Oct. 8 is one other extraordinarily busy day in NHL historical past. One in all its biggest gamers ever signed his first skilled contract. This date has seen a bit little bit of every part, together with some huge moments in California and Montreal, a brand new fixation with rats, and the league’s first-ever third-generation participant. So. let’s climb contained in the THW time machine and take our each day journey again via the a long time.
Crimson Wings Signal a Legend
The Detroit Crimson Wings perpetually modified their franchise on Oct. 8, 1946, once they signed 18-year-old Gordie Howe to his first contract. He made his NHL debut eight days later and began an expert profession that lasted till 1980.
Associated – Remembering Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe
Howe earned the nickname “Mr. Hockey” throughout his 25 seasons with the Crimson Wings. He retired in 1971 however returned to the ice in 1973 for the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Affiliation (WHA). He performed in all six WHA seasons each performed and bought to skate alongside his sons Mark and Marty.
When the Hartford Whalers merged into the NHL in 1979, Howe was again for yet another season. He was the primary participant to ever play in a league sport after being inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame. When he retired on the age of 52 on the season’s finish, he held all-time data with 1,767 video games performed, 801 targets, and 1,850 factors.
A Pair of Firsts in California
After dropping each video games of a home-and-home collection to the Vancouver Canucks, the San Jose Sharks picked up their first win in franchise historical past on Oct. 8, 1991. Kelly Kisio scored the game-winning objective, with simply over three minutes to play, in a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames. He and Pat Fallon every had a objective and an help within the contest. Goaltender Brian Hayward made 36 saves to get the Sharks within the win column for the primary time.
Two years later, on Oct. 8, 1993, the Mighty Geese of Anaheim made their NHL debut by internet hosting the Crimson Wings on the Arrowhead Pond. Defenseman Sean Hill earned his spot in franchise historical past by scoring the Geese’ first-ever objective. Nevertheless, the boys from Motown had been too robust for the growth group as Detroit rolled to a 7-2 win.
A Massive Date in Montreal
When you may have been as profitable because the Montreal Canadiens, you’ll have loads of huge moments on many dates, and Oct. 8 isn’t any exception. On this date in 1955, the Habs grew to become simply the third ever to start out a season with back-to-back shutouts. Hockey Corridor of Famer Jacques Plante picked up the twelfth shutout of his profession in a 2-0 win over the Boston Bruins.
John Ferguson made his memorable league debut on Oct. 8, 1963. He bought right into a battle in his very first shift. He later scored two targets and added an help to finish the “Gordie Howe” hat trick in a 4-4 tie with the Bruins. He bought to play his first NHL sport on a line with Jean Beliveau and Bernie Geoffrion. Not too shabby!
On Oct. 8, 1974, Doug Jarvis suited up for the Canadiens and commenced the NHL’s longest streak of consecutive video games performed. He wouldn’t come out of the lineup once more till Oct. 10, 1987, when he was a member of the Hartford Whalers. In complete, Jarvis performed in 964 straight video games with the Canadiens, Washington Capitals, and Whalers.
Lastly, on Oct. 8, 1997, goaltender Andy Moog recorded his twenty sixth profession shutout, and first with the Canadiens, in Montreal’s 3-0 victory on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Vladimir Malakov assisted on all three targets.
New Captains Named
Three new captains had been named on this date in 2002. First, the Bruins named Joe Thornton the 18th captain in group historical past, changing Jason Allison. He remained captain till he was traded to the Sharks in 2005. The next season, Zdeno Chara was named captain, and wore the “C” till 2020.
Subsequent, Greg Johnson grew to become the second captain of the Nashville Predators. He changed Tom Fitzgerald, who crammed the function because the group joined the league in 1998.
Lastly, Alexei Zhamnov changed Tony Amonte because the Blackhawks’ group captain. He was simply the fourth Russian-born participant within the league to have a “C” sewn onto his sweater.
