Toronto -- Saying it's no longer needed, the Hockey Hall of Fame has eliminated the veteran player category, chairman Bill Hay said yesterday.
The bylaw amendment to drop the category was passed by a vote at the Hall of Fame's annual general meeting.
"The board believes the category fully served its useful purpose and should now be eliminated," Hay said in a release.
"It only makes sense to merge the veteran player category with the player category since the player attributes criteria of the two categories are identical."
The veteran category was established in 1988 to provide a vehicle for players who may have been overlooked and whose chances for election would be limited when placed on the same ballot with contemporary players.
Eleven veteran players have been elected to the Hall of Fame since its inception.
The new bylaw also:
Increases the maximum number of candidates that may elected in the player category to four from three each year.
Eliminates the right of the selection committee to waive the three-year waiting period, except under certain humanitarian circumstances.
Eliminates the provision that says people not elected after being nominated on three occasions are ineligible for further consideration for the next three annual meetings.
Changes to March 15 from May 15 the deadline for filing of official nominations.