From the THW Archives, written by former contributor Alli Baker and initially revealed Feb. 16, 2015.
So that you suppose every part there’s to learn about hockey, eh? Nicely if greater than half of those unusual information, you’re both a hockey buff otherwise you’ve bought an excessive amount of time in your palms.
1. One Greenback Man
In 1993, Kris Draper was traded to the Detroit Pink Wings for simply $1. This led to his nickname in Detroit — the “One Greenback Man.” Draper ended up being price far more than a greenback, although. He went on to play 17 seasons with the Wings, enjoying 1137 video games and racking up 158 objectives over that interval. Draper additionally received 4 Stanley Cups with Detroit in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008.
2. The Nice One
You must know Wayne Gretzky is the all-time main factors scorer within the NHL, however do you know The Nice One would nonetheless maintain this report even when he by no means scored a objective? Even with out scoring as soon as in his profession, Gretzky racked up so many assists, he would nonetheless be the NHL’s all-time main point-scorer. That’s a number of assists.
3. The First Objective
The Montreal Wanderer’s Dave Ritchie scored the primary official NHL objective on December 19, 1917. The objective was scored towards the Toronto Arenas.
4. Don’t Neglect the Girls
There are 12 ladies named on the Stanley Cup — all of them being homeowners or crew executives. Marguerite Norris, the president of the Detroit Pink Wings from 1954-55, was the primary girl to have her title engraved on the Cup.
Sonia Scurfield, the co-owner of the Calgary Flames in 1989, is the one Canadian girl to have her title on the Cup.
5. The Millon Greenback Man
In 1971, the Boston Bruins signed Bobby Orr to a five-year deal, price $200,000 per yr. This was the primary million-dollar contract signed within the NHL. Orr ended up scoring 181 objectives over that point and was effectively well worth the cash spent.
6. Dimension Doesn’t Matter
Roy Worters, the previous goaltender for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York People and Montreal Canadiens, is the shortest participant to play within the NHL. Waters measured 5-foot-3 tall and performed in 484 video games from 1925-1937.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, Boston Bruins’ defenceman Zdeno Chara is the tallest participant to ever play within the NHL. The Slovakia native stands at 6-foot-9 tall, a full foot-and-a-half taller than Waters.
7. The Earliest Puck
Rumor has it that the earliest hockey pucks had been really simply frozen items of cow dung. I believe it’s secure to say we’re all grateful they got here up with a greater materials for pucks. The trendy model is made from vulcanized rubber and is one inch thick and weighs between 5.5 and 6 ounces.
8. The Cup
The Stanley Cup was initially solely seven inches tall. It’s named after Lord Stanley of Preston, the governor-general of Canada on the time. The Cup was awarded to the top-ranked novice Canadian hockey crew. The trophy continues to be awarded to the very best crew, nevertheless it now stands over 35 inches excessive.
9. Quickest Shot
Bobby Hull reportedly holds the report for the quickest slapshot ever recorded at 118 miles per hour, however that was again when know-how wasn’t very subtle — his wristshot was clocked at 105 mph. Nicknamed “the Golden Jet,” Hull spent 23 seasons within the Nationwide Hockey League and World Hockey Affiliation, enjoying for the Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets and Hartford Whalers.
The quickest slapshot recorded in trendy instances with trendy know-how was Zdeno Chara’s depraved 108.8 mph monster in 2012 on the All-Star Expertise Competitors.
Arguments can nonetheless be made that Al MacInnis had the toughest slapshot of all-time however his radar speeds had been hampered by his use of a wood stick as an alternative of the composite variations everybody makes use of as we speak.
10. Goalie Targets
Billy Smith, the previous netminder for the New York Islanders, is the primary goaltender to be credited with scoring a objective. Smith scored his objective on November 28, 1979.
Michel Plasse, former goaltender for the CHL’s Kansas Metropolis Blues, scored a objective on February 21, 1971, as effectively. So when you’re protecting monitor of all of the totally different leagues, Plasse is technically the primary.
The Philadelphia Flyer’s former goalie Ron Hextall is the second goaltender to attain a objective, however the first to attain by taking a shot of his personal. Together with Hextall and Smith, eleven goaltenders have scored objectives within the NHL. Martin Brodeur has probably the most objectives by a goaltender with three.
Nicely, there you may have it. Now you’ve been educated on hockey historical past.
What number of information did you already know? Is there an fascinating hockey incontrovertible fact that that wasn’t listed? Submit it within the feedback under.
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