This day in Buffalo Sabres history, September 2nd 1970, Sabres GM Punch Imlach purchased his son Brent along with Floyd Smith from the Toronto Maple Leafs. While Smith would become the first captain for the Sabres and later their coach, Brent Imlach never played a single game for the Sabres. While enjoying a successful career as a college player for the university of Western Ontario in the late 1960's, Brent turned down a contract offered by his father the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs because he wanted more money! The young Imlach later became a player agent and offered a prospect to his dad to replace the injured Rick Martin on the famed French Connection line. Punch Imlach declined the offer and that player went on to score back to back 56 goal seasons in 1979-80 and 1980-81 and anchor another famous line. That prospect was Charlie Simmer of the fabled Triple Crown Line. (Brent Imlach on right in suit)
This day in hockey history, September 2nd 1972, all of Canada was stunned when the Soviet Union defeated Team Canada 7-3 at the Montreal Forum in the opening game of the eight game Summit Series. Most hockey "experts" in Canada expected an eight game sweep in this series, such was their lack of respect for the unknown players wearing the CCCP logo.
“Suddenly, that NHL wall of arrogance that so effectively stifled every original thinker since Lester Patrick was showing cracks. Its myth of invincibility had been destroyed," wrote Hal Sigurdson of the Vancouver Sun.
Spotting Canada a 2-0 lead after one period, including a 1-0 lead in the first minute, the swift Soviets overwhelmed Canada with their speed and pattern passing play as the game turned into a mismatch. Valeri Kahrlamov was particularly impressive with his puckhandling and skating speed. Canadian defensemen Rod Seiling and Don Awrey, both standouts in the NHL, were so outclassed by the Soviets that they seemed to spend the game spinning around like turnstiles as their opponents sped past them.
"I was stunned by their performance" Harry Sinden said of the Soviets. Former Montreal Canadiens' coach Claude Ruel commented that the Soviets' forwards were one of the most finely honed units he had ever seen. "They are always moving, never standing around, they head-man the puck as well as anyone has ever done, and they always seem to be in the right place." According to Canada's goaltender Ken Dryden: "We didn't play our game at all. After they tied it up, we started playing a panic type of game. Sometimes there were five men going for the puck at once."
This day in hockey history, September 2nd 1976, the first Canada Cup hockey tournament began. This tournament was a direct result of the 1972 and 1974 Summit Series between the NHL and WHA Canadian teams and the Soviet Union. The fascination of competition including the Europen players brought Canada and the Soviet Union together with Sweden, Czechoslavakia, Finland and the United States into tournament play. This was a groundbreaking event as the first international tournament where the best professional and amateur players were allowed to compete.
The first game was held in Ottawa at the Civic Centre and Canada thumped Finland 11-2 behind three goals by Richard Martin of the Buffalo Sabres. Martin added two assists for a five point game. Bobby Hull and Phil Esposito added two goals with Gil Perreault, Darryl Sittler, Reggie Leach and Steve Shutt adding singles. Canada outshot the Finns 42-24.
This day in hockey history, September 3rd 1976 the Canada Cup tournament continued at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens with Team Sweden playing a home game of sorts when they beat Team USA 5-2. The atmosphere at the Gardens was very welcoming to the Swedes as the Maple Leaf fans gave Borje Salming a five minute standing ovation when he was introduced in the lineup.
The Leafs faithful didn't have to wait long for Salming to deliver as he gave Sweden a 1-0 lead with a power play goal just 6:56 into the period with USA 2 men short. After a pair of power play goals by Roland Eriksson and one from his fellow Leaf Inge Hammarstrom, Salming scored another power play goal at 19:27 to give Sweden a 5-0 lead after one period. Salming was named the player of the game for Sweden.
USA took seven minor penalties in the period including a minor by Mike Milbury with a ten minute misconduct. Sweden took advantage with four power play goals and out shot USA 37-29 for the night.
This day in hockey history, September 4th 1963, John Vanbiesbrouck was born in Detroit, Michigan. Beezer played 882 games and won 374 of them, recording 40 shutouts, all NHL records for American-born goaltenders. He never played on a Stanley Cup champion, missing out on Cups during his stint as a backup with New Jersey from 2000-01 and 2002-03 who won Cups in 1999-2000 and 2002-03, meaning he missed out by one year either way.
