The date was a fairly large one for Canadian hockey. The nationwide staff gained a pair of huge tournaments, and one of many biggest gamers to ever skate within the NHL introduced his retirement. So. let’s begin our day by day journey again in time to revisit all the very best from Sept. 15.
The Rocket Calls it a Profession
Maurice Richard formally introduced his retirement on Sept. 15, 1960, after 18 seasons within the league. The person often called “The Rocket” put collectively one of many biggest careers in NHL historical past and have become one of many sport’s first celebrity goal-scorers.
Richard spent his whole profession with the Montreal Canadiens, enjoying 978 video games and profitable eight Stanley Cup championships. Within the 1944-45 season, he grew to become the primary participant to attain 50 objectives in a season, and he did it in simply 50 video games. Two years later, he gained the Hart Trophy for being the MVP of the 1946-47 season by scoring 45 objectives and 71 factors in 60 video games.
The legendary winger scored at the very least 32 objectives in 9 of his 18 seasons. When he retired, his 544 objectives have been essentially the most in NHL historical past. Since 1999, the league has given out the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy to the participant who scores essentially the most objectives every season. Teemu Selanne was the primary participant to win the Richard Trophy, and different stars who’ve gained it embody Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, and Jarome Iginla.
A Pair of Canada Cup Wins
The ultimate sport of the inaugural Canada Cup was performed on Sept. 15, 1976. After beating Czechoslovakia 6-0 within the first sport of the best-of-three championship sequence, Canada seemed to shut out the match on the previous Montreal Discussion board.
Canada acquired off to a quick begin and constructed a 2-0 lead simply over three minutes into the sport with objectives from Gilbert Perreault and Phil Esposito. Milan Novy acquired the Czechs on the board with a power-play aim halfway via the second interval earlier than Jaroslav Pouzar evened the rating early within the remaining body.
Bobby Clarke’s power-play tally gave the Canadians a 3-2 lead about 5 minutes later. Josef Augusta and Marian Stastny scored 59 seconds aside to present Czechoslovakia a 4-3 with 4 minutes to play. Invoice Barber compelled additional time by scoring with two minutes to play in regulation. In additional time, Toronto Maple Leafs star Darryl Sittler clinched the match 11:33 into the additional time.
9 years later, on Sept. 15, 1987, the host nation gained one other Canada Cup by closing out a memorable three-game sequence in opposition to the Soviet Union. After Mario Lemieux’s hat trick led to a 6-5 double-overtime victory, Canada compelled a 3rd and remaining sport in Hamilton, Ontario.
The Soviets quieted the gang when Sergei Makarov scored simply 26 seconds into the sport. They then constructed up a 3-0 lead by the eight-minute mark with objectives from Alexei Gusarov and Slava Fetisov. Canada started their comeback when Rick Tocchet scored on an influence play halfway via the opening interval. Brian Propp reduce the result in one earlier than Andrei Khomutov scored with simply 28 seconds left within the first interval.
Canada dominated the second interval, scoring three objectives in six minutes to take a 5-4 lead. Defenseman Larry Murphy acquired issues going with a power-play tally on the 29:30 mark. Brent Sutter tied the sport together with his first aim of the match simply 96 seconds later. Dale Hawerhcuk broke the tie simply over 4 minutes later.
They held onto the late into the third interval earlier than Alexander Semak drew the USSR even with lower than eight minutes to play. Lemieux was the hero once more as he scored his 11th aim of the match with 1:26 left to play to clinch the championship.
Wayne Gretzky, who performed on the identical line as Lemieux, was named the match MVP after selecting up 18 assists and 21 factors in 9 video games.
A New Corridor of Fame Class
On Sept. 15, 1981, the Hockey Corridor of Fame opened its doorways for 4 new members: Frank Mahovlich, Allan Stanley, John Bucyk, and former NHL referee John Ashley.
