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Two Cranston legends were inducted into the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame this month, as Bill Bennett and Tim Regan heard their names called as they were enshrined in a loaded 2024 class.

Bennett spent the majority of his career at the AHL level, where he became a legend with the Rochester Americans as a big left wing. He reached the NHL on two different occasions, playing for the Boston Bruins and Hartford Whalers.

Bennett still takes part in Bruins alumni games and coaches at his family’s clinics. He is the fourth from his family to be inducted into the RI Hockey HOF, following his father, Harvey, and brothers Curt and Harvey Jr.

“What an incredible show, an incredible honor, a humbling honor,” said Bennett of the evening. “It was great to have my wife there and my kids there. They never got to see my hockey career, so it was very special. I got to see their smiles, they were proud of their dad.”

Bennett reflected back on his early days as a hockey player and remembered how his dad told him to approach the game as a big, tough wing.

“My dad said, ‘you’re 6-6, play like you’re 6-6. Hit people.’ Hockey is a game of time and space and I just wanted my space,” said Bennett.

Bennett hopes to see the hockey community thrive in his hometown of Cranston and believes that it needs to be built from the youth level up. He remembers the days when Edgewood churned out some of the state’s best talent, and hopes to see the city reclaim some of its former glory.

“I came from a great area in Edgewood, we had 11 great players. I think somehow, we need to get that energy back into the younger crowd at the Cranston ice rink. We used to all have beginner packages, kids would get a flier from the school for hockey tryouts, they would be given lessons, equipment. Hockey is expensive now, and we need to do more,” Bennett said.

Regan is still considered by many to be the best goalie to ever come out of Rhode Island. After being named All-State three times for the La Salle Rams, he would go on to play for Boston University, leading the Terriers to two-straight national championships and earning MVP honors in 1972. He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabers and became an AHL legend with the Hershey Bears.

Regan was excited to attend his first-ever RI Hockey HOF ceremony and was flattered by the recognition.

“It is a first-class program. It was beyond words. I knew that I knew a few people, but I didn’t realize that I knew a lot of people. I met fellas that weren’t part of ice hockey but just fans, I met fellas that played both on opposing teams and teams that I played with. It was terrific. What amazed me is that it is all through volunteerism. They do it because they love the sport. Vin Cimini and Mal Goldenberg do a great job,” Regan said.

Cranston has historically been well-represented in the RI Hockey HOF and Regan was proud to add his name to the list of locals to make the cut.

“There’s quite a contingency of ex-players that have done well. You wouldn’t know it, but there seems to be a real bloodline there for it,” said Regan.

Regan looked back on the ups and downs of his long career, and shared some advice for young players looking to make a name for themselves.

“It was a culmination of background, how difficult it was at times, and seeing it come through on a few different occasions, and sometimes you get lucky,” said Regan. “Have a goal, work hard, don’t get discouraged and be persistent. Believe in yourself, that’s the biggest thing. I grew up with no family and sometimes it was a real struggle. It’s like the adage, a squirrel will find a nut, and you need to keep that attitude and keep at it.”

Bennett also sung Regan’s praises when thinking back on their clashes at the high school level.

“He was the best goalie I had ever seen playing high school hockey. He was unbelievable, he had an unbelievable career,” Bennett said.

Here is a look at some of the other inductees:

VICKI MOVSESSIAN-LAMORIELLO

For several decades, this visionary honoree has been a catalyst in the incredible rise of women’s hockey in RI and the nation. She earned All-ECAC honors three times at Providence College and also represented the USA in world play three times, capturing Olympic Gold in 1998. She founded the all-girls MA Spitfires program and later teamed with close friend Sara DeCosta to establish the RI Sting All-Girls Hockey Club in 2010.

JOE AUGUSTINE

This former Boston College standout and NHL and WHA draftee starred for the AHL’s Springfield Indians before launching a 41-year coaching career here in RI. In 1989, he took the helm of the URI hockey program. His 708th win this year became the most all time by any URI coach, while recording 32 winning seasons and capturing the 2006 ACHA National Championship along the way.

CHUCK SCHERZA

This former New York Ranger and Boston Bruin became a legendary name in Providence Reds and RI hockey history. A fan favorite for 10 seasons, this 5-time team captain ranks second all-time in games played and fourth all-time in points scored in Reds history. After retirement, this longtime Pawtucket resident spent 4 decades giving back as a dedicated teacher of the game and a revered high school and college referee.