This day in hockey history, September 3rd, 1976, two great rivals faced off at the Montreal Forum in the inaugural Canada Cup. While Canada and the Soviets had a tremendous rivalry building after the epic 1972 Summit Series, the Soviets and Czechoslovakia topped that as they swapped world championship titles. The Soviets won gold for nine straight seasons from 1943-1972 until the Czechs interrupted the dynasty in 1973. The Soviets then went on a three year run winning in 1974 - 1976 and the Czechs winning in 1976. So while the Soviets were hyped as the top contender in this tournament, the Czechs were actually the world champions at the time winning gold with a 9-0-1 record including a 3-2 win and 3-3 tie against the CCCP.
Now imagine your hockey rival's military actually invading your country. That's what the Soviets did in 1968 when the Red Army tanks and troops took over communist Czechoslovakia to quell political unrest and stamp out any hope of revolt and independence. So this game took on an importance to the Czech players beyond any grudge Phil Esposito would ever have with Boris Mikhailov.
The Soviets sent a subpar team (without the great Valeri Kharlamov) as a way of showing that this tournament was less important to them than the official IIHF event
But Vladislav Tretiak was in goal and scoring stars Victor Zhluktov, Helmut Balderis and captain Alexander Maltsev fronted a formidable lineup.
The Czechs took a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Milan Novy and Frantisek Pospisil. In the second Maltsev scored a shortie 1:07 in but the Czechs led 3-1 at the second intermission after Novy's second goal, assisted by a player who would become well known n North America by the name of Peter Stastny.
Both teams had a pair of goals in the third with Balderis narrowing the Czech lead to 3-2 before a pair of Czech goals put the game out of reach. A late Soviet goal made the score 5-3. The Czechs out shot the Soviets 30-18. The fans at the Forum witnessed the precision play and discipline of these great European teams who went off side a combined five times all night versus 25 times in a typical NHL game.
This day in hockey history, September 4th 1972, Team Canada faced off against the Soviets at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens in game two of the Summit Series.
After a humiliating 7-3 loss in game one, coach Harry Sinden pulled nine players from the lineup as he retooled his team. Canada assumed their firepower and skating would overwhelm the Soviets but those beliefs were dashed in 60 minutes on Septmebr 2nd.
Gone was the entire GAG line from the New York Rangers of Jean Rattelle, Rod Gilbert and Vic Hadfield. And Rattelle was the reigning Lester Pearson trophy winner as the NHL's best player. Hadfield who is from the Toronto area was particularly embarrassed to be benched for the game. Defensemen Rod Seiling and Don Awrey were pulled. Fifty goal scorer Mickey Redmond was benched for the series and said playing the Soviets in the first game was like boys playing against men.
The new game plan was to play a hard physical NHL style game and disrupt the Soviets slick skating and passing with tough fore-checking and strong defensive play. Serge Savard and Bill White were inserted on defense with hard hitting J.P. Parise and Wayne Cashman added at forward.
Tony Esposito replaced Ken Dryden in goal. Dryden's stand-up style was ineffective in game one against the Soviets lateral passing attack. Esposito's butterfly style coupled with a stronger defensive effort would prove to be effective in game two.
The lineup changes were effective as Canada out shot the Soviets 26-12 over two periods but clung to a one goal lead on a second period score by Phil Esposito thanks to a strong work from goalie Vladislav Tretiak.
In the second period a quick break on a power play by Yvan Cournoyer after a great clearing pass from Brad Park gave Canada a 2-0 lead just 1:19 into the period. But a power play goals by Alexander Maltsev a 5:53 pulled the Soviets within one at 2-1. A penalty 21 seconds later by Pat Stapleton put the Soviets back on the power play and set the stage for a spectacular goal.
Phil Esposito and Peter Mahovlich were paired at forward on the penalty kill when Espsoito gathered in a loose puck in the defensive zone on the right boards which he head-manned to Mahovlich who went in alone against defender Yevgeni Poladiev. Mahovlich beat the defender with a tremendous move to get in alone on Tretiak whom he then beat with a backhand deke for a dramatic goal giving Canada a 3-1 lead. His brother Frank Mahovlich added another goal to make the final score 4-1. The final shots were 36 to 21 in favor of Canada.
