by the 18-member Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee. To be elected, a player must receive at least 14 votes.

Hossa signed in Chicago as a free agent on July 1, 2009 and spent eight years with the organization (2009-17). He was a key member of the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup teams in 2010, 2013 and 2015. A native of Stara Lubovna, Slovakia, Hossa becomes just the third Slovakian player to be inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame, joining Chicago's Stan Mikita and Peter Stastny.

He tallied 415 points (186G, 229A) in 534 regular-season contests with the Blackhawks and skated in 107 postseason contests, notching 73 points (21G, 52A). He had his best season with Chicago during the 2011-12 season when he paced the team in points (77) and assists (48) and shared the team lead in goals (29). His 52 postseason assists are ninth all-time in Blackhawks history.

Selected by Ottawa Senators with the 12th overall pick in the 1997 NHL Draft, Hossa recorded 525 goals, 609 assists and 1,134 points in 1,309 NHL games with the Senators, Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago from 1998-2017. He appeared in five NHL All-Star Games, was selected to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2008-09 and was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team in 1999.

Hossa was forced to step away from the game prior to the 2017-18 season due to a skin disorder that often left him in excruciating pain.

The 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration is tentatively scheduled for Monday, November 16th in Toronto.

Stay tuned to Video: Marian Hossa: Hall of Famer for full coverage of Marian Hossa's election to the Hockey Hall of Fame.