On this date, considered one of Canada’s very unlikely heroes grew to become a legend after his third straight game-winning aim. Additionally, two Hockey Corridor of Famers have been born whereas one signed his first Nationwide Hockey League contract on his option to changing into one of many biggest undrafted free brokers ever. It’s time for our day by day journey again by the many years to revisit all the most effective recollections this date has given us.
Canada Completes the Comeback
After shedding the first of 4 straight video games in Moscow, Workforce Canada discovered themselves trailing the Soviet Union 3-1-1 within the Summit Collection. On Sept. 28, 1972, they received their third straight one-goal recreation to say victory in probably the most memorable set of worldwide video games ever performed.
The primary hurdle the Canadians needed to clear was a last-minute swap in officers. After Swedish-born referee Uve Dahlberg fell ailing with an alleged case of meals poisoning, the controversial West German officers from Recreation 6 have been assigned the all-important remaining recreation. After Canada threatened to boycott the competition, an settlement was reached the place each groups might select one referee.
Canada’s worries in regards to the officiating have been solely exasperated as they have been referred to as for 16 penalty minutes simply 4:10 into the sport, together with a 10-minute main and recreation misconduct for J.P. Parise after arguing a questionable name and threatening to hit referee Josef Kompalla over the top together with his stick. Alexander Yakushev gave the USSR an early 1-0 by scoring on an early 5-on-3 benefit.
Three minutes later, Canada was on a power-play of their very own, and Phil Esposito evened the rating at 1-1. The Soviets grabbed a 2-1 lead when defenseman Vladimir Lutchenko scored a power-play tally later within the interval. Brad Park despatched the sport into the primary intermission tangled up by ending off an ideal passing play late within the opening body.
The Soviet Union took a 3-2 lead, simply 21 seconds into the center interval, due to a fortunate bounce that caught goaltender Ken Dryden out of place. The USSR took the momentum from the aim to use excessive stress, however Dryden rebounded properly to maintain his workforce within the recreation in the meanwhile.
Halfway by the interval, defenseman Invoice White drew Canada even. Nevertheless, White’s aim did little or no to decelerate the Soviet assault. Yakushev scored his second aim of the evening simply over a minute later. Valery Vasiliev doubled the USSR’s benefit, which they held going into the ultimate 20 minutes of play.
Esposito struck for a second aim early within the third interval to convey Workforce Canada to inside one aim. He was important in Canada tying the sport with seven minutes to play as he fought off two defenders to get the puck on the web. Goaltender Vladislav Tretiak made the preliminary save, however Yvan Cournoyer was “Johnny On-the-Spot” and knocked residence the rebound to tie the rating.
With time winding down, Canada was desperately looking for yet one more aim. If Recreation 8 resulted in a tie, the Soviets would win the Summit Collection as a result of that they had scored yet one more aim. Then, with simply 34 seconds left to play, Paul Henderson scored probably the most well-known aim in Canadian hockey historical past.
Henderson was not added to Canada’s roster to be an offensive star, however he grew to become a nationwide hero. He scored the game-winning targets in every of the ultimate three video games of the Summit Collection and sure has not needed to pay for a drink in Canada since this date.
Rangers Herald Boucher
Simply days earlier than the New York Rangers started their inaugural season within the NHL, on Sept. 28, 1926, they acquired considered one of their first star gamers. After spending the 1921-22 season with the Ottawa Senators, Frank Boucher went to play within the Pacific Coast Hockey League (PCHL).
On this date, the Rangers bought Boucher’s contract from the Vancouver Maroons and added him to their roster. He performed 533 video games over the subsequent 13 seasons, scoring 152 targets and 414 factors. He helped the Rangers win the Stanley Cup in 1928 and 1933.
Boucher received the Woman Byng Trophy for being probably the most gentlemanly participant within the recreation, seven occasions in an eight-season span. The donor of the trophy, Evelyn Bing, let Boucher maintain the unique trophy and donated a brand new one to the league. Upon his retirement, Boucher spent a complete of 10 seasons as head coach of the Rangers.
Ciccarelli Inks His First NHL Deal
On September 28, 1979, the Minnesota North Stars signed undrafted free agent Dino Ciccarelli. The whole league handed on him on the 1979 NHL Entry Draft after breaking his leg throughout his remaining junior season with the London Knights.
In 1981-82, his first full season within the NHL, Ciccarelli scored 55 targets and 106 factors. He performed 602 video games for the North Stars, scoring 332 targets and 651, earlier than being traded to the Washington Capitals, in 1989, for Mike Gartner and Larry Murphy.
His 19-season profession additionally noticed stops with the Detroit Pink Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers. He retired in 1999 with 608 targets and 1,200 factors in 1,232 video games. Ciccarelli was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 2010.
Pair of Strikes for Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers signed defenseman Kevin Lowe on Sept. 28, 1996, after spending the earlier three seasons with the Rangers. This was his second stint with the Oilers, who drafted him within the first spherical (21st general) of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.