This day in hockey history, September 4th 1963, John Vanbiesbrouck was born in Detroit, Michigan. Beezer played 882 games and won 374 of them, recording 40 shutouts, all NHL records for American-born goaltenders. He never played on a Stanley Cup champion, missing out on Cups during his stint as a backup with New Jersey from 2000-01 and 2002-03 who won Cups in 1999-2000 and 2002-03, meaning he missed out by one year either way.
This day in hockey history, September 9th 1971, Gordie Howe announced his retirement. The Red Wings named him a Vice President. Describing his tenure as VP with Detroit Howe once said, "They gave me the mushroom treatment. They put me in a dark closet. Every once in a while they'd open the door and toss some fertilizer on me. It's no wonder that he unretired two years later to play for six seasons with his sons Mark and Marty in the World Hockey Association (WHA). He played one more NHL season in 1979-80 as a Hall Of Famer with the Hartford Whalers. Gordie retired again after that season.
This day in hockey history, September 13th 1984, almost three years to the minute after their 8-1 loss to the Soviets in the 1981 Canada Cup championship game, Canada beat the Soviet Union 3-2 in overtime to win its semifinal game at the Canada Cup played in Calgary.
Paul Coffey picked off a pass defending a two on one and skated the puck into the Soviets zone where forwards John Tonelli, Brent Sutter and Mike Bossy applied heavy pressure. This resulted in a Coffey shot being deflected in by Mike Bossy‘s at 12:29 of overtime. The victory eliminated the Soviets and put Canada into the best of three final against Sweden.
See the play at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7zPZNjGjGc
Sam Pollock made a brilliant trade with Colorado on this date in hockey history, September 13th 1976. Wayne Gretzky was 15 years old and Pollock saw him as a future franchise player. So he arranged a trade with the Colorado Rockies sending Ron Andruff, Sean Shanahan for the option of exchanging first round draft picks in 1980. Pollock wanted the top pick when Gretzky turned draft eligible at age 18 in 1980 and gambled that Colorado would be the last place team that team that year. And he won that gamble. Montreal had the option of exchanging their first round pick for Colorado's, which they dd (The Rockies drafted Paul Gagne) giving Montreal the number one pick as Gretzky tuned a draft eligible age 18.
Unfortunately for the Habs, Gretzky had already turned pro at age 17 signing a personal services contract with Nelson Skalbania the owner of the WHA Indianapolis Racers and later with Peter Pocklington who owned the WHA Edmonton Oilers. As such he could not legally be compelled to play for any NHL team that drafted him. Gretzky was ruled exempt from the NHL's amateur draft and Montreal drafted Doug Wickenheiser with the first pick, bypassing French Canadien Denis Savard. By then Pollock had left the Canadiens organization so don't blame him for the pick.
On this day in hockey history, September 15th 1960, Maurice "The Rocket" Richard announced his NHL retirement at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, after a career that saw him score a team record 544 regular season goals along with 82 playoff goals.
On this day in hockey history, September 15th 1987, Mario Lemieux scores the game and series winning goal with 1:26 remaining in the game three of the finals. Many hockey experts consider the 1987 Canada Cup three game finals series between Canada and the Soviets to be the greatest hockey ever played.
On this date in hockey history, September 16th 1916, Ottawa Senators "One Eyed" Frank McGee died for his country on the Somme battlefield in France. Francis Clarence McGee was the centrepiece of the Ottawa Silver Seven’s dominant Stanley Cup defence from 1903 to 1905.
After a successful hockey career, McGee answered the call for his country and served Canada in the First World War from 1914 to 1916.
McGee earned the nickname ‘one-eye’ after he lost the sight of his left eye while playing for the Canadian Pacific Railway team in 1900 after being struck by a puck. Despite his injury, McGee joined the Ottawa Hockey Club in January of 1903.
Despite his size – just five-foot-six - McGee made an instant impact for Ottawa, scoring two goals in 7-1 rout of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association. In March of 1903, he helped Ottawa defeat the Montreal Victorias to capture the Stanley Cup. Weeks later, Ottawa completed their first successful defence of the Stanley Cup with a victory over the Rat Portage Thistles.
McGee’s Ottawa team became known as the 'Silver Seven' and McGee remained a staple of the team’s dominant offence.
