TORONTO (AP) – Former Boston Bruins star Cam Neely was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday along with late Soviet forward Valeri Kharlamov and Canadian amateur hockey leader Murray Costello.

The 40-year-old Neely, who recently rejoined the Bruins as an ambassador, had 395 goals and 299 assists in 726 regular-season games in a career cut short by injuries at age 31. The power forward had a Boston-record 55 playoff goals.

“It’s great to be recognized for the way I played the game,” Neely said.

“It’s not strictly about goals and assists. It meant as much to me to give a big hit as it did to score a big goal and to leave a mark for being that kind of player is special to me.”

Kharlamov, killed in a car accident in 1981 at 33, played on eight world and two Olympic championship teams.

He also is remembered as the victim of Canadian player Bobby Clarke’s slash that broke the speedy Soviet star’s ankle in the 1972 Summit Series.

The 71-year-old Costello, who played briefly in the NHL with Detroit and Boston in the 1950s, was inducted in the builders’ category.

He was president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association – now Hockey Canada – from 1979-98.

“This is a bit of a heavy trip for a guy from South Porcupine,” said Costello, who grew up in that neighborhood in Timmins.

There are 232 players, 93 builders and 14 referees-linesmen in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

In addition, there are 74 media honorees, including 2005 additions Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times and New York Rangers broadcaster Sal Messina.

AP-ES-11-07-05 1829EST