One other class of NHL greats took their rightful locations within the Hockey Corridor of Fame on this date. Additionally, one of many largest tragedies to devastate the hockey world befell in Russia. The THW time machine is warmed up and able to take us on our day by day journey by means of the years.

A New Class Will get the Name

The Hockey Corridor of Fame opened its doorways to a formidable group of six inductees on Sept. 7, 1988. Goaltender Tony Esposito, forwards Man Lafleur and Buddy O’Connor, and defenseman Brad Park have been enshrined as gamers. Philadelphia Flyers proprietor Ed Snider was inducted as a builder. George Hayes, a long-time linesman who was the primary official to work 1,000 video games, rounded out the category.

After taking part in 13 video games for the Montreal Canadiens through the 1968-69 season, Esposito’s first full season with the Chicago Blackhawks was one for the file books with 38 wins and a modern-era file 15 shutouts, which nonetheless stands in the present day. In 16 NHL seasons, Esposito appeared in 873 video games and posted a 418-302-148 file with a .906 save proportion (SV%), 2.93 goals-against benefit (GAA), and 74 shutouts.

Lafleur was inducted after taking part in 961 video games for the Canadiens, scoring 518 targets and 1,246 factors. He received 5 Stanley Cups in Montreal as effectively two Hart Trophies (league MVP), three Artwork Ross Trophies (main scorer), and the 1977 Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP).

Shortly after this ceremony, he grew to become one in every of simply three gamers, together with Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux, to play in an NHL recreation after being inducted into the Corridor of Fame. He got here out of retirement and joined the New York Rangers for the 1988-89 season earlier than taking part in two extra seasons with the Quebec Nordiques.

Park performed 1,113 video games throughout his 17-season NHL profession with the Rangers, Boston Bruins, and Detroit Purple Wings. He scored a career-high 25 targets and 82 factors through the 1973-74 season. The seven-time All-Star completed his profession with 213 targets, 896 factors, and a plus-363 ranking.

O’Connor cut up his profession with the Canadiens and Rangers, taking part in 507 video games and scoring 140 targets and 397 factors. He received the Girl Bing Trophy for being voted the league’s most gentlemanly participant in 1948 with the Rangers. He received two Stanley Cups throughout his time in Montreal in 1944 and 1946.

Tragedy in Russia

One of many worst tragedies in hockey historical past occurred on Sept. 7, 2011. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl boarded a aircraft headed in the direction of Minsk for his or her opening recreation of the Kontinental Hockey League’s (KHL) 2011-12 season. A botched take-off brought on the aircraft to nearly instantly crash close to Tunoshna Airport.

Of the 45 crew and passengers on the flight, 43 have been killed within the crash. Lokomotiv ahead Alexander Galimov was pulled from the wreckage alive, however he died 5 days later in a Moscow hospital. Flight engineer Alexander Sizov was the one individual to outlive the crash.

Seven former NHL gamers have been killed within the crash. Head coach Brad McCrimmon, his assistants Alexander Karpovtsev and Igor Korolev, and gamers Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei, Karlis Skrastins, and Josef Vasicek.

Odds & Ends

On Sept. 7, 1946, league president Purple Dutton introduced that, for the primary time within the historical past of the game, the principles as adopted by the NHL would now be normal in all organized hockey, each within the skilled and newbie ranks.

The Blackhawks bought the contract of veteran goaltender Frank Brimsek on Sept. 7, 1949. He had earned the nickname of “Mr. Zero” and received two Stanley Cups in his earlier eight seasons with the Bruins. He missed two seasons within the midst of his profession to serve in the US Coast Guard throughout World Conflict II. In his lone season with the Blackhawks, he performed 70 video games, going 22-38-19 with a 3.49 GAA and 5 shutouts.

The Rangers named Muzz Patrick as their new head coach on Sept. 7, 1962, changing Doug Harvey. This was Patrick’s third stint behind the bench in New York. He coached 100 video games for them between 1953 and 1955 and two extra through the 1959-60 season. Patrick solely lasted 34 video games of the 1962-63 season as he was let go after a poor 11-19-4 begin.

The New York Islanders signed veteran free agent defenseman Bob McGill on Sept. 7, 1993, after spending the earlier season with the Maple Leafs. He solely performed in three video games for the Islanders earlier than being claimed off of waivers by the Hartford Whalers. He appeared in 30 video games for the Whalers and retired after the 1992-93 season. McGill spent 13 seasons within the NHL and performed in 706 video games for six completely different groups.

Pleased Birthday to You

A gaggle of 26 present and former NHL gamers have been born on this date. Born on Sept. 7, 1908, Brady Northcott was the primary to play within the league. He scored 133 targets and 245 factors in 448 profession video games with the Montreal Maroons and Blackhawks through the Thirties. The latest to make his NHL debut was Nicholas Caamano, who turns 26 in the present day. He has a objective and two assists in 36 profession video games with the Dallas Stars.

Jacques Lemaire is the lone Corridor of Famer of this group. He was born on Sept. 7, 1945, in LaSalle, Quebec. He debuted for the Canadiens within the 1967-68 season and received the primary of his eight Stanley Cups championships throughout his taking part in profession. The ultimate objective of his profession clinched the 1979 Stanley Cup for the Canadiens. Throughout his 12 seasons in Montreal, he scored 366 targets and 835 factors in 853 video games.

Lemaire received two extra Stanley Cups within the entrance workplace of the Canadiens earlier than main the New Jersey Devils to the 1995 title as head coach. He additionally coached 1,262 video games within the NHL with the Canadiens, Devils, and Minnesota Wild.

Different notable gamers born on this date embrace Orland Kurtenbach (88), Chris Oddleifson (74), Tony Tanti (61), Gino Odjick (54), Matt Cooke (46), Paul Mara (45), Eric Fehr (39), and Andrew MacDonald (38).

*Initially constructed by Greg Boysen

Join our NHL Historical past Substack e-newsletter