In February of 1904, they won the Stanley Cup – a 'Challenge Cup' which teams held as long as they successfully defended it – against the Toronto Marlboros. McGee furthered his reputation as a big-game player with five goals in the second game of the series. A month later, he had another five-goal game as the Silver Seven thwarted Brandon, Manitoba’s bid for the championship.
In 1905, McGee scored 17 goals in six games as the Silver Seven won the Federal Amateur Hockey League Championship. But it was in January of 1905 that McGee put together his most legendary performance.
McGee scored a Stanley Cup record 14 goals in the second game of the Silver Seven’s famed one-sided series against the Dawson City Nuggets. Eight of his 14 goals came consecutively in less than nine minutes of action as the Silver Seven dominated with a 23-2 victory - the most lopsided game in Stanley Cup history.
McGee capped an already successful 1905 by scoring the winning in the deciding game of a three-game series against Rat Portage. More impressively, ‘one-eye’ played the game with a broken wrist.
McGee’s 1906 season saw him score 28 goals in just seven regular season games. The Silver Seven successfully defended the Stanley Cup twice more in February and March with a two-game sweeps of Queen’s University and Smith Falls and McGee recorded 15 goals in those four games.
Just as the Silver Seven’s historic run as champions ended, so did McGee’s career. He retired prior to the 1907 season with 135 career goals in just 45 games.
In 1914, McGee and his 43rd Regiment was mobilized. Few knew how McGee was even allowed to join the military without his sight in one eye.
McGee departed Canada for England on May 6, 1915 and didn't shy away from the front lines. Even after being wounded in Belgium in December of 1915, McGee declined the option of a taking a desk job after a seven month recovery, opting instead to return to his regiment.
According to The Ottawa Citizen, he told his brother D’Arcy in a letter that his desire was to be a part of his battalion for the 'big push.'
He was killed twelve days after writing that letter on Sept. 16, 1916 - at age 34 - while fighting in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette during the Somme Offensive. His body was never recovered.
But on this day, the memory of McGee's legacy remains strong.
Remembered for his prolific scoring on the ice, he was among the Hockey Hall of Fame’s 14 inaugural inductees in 1945.
And he was also among the 24,029 casualties Canada suffered in the Battle of the Somme. Today, McGee is one of 11,169 unfound Canadian First World War causalities commemorated at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in Pas-de-Calais, France. Lest we forget.
On this day in hockey history, September 16th 1978, a skinny teenage 17 year old Wayne Gretzky begins his professional career at the training camp of the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association.
This day in hockey history September 16th 1991, Team Canada defeated Team USA 4-2 to win the 1991 Canada Cup. Steve Larmer scored the winning goal on a shorthanded breakaway.
On this date in hockey history, September 14th 2004, Brett Hull ignites a late third period four goal burst by the United States which stuns Canada and gives the USA a 5-2 in the deciding game 3 of the championship final to win the inaugural World Cup of Hockey.
The U.S. and Canada split the first two games although Steve Yzerman's overtime winner in game one was offside by a substantial margin, an early gift for our Canadian neighbors.
The championship game was tied 1-1 after the second period of game three 3 at the fabled Montreal Forum. Canada took a 2-1 lead when defenseman Adam Foote scores with 7:10 remaining in the third period, but goals by Brett Hull and Tony Amonte 43 seconds apart gave the United States a 3-2 lead. Derian Hatcher's empty-netter and a goal by Adam Deadmarsh completed the biggest victory for the United States since the "Miracle on Ice" team wins the gold medal at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
Mike Richter, whose superb goaltending kept the U.S. in the game until the late offensive burst, was named MVP.
On this date in hockey history, September 14th 1972, the New York Islanders opened their first training camp in Peterborough Ontario. The first season was an on ice catastrophe with a 12-60-6 record for 30 points. Within two seasons, the Islanders were in the conference finals.
On this date in hockey history, September 14th 2004, Brett Hull ignites a late third period four goal burst by the United States which stuns Canada and gives the USA a 5-2 in the deciding game 3 of the championship final to win the inaugural World Cup of Hockey.
The U.S. and Canada split the first two games although Steve Yzerman's overtime winner in game one was offside by a substantial margin, an early gift for our Canadian neighbors.
