National Hockey League History

Events 1 - 100 of 594

• 1909-12-02 National Hockey Association (NHA) is formed in Montreal; original members include Montreal Wanderers and Montreal Canadiens; becomes NHL after some NHA teams leave due to ownership disagreements, and create their own league
• 1909-12-04 Oldest still-operating NHL franchise is officially established as J. Ambrose O’Brien and Jack Laviolette create the “Club de Hockey Canadien,” known today as the Montreal Canadiens
• 1917-03-26 Stanley Cup Final, Seattle Ice Arena, Seattle, WA: Seattle Metropolitans (PCHA) beat Montreal Canadiens (NHL), 9-1 for a 3-1 series victory; first US team to win SC

• 1917-11-26 NHL forms with Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Maroons, Toronto Arenas, Ottawa Senators & Quebec Bulldogs; National Hockey Association disbands
• 1917-12-19 1st NHL game played on artificial ice in Toronto
• 1917-12-22 In the NHL's first official week of play, 3 players score hat tricks in the same game, for the same team; Corb Denneny, Reg Noble, & Harry Meeking each score 3 for the Toronto Arenas in an 11-4 win over the Ottawa Senators
• 1917-12-26 1st NHL defensemen to score a goal: Toronto Maple Leaf Harry Cameron
• 1918-01-02 Montreal Arena in Westmount, Quebec, the home rink of 4-time Stanley Cup winners the Montreal Wanderers burns down leading to the club disbanding

• 1918-03-02 Joe Malone goes scoreless in Montreal Canadiens' 5-3 season-ending loss to Toronto Arenas; finishes the first NHL season with 44 goals, a record that stands until 1944-45
• 1918-03-30 Stanley Cup, Mutual Street Arena, Toronto, ON: Toronto Arenas (NHL) beat Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA), 2-1 for a 3-2 series victory; first series contested by the new NHL
• 1918-10-18 NHL's Quebec Bulldogs sold to a Toronto businessman P. J. Quinn

• 1919-02-20 Foundation NHL club Toronto Arenas are permitted to cease operations due to financial difficulties; later become Toronto St. Patricks and then Maple Leafs
• 1919-04-01 Stanley Cup Final, Seattle Ice Arena, Seattle, WA: With Montreal Canadiens (NHL) & Seattle Metropolitans (PCHA) tied at 2-2-1, trophy not awarded due to worldwide flu epidemic
• 1920-01-10 Montreal's Newsy Lalonde scores 6 goals as Canadiens beat Toronto St. Patricks, 14-7 at Mount Royal Arena, Montreal; combined 21 goals an NHL record
• 1920-01-31 Quebec Bulldogs center Joe Malone sets NHL record with 7 goals in a 10-6 win against Toronto St. Patricks at the Quebec Arena
• 1920-03-03 Montreal Canadiens scores NHL record 16 goals beating Quebec Bulldogs
• 1920-03-10 NHL's Quebec Bulldog Joe Malone scores 6 goals vs Ottawa Senators
• 1920-04-01 Stanley Cup Final, Mutual Street Arena, Toronto, ON: Jack Darragh scores a hat-trick as Ottawa Senators (NHL) beat Seattle Metropolitans (PCHA), 6-1 for a 3-2 series win
• 1921-01-26 Toronto NHL center Corb Denneny scores 6 goals to lead St. Patricks to a 10-3 win over Hamilton Tigers in Toronto
• 1921-04-04 Stanley Cup Final, Denman Arena, Vancouver, BC: Ottawa Senators (NHL) beat Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA), 2-1 for a 3-2 series victory
• 1921-12-24 Ottawa’s Harry Broadbent scores in 10-0 Senators blowout of the Montreal Canadiens; first in 16-game NHL record goal-scoring streak; Charlie Simmer’s 13 game streak (1979) is considered modern-day record
• 1922-03-28 Stanley Cup Final, Mutual Street Arena, Toronto, ON: Toronto St Patricks (NHL) beat Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA), 5-1 for a 3-2 series win
• 1923-01-31 Montreal Canadiens beat Hamilton Tigers, 5-4 at the Mount Royal Arena, Montreal; first penalty-free game played in NHL history
• 1923-02-17 Ottawa left wing Cy Denneny passes Joe Malone as all-time NHL goal scoring leader; scores his 143rd career goal in Senators' 2-0 win over Montreal Canadiens
• 1923-03-31 Stanley Cup Final, Denman Arena, Vancouver, BC: Ottawa Senators (NHL) edge Edmonton Eskimos (WCHL), 1-0 for a 2-0 series sweep
• 1924-03-25 Stanley Cup Final, Ottawa Auditorium, Ottawa, ON: Montreal Canadiens (NHL) beat Calgary Tigers (WCHL), 3-0 for a 2-0 series sweep
• 1924-11-01 Boston Bruins officially join the NHL, becoming the first United States based team to enter the League; Montreal Maroons also join NHL, but only last until 1938
• 1924-11-29 NHL's Montreal Forum opens
• 1924-12-01 Boston Bruins beat fellow expansion team Montreal Maroons, 2-1 at Boston Arena; first NHL game to be played in the United States
• 1924-12-17 The Hamilton Tigers and Ottawa Senators battle out the first scoreless game in NHL history; Jake Forbes (Hamilton) and Alex Connell (Ottawa) each record shutouts
• 1924-12-22 Babe Dye of NHL's Toronto St Patricks scores 5 goals beat Bruins 10-2
• 1925-03-30 Stanley Cup Final, Patrick Arena, Victoria, BC: Victoria Cougars (WCHL) beat Montreal Canadiens (NHL), 6-1 for a 3-1 series win; last non-NHL team to win trophy
• 1925-04-15 NHL's NY Americans (formerly Hamilton Tigers) 1st game, lose 3-1
• 1925-11-28 NHL goalie Georges Vezina collapses and dies 4 months later of TB
• 1925-12-26 NY Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates set an NHL record by recording a combined 141 shots on goal in Americans' 3-1 win; Roy Worters makes incredible 70 saves for Pittsburgh and Jake Forbes has 67 for NY
• 1926-02-20 Montreal and Ottawa battle out just the second 0-0 tie in NHL history; dominant goalies are Clint Benedict (Maroons) and Alex Connell (Senators)
• 1926-04-01 Montreal Maroons' Clint Benedict becomes first NHL goalie to record 3 straight playoff shutouts, in a 3-0 win against the visiting Victoria Cougars in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Championship series
• 1926-09-25 NHL grants franchises to Chicago Black Hawks & Detroit Red Wings
• 1926-11-17 NHL's Chicago Black Hawks play their 1st game, beat Tor St Pats 4-1
• 1927-09-24 NHL's Toronto St Patricks become Maple Leafs
• 1928-04-14 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: In only their 2nd season in the NHL, New York Rangers beat Montreal Maroons, 2-1 for a 3-2 series win
• 1929-02-28 Chic Black Hawks lose record NHL 15th straight game at home