One yr later, on Oct. 8, 2003, Jarome Iginla took over the captaincy of the Calgary Flames. He remained as captain till he was traded to the Penguins in 2013.
Dustin Brown was named captain of the Kings on Oct. 8, 2008, taking on for Rob Blake. He held on to this honor for the subsequent eight seasons and was the captain for each the Kings’ Stanley Cups in 2012 and once more in 2014.
Odds & Ends
On Oct. 8, 1957, Glenn Corridor recorded his 18th profession shutout, and first with the Chicago Blackhawks, in a 1-0 blanking of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ted Lindsay scored the sport’s solely objective at 15:08 of the second interval.
When Craig Patrick took to the ice for the California Golden Seals on Oct. 8, 1971, he grew to become the first-ever third-generation participant in NHL historical past. His grandfather, Lynn, and father, Lester, had been already members of the Hockey Corridor of Fame. Craig was inducted himself, as a builder in 2001, for his entrance workplace work with the Rangers and Penguins.
Hockey Corridor of Famer Bryan Trottier made his NHL debut for the New York Islanders on Oct. 8, 1975. He didn’t discover the scoresheet in a 1-1 draw with the Kansas Metropolis Scouts.
Talking of the Scouts, the franchise picked up its first win because the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 8, 1982. They scored a 3-2 win over their new rivals, the New York Rangers, on the Byrne Enviornment.
The Islanders and Capitals performed the primary regular-season extra time sport since 1942 on Oct. 8, 1983. After New York’s Bobby Nystrom tied the sport within the closing minute of regulation, Bob Bourne scored in extra time to offer the Islanders an 8-7 victory.
Greg Adams made a heck of a debut for the Canucks on Oct. 8, 1987, on the outdated Pacific Coliseum. He scored 4 targets and his first profession hat trick in an 8-2 blowout of the St. Louis Blues. Tony Tanti additionally had 4 assists within the route.
On Oct. 8, 1988, Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque picked up 4 assists for his 700th NHL level, as Boston beat the Whalers, 6-2, in Hartford.
On that very same evening, Quebec Nordiques’ rookie Joe Sakic scored the primary objective of his NHL profession in a 5-3 loss to the Devils. Precisely one yr later, Sakic scored his third profession hat trick and added an help, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient because the Nordiques misplaced to the Whalers 9-6.
The “Rat Craze” was born in Florida on this date in 1995. Earlier than the Florida Panthers’ house opener in opposition to the Flames, Scott Mellanby killed a rat within the dressing room. He proceeded to attain two targets within the group’s 4-3 win, resulting in his teammates calling his feat a “Rat Trick.”
Adam Oates scored his seventh profession hat trick, and first with the Capitals, on Oct. 8, 1997. Â He additionally added two assists for his 1,000th profession NHL level as Washington beat the Islanders 6-3. Oates grew to become the forty seventh participant in league historical past to attain 1,000 profession factors.
Associated – The Finest Undrafted Gamers in NHL Historical past
On Oct. 8, 2000, rookie Brad Richards recorded his first two profession NHL factors with a objective and an help because the Tampa Bay Lightning had been crushed by the visiting Canucks 5-3.
The Blackhawks opened their house schedule on Oct. 8, 2003, with a 3-0 win over the visiting Minnesota Wild. This marked the third consecutive house opener during which goaltender Jocelyn Thibault recorded a shutout.
Antti Niemi made 34 saves on Oct. 8, 2014, to steer the Sharks to a 4-0 win over the Kings, who started the evening elevating a Stanley Cup championship banner.
Niemi grew to become the primary goaltender since Turk Broda of the Maple Leafs, in 1941, to close out the defending Cup champs of their season-opening sport.
Completely satisfied Birthday to You
There have been 16 present and former NHL gamers born on this date through the years. Essentially the most notable of the group are John Blum (65), Fredrik Modin (50), Kevyn Adams (50), Raffi Torres (43), David Rundblad (34), Jordan Schmaltz (31), and Timo Meier (28).
*Initially constructed by Greg Boysen
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