Mahovlich’s NHL profession spanned 1,181 video games over 18 seasons earlier than enjoying 4 seasons within the World Hockey Affiliation (WHA). He scored 533 objectives and 1,103 factors whereas enjoying for the Maple Leafs, Detroit Purple Wings, and Canadiens. He gained a complete of six Stanley Cups in his profession, 4 with Toronto and two extra with Montreal. He had 51 objectives and 118 factors in 137 Stanley Cup playoff video games.
Stanley performed 1,244 video games over 21 NHL seasons with the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Maple Leafs, and one remaining season with the Philadelphia Flyers. The defenseman was a part of 4 Stanley Cup championships with Mahovlich in Toronto throughout the Sixties.
Bucyk began his profession with the Purple Wings earlier than being traded to the Bruins in 1957 for goaltender Terry Sawchuk. He went on to play in 21 seasons for the Bruins, scoring 545 objectives and 1,339 factors in 1,436 video games. He gained the Stanley Cup with Boston in 1970 and 1972 and remains to be the franchise’s all-time chief in objectives.
Ashley started his officiating profession in 1959. He officiated each Sport 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs between 1964 and 1972.
Odds & Ends
Corridor of Fame defenseman Sprague Cleghorn was named the brand new head coach of the Montreal Maroons on Sept. 15, 1931. The Maroons completed with a report of 19-22-7 beneath Cleghorn throughout the 1931-32 season, his just one behind an NHL bench.
On Sept. 15, 1987, the New Jersey Devils traded ahead Greg Adams and goaltender Kirk McLean to the Vancouver Canucks for heart Patrick Sundstrom and a fourth-round choose within the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. Sundstrom scored 86 objectives and 246 factors over the following 5 seasons for the Devils. He’s most remembered for his eight-point playoff sport versus the Washington Capitals in 1988.
McLean performed 11 seasons for the Canucks and is their all-time chief in video games performed for a goalie (516) and is second in wins (211) and shutouts (20). Adams scored 179 objectives and 369 factors in 489 video games for Vancouver. Each performed huge roles within the Canucks’ 1994 run to Sport 7 of the Stanley Cup Last.
Veteran defenseman Brad McCrimmon signed with the Hartford Whalers on Sept. 15, 1993. He spent the following three seasons with the Whalers and performed 156 of his 1,222 video games in Hartford.
The Canucks named Markus Naslund as their new captain on Sept. 15, 2000. He was the 11th captain in franchise historical past, changing Mark Messier, who had returned to the Rangers within the offseason. The announcement got here from Stockholm, Sweden, following the Canucks’ 2-1 preseason additional time win over Djurgarden, the reigning Swedish Hockey League champions.
Simon Gagne introduced his retirement on Sept. 15, 2015, after 822 NHL video games. He was initially drafted by the Flyers within the first spherical (22nd total) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
He spent his first 10 seasons with Philadelphia, scoring 259 objectives and 524 factors. After a season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Gagne gained the Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2011-12. The next season he was traded again to the Flyers. He completed out his profession with one remaining season with the Bruins in 2014-15.
Joyful Birthday to You
There have been 24 gamers who’ve skated at the very least one sport within the NHL born on this date. The primary to take action was Emory Sparrow, born on Sept. 15, 1898, who performed eight video games for the Bruins in 1925. The latest was Semyon Der-Arguchintsev who wearing one sport for the Maple Leafs in 2022-23.
There are at present no Corridor of Famers born on this date, however that may change quickly. Patrick Marleau was born on Sept. 15, 1979, and can quickly be taking his place in Toronto. He had 566 objectives and 1,197 factors in 1,779 video games, essentially the most in NHL historical past, with the San Jose Sharks, Maple Leafs, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Different notable gamers celebrating birthdays at the moment embody Jerry Korab (76), Richard Brodeur (72), Joel Quenneville (66), and the late Ken Houston and Ralph Klassen.
*Initially constructed by Greg Boysen
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