The championship game was tied 1-1 after the second period of game three 3 at the fabled Montreal Forum. Canada took a 2-1 lead when defenseman Adam Foote scores with 7:10 remaining in the third period, but goals by Brett Hull and Tony Amonte 43 seconds apart gave the United States a 3-2 lead. Derian Hatcher's empty-netter and a goal by Adam Deadmarsh completed the biggest victory for the United States since the "Miracle on Ice" team wins the gold medal at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
Mike Richter, whose superb goaltending kept the U.S. in the game until the late offensive burst, was named MVP.
This day in hockey history, September 15th 1976, Darryl Sittlers OT goal beat goalie Vladimir Dzurilla and gave Canada a 5-4 victory against Czechoslovakia and a sweep of the best of three final series in the first Canada Cup tournament in Montreal. Czechoslovakia overcomes deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 to take a 4-3 lead, but Bill Barber forced overtime when he scored with 2:12 remaining in the third period. It's a good thing Sittler scored his historic goal at the Montreal Forum, if the game had been played at Toronto's Maple Leafs Gardens it's quite likely the Leafs faithful in attendance would have blown the roof off the building.
This day in hockey history, September 13th 1981, the Soviet Union handed Canada a humiliating 8-1 defeat at the Montreal Forum to win the Canada Cup championship.
Canada entered the final facing pressure to defeat the Soviets whose easy 6-0 victory over the National Hockey League's all-stars in the 1979 Challenge Cup left the Canadians searching for answers on how to defeat their rivals.
Coach Scotty Bowman called it a "must win game" for Canada: "We really are favorites in the final. Nobody in this country will tolerate a loss." The players also spoke of their desire to show the Soviets that they were the world's top hockey nation.
Soviet coach Viktor Tikhonov told his team to play the finest games of their lives: "Today you got to play so well that the entire Canadian population will talk about you afterwards and remember you for a long time. Play so well that the Canadian fans when they will leave Forum will wait for you when you get on the bus after the game and admire you."
Canada outshot the Soviets 12–4 in the first period but did not score and the period ended 0-0.
In the second period Igor Larionov of the Soviets scored after five minutes with Clark Gillies tieing the game three minutes later. Sergei Shepelev put CCCP ahead three minutes later and then scored a powerplay goal late in the period giving the Soviets a 3–1 lead after two.
The third period was a nightmare for Canada and propbably it's low point in international hockey as Shepelev scored hs third consecutive goal for a natural hat trick, and the Soviets scored three goals in the final four minutes to claim the championship by an 8–1 score.
Mike Liut was criticized for Canada's embarrassing loss but there was enough blame to go around. Canada had only four shots in the third period and never threatened the Soviets even though they entered the final 20 minutes down by only two goals.
Of particular embarrassment was a goal by Vladimir Krutov who had a one on two against Guy Lafleur and Denis Potvin. Krutov faked a slop shot from center ice only to see Lafleur step out of the shooting lane. Krutov then swiftly skated in on goal and beat Liut while the befuddled Lafleur looked on like a past his prime beer leauguer. The Soviets also quickly marked Wayne Gretzky when he set up behind Vladislav Tretiak, effectively removing him from the game. The score was especially shocking because the Soviets had lost 7-3 to Canada in the round robin portion of the tournament.
The fate of the championship trophy itself was the subject of controversy after Canadian hockey officials accompanied by Montreal Police prevented the Soviet team from taking the trophy back to the Soviet Union. Eagleson took the Cup from the Soviets at the airport stating that the trophy was intended to remain in Canada at all times. The decision upset the Soviets who claimed that Eagleson's decision was made "in violation of the traditions existing at international competitions". George Smith, a truck driver from Winnipeg, organized a fundraising campaign that raised enough money to create a replica trophy that was gifted to Soviet officials at their Canadian embassy. Soviet officials praised the sportsmanship of the Canadian people as they accepted the replica.
On this day in Buffalo Sabres History, September 17th 1970, The Sabres played their first game, a preseason game in Peterborough Ontario against the New York Rangers. The game ended in a 4-4 tie with Billy Inglis scoring the first ever goal by a Buffalo Sabre.
On this day in hockey history, September 18th 1933, William Scotty Bowman was born in Montreal, Quebec. Scotty is the only coach in major professional sports to win a championship with three different teams.
On this date in hockey history, September 18, 1950, Darryl Sittler was born in St. Jacobs Ontario.
This day in hockey history, September 19th 1992, Eric Lindros played in his first NHL game, a preseason match against the Quebec Nordiques at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. He didn't disappoint with a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win.
Lindros was called "The next one" and originally drafted by Quebec first overall in 1991. He had been militant in his stance that he would never play a game for the Nordiques, Nonetheless Quebec drafted him and in their own militant stance refused to trade him. Lindros showed the force of his will by sitting out the NHL season while playing 13 games for the Oshawa Generals and for Canada in the Canada Cup, WJC and Olympics.
Following Lindros' "sabbatical", the NHL encouraged the Nords to negotiate a trade because not having the games top young star in the league was bad for business. The Nords made out big in the trade acquiring Peter Forsberg who for a time was the leagues best player, along with Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall and Kerry Huffman and two first round draft picks - 1993 1st round pick (#10-Jocelyn Thibault)
and 1994 1st round pick (#10-Nolan Baumgartner), future considerations (Chris Simon) and $15 million in cash. What, no kitchen sink?
This harvest of talent helped the Quebec franchise win two Stanley Cups (1996 and 2001) after it moved to Denver.
This day in hockey history, September 20th 1951, Guy Lafleur was born in Thurso, Quebec. Lafleur played nearly his entire career with the Montreal Canadiens and was a member of five Stanley Cup champion teams in Montreal (1973 and 1976-79). His career took on a story book ending after he retired in 1985 when he returned in 1988 to play one season with the New York Rangers and then two more seasons with Montreal's arch rival the Quebec Nordiques.
With the Habs, Lafleur scored 518 goals and 718 assists for 1246 points in 961 games. He finished his career with 1,353 points in 1,127 NHL games. Guy was the fastest player to reach 1,000 carer points, he got there in 720 games. Marcel Dionne had reached 1,000 in his 740th game earlier that season. Lafleur was the 14th player to have reached that mark.
Guy Lafleur was elected to the Hockey Hall Of Fame in 1988. Along with Mario Lemieux and Gordie Howe, Lafleur one of only three members to play an NHL game after being enshrined in the Hall Of Fame.
A little known event in Lafleur's career is that the Minnesota North Stars drafted him in the 1991 expansion draft, the last player drafted at 20th overall.
This day in hockey history, September 21st 1967, Jacques Plante played goalie for the California Seals in an an exhibition game, a 3-3 tie against the Los Angeles Kings in Port Huron Michigan. He had retired from the NHL in 1965 because of injury and health problems along with his wife being ill. Scotty Bowman asked Plante to play for the Montreal Jr. Canadiens in a game against the Soviet National Team in 1965. Honoured to represent his country, Plante agreed, and after receiving permission from both the Rangers (who owned his rights) and Molson, he began practicing. The Canadiens won 2–1, and Plante was named first star of the game. At the beginning of the 1967-68 NHL season, Plante received a call from his former teammate Bert Olmstead who was coaching the expansion Oakland Seals and wanted Plante to help with the goaltenders.. Plante coached mainly by example, and after the three week training camp he returned home to Montreal. Rumours swirled that Plante was planning a comeback.
In 1968-69 Plante returned to play full time and won the Vezina Trophy along with teammate and fellow netminder Glenn Hall,(back then the Vezina was awarded to the goalies that played on the team that let up the fewest goals, now the William M. Jennings Trophy) and helped lead the Blues to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they were swept by the Canadiens. Plante led the league in GAA that year (1.96).
This day in New York Rangers history, September 21st 1966, Mike Richter was born in Abington, Pennsylvania.
Richter grew up near Philadelphia in Flourtown Pennsylvania and idolized Flyers goalie Bernie Parent.
He played for he USA in the 1985 World Junior Championship and was drafted by the Rangers 28th overall in the 1985 entry draft and then then attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1985-1987.
He played for the U.S.A. in the 1986 WJC and the World Championships and the 1988 Olympics in Calgary.
Richter debuted in the 1989 playoffs, losing his only game. He became a regular in 1989-90 going 12-5-5 with a 3.00 GAA and .904 save % behind starter John Vanviesbrouck.
