Angela Ruggiero, who grew up in Harper Woods after her family moved to Michigan from California, now will be preparing for two induction ceremonies. She today was named part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame induction class of 2015.

In June, Ruggiero become the fourth woman elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mathieu Schneider joins Ruggiero in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame class, along with former NHL forward Chris Drury and former USA Hockey president Ron DeGregorio.

Ruggiero was a four-time Olympic medalist for Team USA and helped the U.S. claim the first gold medal awarded in women’s ice hockey in the Olympics, in 1998. At 18, she was the youngest player on the team. She also won a silver medals at the 2002 and 2010 Olympics, and bronze in 2006.

Speaking on a teleconference from Malaysia, where she is working as part of her duties with the International Olympic Committee, Ruggiero said: “I’m so excited today. Calling across the world, just so happy to be part of this class.”

Ruggiero’s career mirrored the growth of women’s hockey.

“Very cognizant that if I had been born 10 years prior, I may not have had all these wonderful opportunities,” she said. “Extremely grateful and hope that more young girls that watched my career sign up, and the growth rate continues to flourish in USA Hockey.”

Asked about her memories of Michigan, Ruggiero mentioned training with her brother Bill, who played for Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League, plus the Motor City Mechanics (2005-06), Flint Generals (2007-08) and Detroit Hitmen (2009-10).

“My fondest memories are getting ready for the Olympics,” Ruggiero said of her time in Michigan. “This is before the ’98 team. My brother and I would train in the summertime. I was so lucky that he had that group of players, and we’d go to different rinks, Mt. Clemens, wherever we could find ice. Join summer leagues, and because hockey was so popular in Detroit, relative to California, I think I really benefited from being able to come home every summer, starting in ’96, and get excellent training in the state of Michigan, whether that was preparing me for an Olympics or preparing me for my team at Harvard. It was guaranteed when I came home, I knew there would be somewhere to play. I really just owe my off-season training and summer training to the state of Michigan.”

Ruggiero also was a three-time world champion (2005, 2008, 2009) and was named the world championships’ top defenseman four times (2000, 2004, 2005, 2008). In 2005, she scored the tournament-winning shoot-out goal to lead the U.S. to its first gold medal at the Women’s World Championship.

She has played in more games (256) in a Team USA uniform than any other ice hockey player. As a senior at Harvard in 2004, she won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which goes to the top intercollegiate player in women’s hockey.

Schneider, played for the Red Wings in 2002-07. He set single-season career highs in goals (21) and points (59) with the Red Wings in 2005-06.

He recalled slipping on the winged-wheel sweater as one of his fondest memories.

“For me, the first day I put it on was in Phoenix,” Schneider said. “I had just been traded the day before, and that was such a special moment. You walk into that dressing room. I had, obviously, a good friend in Chris Chelios. But Nick Lidstrom, Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille … looking around that dressing room, it was a hall of fame dressing room.

“Just putting the jersey on that first time was really one of the most special memories for me. And, coming from the beginning of my career in Montreal, my first 5 1/2 years, just a tremendous organization. You  feel like you’re playing for something bigger than the jersey you’re putting on when you’re part of the history in both of those organizations. Again, it was an honor and privilege just to put on that jersey, and that was probably one of the most special days for me.”

Schneider won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993, helped the U.S. earn the inaugural World Cup of Hockey title in 1996 and is among the top five American defensemen in NHL history in nearly every statistical category.

He represented the U.S. in four international events, including the World Cup of Hockey in 1996. He also participated in two Olympics (1998, 2006) and the IIHF World Junior Championship (1988).

He finished his 21-year NHL career with 223 goals and 520 assists for 743 points in 1,289 games with 10 teams, including the New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, N.Y. Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Vancouver Canucks and Phoenix Coyotes.

DeGregorio started USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in 1996, which had been based in Ann Arbor until recently moving to Plymouth. DeGregorio serves as co-chair of the USA Hockey Board of Directors, following his June retirement from a 12-year run as president of USA Hockey.

Contact George Sipple: gsipple@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgesipple.