Scott Gomez makes his Alaska Aces debut during first-period action against Colorado on Nov. 14, 2012 at Sullivan Arena. (Erik Hill / ADN archive)

It’s only fitting that the most gifted and accomplished hockey player to hail from the 49th state will also be its first to be immortalized in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

That distinction will formally belong to Anchorage’s Scott Gomez during a celebration on Dec. 10 in St. Paul, Minnesota. But the news that the two-time Stanley Cup winner will be a national Hall of Famer was announced Wednesday, with Gomez as one of five members of the 53rd class up for induction.

“It’s a great honor to be inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame,” he said in a statement from the Chicago Steel. “To receive the highest honor in our nation’s sport is truly special. This achievement is a testament not just to me but to those who helped me along the way, including USA Hockey, where my journey started.

“Being the first Alaskan in the Hall of Fame is something I take great pride in. I know more will come, but to join the other names who have received this honor before me is incredible.”

Gomez is remembered fondly around the state from his time playing for the Alaska Aces during the 2004-05 and 2012-13 NHL lockouts. Instead of taking more lucrative offers to play in leagues overseas, he decided to play in the minor leagues. That move gave those who supported him when he was growing up a chance to see him play as a professional in person without having to travel to the Lower 48 or abroad.

Gomez was a trailblazer at every level of hockey he competed in. He earned British Columbia Hockey League Rookie of the Year honors as a youth and was the first Latino player to receive the NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the league’s top rookie, after he was drafted No. 27 overall by the New Jersey Devils.

New Jersey Devils’ Scott Gomez, right, works for the puck against Columbus Blue Jackets’ Artem Anisimov, of Russia, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, March 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon) Montreal Canadiens’ Scott Gomez, right, scores a goal against New Jersey Devils goaltender Mike McKenna during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Over the span of his 16-year career as a pro, he compiled 181 goals and 575 assists for 756 points in 1,079 regular-season NHL games. He added another 101 points in 149 playoff games after recording 29 goals and 72 assists. His teams qualified for the postseasons in 11 of his 16 seasons.

Gomez’s notable career highlights include winning a pair of Stanley Cups with the Devils in 2000 and 2003, being an Olympian in 2006 and representing Team USA for the IIHF World Junior Championship in 1998 and 1999 as well as the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

FILE – New Jersey Devils’ Scott Gomez drinks from the Stanley Cup after the Devils beat the Dallas Stars in double overtime of game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals in Dallas on June 10, 2000. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp, File)

His other stops as a pro in the NHL included stints with the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators.

Before he went on to have a sensational career as a professional, Gomez dominated the rinks around Alaska and beyond. In his first two years at East Anchorage High School, he was named Player of the Year twice and led Alaska All Stars to a USA Hockey national championship.

“I think I owe a lot to guys (like basketball player) Trajan Langdon, the Alaskan Assassin,” he told reporters Wednesday. “When Bobby Knight and (Mike Krzyzewski) and all those guys were coming up to Alaska to recruit him, I remember my dad always putting in my ear that ‘if you’re good enough, they’ll find you,’ so that was kind of our motto up there (in Alaska).”

He retired from playing professional hockey in 2016.

Scott Gomez has a selfie taken with fans after the Alaska Aces alumni hockey game at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage on Nov. 8, 2019. The two-game series was a charity fundraiser. (Bob Hallinen photo)

Now, Gomez is in his first year as the head coach of the Chicago Steel in the USHL, the highest tier of junior hockey in the nation.

Also joining the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 are legendary NHL photographer Bruce Bennett and fellow trailblazing former players Tara Mounsey, Zach Parise and Joe Pavelski.