Richter and “Beezer” split the goaltending duties over the next two seasons, sometimes being referred to as JohnVanRichterBrouck. Richter played for team USA in the 1991 Canada Cup. When Vanbiesbrouck was selected by the Florida Panthers in the 1993 expansion draft, Richter inherited the Rangers crease as number one goalie. He posted a career best 2.57 GAA and a 42-12-16 record with .910 save% leading the Rangers to their second Presidents trophy in three years. He was also the MVP of the NHL all star game held at Madison Square Garden. He was even better in the playoffs with four shutouts leading the Broadway Blueshirts to the Stanley Cup Championship in a seven game series win over the Vancouver Canucks. Richters career highlight came in game four when he made a stunning pad save on a Pavel Bure breakaway.
Richter also led the USA to the championship of the World Cup of Hockey in 1966, earning the Most valuable Player award for the tournament. He was alos the starting goalie for USA in the 1998 and 2002 Olympics. His number 35 was retired by the Rangers in 2004.
This day in hockey history, September 22nd 1934 , the Ottawa Senators NHL franchise was transferred to St. Louis where the team became known as the Eagles. The original Ottawa Senators was the first hockey club in Ontario and a founding member of the National Hockey League in which the club competed from 1917 until 1934. Officially known as the Ottawa Hockey Club, the team was known as the Generals in the 1890s, the Silver Seven from 1903 to 1907 and the Senators from 1908 on.
The Senators were one of the greatest teams of the early days of hockey. Canadian sports editors selected the Ottawa HC/Senators as Canada's greatest team in the first half of the 20th century. The team won numerous championships, starting with the 1891 to 1893 Ontario championships. Ottawa HC played in the first season during which the Stanley Cup was challenged in 1893, and first won the Cup in 1903, holding the championship until 1906 (the Silver Seven years). The club repeated its success in the 1920s, winning the Stanley Cup in 1920, 1921, 1923 and 1927 (the Super Six years). The club won the Stanley Cup eleven times, including challenges during two years it did not win the Cup for the season.
In the 1930’s financial pressures made the franchise unsustainable in Ottawa, the smallest market in the league with 110,000 people as compared to the second smallest market Toronto with a population over 500,000. Expansion to the U.S. hurt the team with higher travel costs and the gate receipts for games against the new teams were low.
In 1934, the club's NHL franchise was transferred to St. Louis, although the Ottawa group continued its ownership of the franchise and player contracts.
Their successes did not follow the team to St. Louis where the Eagles went 11-31-6 with 84 goals for and 144 goals against. It was one and done for the Eagles and on October 15, 1935, the NHL bought back the franchise and players' contracts for $40,000 and suspended its operations.
This day in hockey history, September 22nd 1983, a stellar group was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame including Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Ken Dryden and Harry Sinden.
This day in hockey history, September 22nd1991, the St. Louis Blues traded Dan Quinn and Rod Brind'Amour to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Ron Sutter and Murray Baron.
This day in hockey history, September 22nd1994, the Philadelphia Flyers brought back goaltender Ron Hextall in a trade with goalie Tommy Soderstrom going to the New York Islanders.
This day in hockey history, September 25, 1984, the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto inducted its newest class of honored members; George “Punch” Imlach. Phil Esposito, Jacques Lemaire, Bernie Parent and Jake Milford.
This day in hockey history, September 25th 1987, Denis Potvin announced his retirement from the NHL after 14 seasons all with the New York Islanders as a four time Stanley Cup champion, three-time Norris Trophy winner, and the league’s all-time leader in goals, assists, and points for both the regular season (310, 742, 1,052 in 1,060 GP) and for the postseason (56, 108, 164 in 185 GP). Potvin currently ranks 7th in career scoring among dfensemen behind Ray Bourque (1597), Paul Coffey (1531), Al Macinnis (1274), Phil Housley (1232), Larry Murphy (1216) and Nicklas Lidstrom (1142).
This day in hockey history, September 25th 1926, the NHL granted franchises to two new cities: Chicago and Detroit. The Detroit franchise originally called themselves the “Cougars,” as they took players from the Victoria Cougars of the Western Canada Hockey League that had just folded but actually had just won the 1925 Stanley Cup championship. They changed names to the Falcons in 1930, and finally to the Red Wings in 1932.
Remembering Carol Vadnais, born on this day in hockey history September 25th 1945.
This day in hockey history, September 26th 1958, the New York Rangers called up Eddie Shack from Providence in the AHL and signed him to his first NHL contract.