His first 13 seasons within the league got here in Edmonton, the place he received 5 Stanley Cups earlier than profitable a sixth with New York in 1994. He performed 71 video games over the subsequent two seasons earlier than retiring in 1998. He spent one season as Oilers head coach, in 1999-00.
On Sept. 28, 1999, Doug Weight was named the tenth workforce captain in franchise historical past. He changed Kelly Buchberger, who wore the “C” on his sweater the earlier 4 seasons. Weight remained captain till he was traded to the St. Louis Blues following the 2000-01 season.
Odds & Ends
If you happen to assume groups clogging up the impartial zone in as we speak’s recreation makes for boring hockey, good factor you weren’t round for the early days of the league. Earlier than Sept. 28, 1929, groups weren’t allowed to make ahead passes within the attacking zone. On this date, the NHL allowed ahead passing in all three zones for the primary time. As you may think about, this led to extra targets throughout the league.
On Sept. 28, 1989, the Philadelphia Flyers traded heart Keith Acton and goaltender Pete Peeters to the Winnipeg Jets in change for future issues. Nevertheless, they have been traded again to the Flyers simply 5 days later for a fifth-round draft decide and the cancellation of future issues of a earlier commerce involving defenseman Shawn Cronin.
The Boston Bruins acquired ahead Robert Lang on Sept. 28, 1997, from the Pittsburgh Penguins through the NHL Waiver Draft. He returned to Pittsburgh lower than a month later when the Penguins claimed him off of waivers on Oct. 25, 1997. Lang scored a career-high 32 targets and 80 factors with the Penguins throughout the 2000-01 season.
The New York Islanders claimed goaltender and two-time Stanley Cup winner Chris Osgood from the Pink Wings on Sept. 28, 2001, within the NHL Waiver Draft. He performed 103 video games for the Islanders, going 49-39-10 with a .904 save share (SV%), 2.34 goals-against common (GAA), and 6 shutouts. He was traded to the Blues, on March 11, 2003, for heart Justin Papineau and a second-round draft decide that was used to pick present Devils affiliate coach Jeremy Colliton.
After a comeback try with the Calgary Flames fell quick, Theoren Fleury formally introduced his retirement on Sept. 28, 2009. He retired with 455 targets and 1,088 in 1,084 video games, with nearly all of his success coming in 11 seasons with the Flames. He additionally performed three seasons with the Rangers and single seasons with the Colorado Avalanche and Blackhawks.
On Sept. 28, 2020, the Lightning beat the Dallas Stars 2-0 in Recreation 6 of the Stanley Cup Remaining to win their second championship in franchise historical past. Brayden Level’s first-period power-play aim was all of the Lightning would wish to safe the win; it was his 14th aim of the postseason. Blake Coleman added an insurance coverage aim early within the second interval and Andre Vasilevskiy made 22 saves for his first profession playoff shutout. Defenseman Victor Hedman acquired the Conn Smythe Trophy for being probably the most beneficial participant of the 2020 postseason. In 25 video games, he had 10 targets, 22 factors, and a plus-13 score whereas averaging 26:28 of ice time per contest.
Completely satisfied Birthday to You
A complete of twenty-two gamers who’ve skated within the NHL have been born on Sept. 28. The primary to make his debut was Rod Smylie, born on this date in 1895, who performed in 74 video games with the Toronto St. Patricks and Senators throughout the Twenties. The newest was in 2022 with Isaak Phillips, who is popping 23 as we speak.
The late Syd Howe is considered one of two Hockey Corridor of Famers born on this date. He performed precisely 700 NHL video games with the Senators, Philadelphia Quakers, Maple Leafs, St. Louis Eagles, and Pink Wings between 1930 and 1946. He scored 237 targets and 529 factors whereas profitable three Stanley Cups in Detroit.
Corridor of Fame goaltender Grant Fuhr was born on Sept. 28, 1962, in Spruce Grove, Alberta. He was drafted by the Oilers with the eighth general decide of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. He made his debut the next fall and performed 48 video games throughout the 1891-82 season. He spent 10 seasons in Edmonton, taking part in 423 video games, going 226-117-54 with a .883 SV% and three.69 GAA. He received 4 Stanley Cups with the Oilers throughout the Eighties.
Fuhr was traded to the Maple Leafs on Sept. 19, 1991, together with fellow Corridor of Famer Glenn Anderson. He additionally had excursions of obligation with the Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Blues, and Flames. He retired in 2000 after 868 NHL appearances and 403 wins, the 12th most in league historical past.
Different notable gamers born on this date embody Barry Gibbs (76), Don Edwards (69), Bob Miller (68), Steve Kasper (63), Brian Rafalski (51), Dustin Penner (42), Tom Sestito (37), and the late Artwork Wiebe and Ray Emery.
*Initially constructed by Greg Boysen
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