This day in hockey history, September 26th 1988, the New York Rangers signed Guy Lafleur as a free agent.
This day in hockey history, September 28th 1926,the New York Rangers purchased the contract of Frank Boucher from Vancouver in the WHL. This day in hockey history, September 28th 1926,the New York Rangers purchased the contract of Frank Boucher from Vancouver in the WHL. Boucher was a member of the original New York Rangers team.
Although later Rangers such as Gilbert and Mark Messier have been more honored by recent fans, Boucher's status as the star of two Ranger Stanley Cup championship teams and the coach of another makes him, except perhaps for team builder Lester Patrick, as the greatest Ranger of them all.
Boucher played for the Rangers until he retired in 1937–38 and Boucher centered the famous Bread Line with the brothers Bill and Bun Cook. Together they helped the Rangers win the Stanley Cup in 1928 and 1933, also reaching the Finals in 1932.
Frank was not only a brilliant forward, but was also one of the game's classies players. Lady Byng, wife of Viscount Byng, the Governor-General of Canada, donated a trophy to be awarded to the NHL's "most gentlemanly player." While playing for the New York Rangers, Boucher won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy 7 times in 8 years. He was then given the trophy outright, and Lady Byng donated another trophy to the NHL
The Rangers hired him to coach the New York Rovers, a minor-league team that also played at Madison Square Garden, as his apprenticeship to coaching the Rangers. When general manager Lester Patrick made the decision to retire from coaching prior to the 1939–40 season, he hired Boucher, who led his Ranger club to the last Stanley Cup. The franchise would be in existence for 68 seasons before they won a Cup without Boucher being directly involved.
After finishing first in the NHL's regular season in 1942, the Rangers lost in the playoffs to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Soon they became victims of the military draft of World War II and went into a steep decline. In 1943–44 NHL season the New York Rangers were so bad that Boucher came out of retirement for 15 games to play where he recorded 14 points; at age 42, he was the oldest position player ever to play in the NHL, a record he held until surpassed by Doug Harvey in 1968. The Rangers finished the 50 game season with only 6 wins. From 1940 to 1972 they reached the Stanley Cup Finals only once.
When Patrick retired, Frank took over as general manager. He got the Rangers into the playoffs in 1947–48 with his trade to get Buddy O'Connor and Frank Eddolls. He stepped down from coaching to concentrate on his manager's job and hired Lynn Patrick, Lester's son and an ex-teammate, to coach the Rangers, and Lynn came very close to winning the Stanley Cup in 1950, proving Boucher astute in hiring him as coach. But the Rangers were an aging team, and eroded. Lynn Patrick resigned to go to Boston, and neither Neil Colville nor Bill Cook, also former teammates of Boucher's, could get the Rangers into the playoffs. General John Kilpatrick, the Rangers' owner, thought about replacing Boucher, but he held off.
During the 1945–46 season, Boucher became the first coach to use two goalies regularly. Alternating Charlie Rayner and Jim Henry every game, and later, every four to six minutes, he proved the usefulness of having two goalies.
Frank went back behind the bench in 1953–54, but could not get the Rangers into the playoffs. He then hired Muzz Patrick, another son of Lester and ex-teammate, to coach the team, but the Rangers won only 17 games and missed the playoffs again. So General Kilpatrick had a talk with Frank and reluctantly expressed that Frank could not build the Rangers into a winner, and recommended Frank resign as general manager. Frank thought it over, realizing that it was better than being fired. He then typed his resignation and handed it in to the General, ending his 29-year association with the Rangers.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958. In 1998, he was ranked number 61 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players. His uniform number 7 hangs in the rafters of Madison Square Garden, although it was retired for a later Ranger, Rod Gilbert.
In 1974, Boucher wrote When the Rangers Were Young, a book about his experiences with the old-time Broadway Blueshirts, giving him one last moment of fame during his lifetime. He died of cancer on December 12, 1977 in the town of Kemptville, Ontario, near Ottawa at the age of 76. In 2009, Boucher was ranked No. 9 on the all-time list of New York Rangers in the book 100 Ranger Greats.
This day in hockey history, September 29th 1997, the New York Rangers acquire Pat LaFontaine from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a second round pick in the 1998 NHL Draft and future considerations.
This day in hockey history - September