• 1929-12-03 Boston Bruins beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-1, the first win of an NHL record 14-game winning streak, and a 22-game home winning streak
• 1930-01-09 Boston Bruins wins then NHL record 14th straight game
• 1930-01-21 Boston Bruins become first team in NHL history to score 100 goals in a season, in a 5-1 win over Chicago at Boston Garden; Cooney Weiland scores Bruins' 100th goal in their 26th game of the year
• 1930-03-18 Boston Bruins win record 20th NHL home game
• 1930-12-01 NHL drops 20 minute slashing-about-the-head penalty
• 1931-01-03 Montreal Maroons centre Nels Stewart scores fastest 2 goals in NHL history with a pair 4 seconds apart in a 5-3 win over Boston Bruins at Montreal Arena
• 1932-01-19 Charlie Conacher becomes first Toronto player to score 5 goals in an NHL game as Maple Leafs rout the NY Americans, 11-3 at Maple Leaf Gardens

• 1933-12-23 Montreal Canadiens center Howie Morenz scores in 3-0 win v Detroit Red Wings; his NHL record 249th career goal
• 1934-01-23 New York Rangers' left wing Murray Murdoch plays his 400th straight NHL game in a 5-2 win over Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden, NYC; streak reaches 508 consecutive games
• 1934-02-14 NHL Ace Bailey Benefit Game: Toronto beats All-Stars 7-3 in Toronto
• 1934-11-10 First NHL penalty shot is awarded to Montreal Canadiens forward Armand Mondou; stopped by Toronto goaltender George Hainsworth in Maple Leafs' 2-1 win
• 1934-11-20 Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Busher Jackson becomes first NHL player to score 4 goals in a period in 5-2 win over St. Louis Eagles at St. Louis Arena
• 1934-12-01 Toronto Maple Leafs beat St. Louis Eagles, 4-3 to set an NHL record for the most wins to start the season with 8; Leafs do it again 59 years later; won 10 in a row to start 1993-94 season
• 1934-12-30 New York Rangers and Boston Bruins battle out a 0-0 tie; first of a 37-game overtime undefeated streak for the Bruins, the longest in NHL history; streak spans over 4 years and includes 27 ties
• 1935-04-26 Frank Boucher is given NHL's Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship permanently for winning it 7 of 11 years
• 1935-10-15 NHL's St Louis Eagles fold
• 1936-02-18 NHL record 32 points scored, NY Americans (28) & Mont Maroons (24)
• 1937-11-03 Howie Morenz Memorial Game, Montreal Forum: NHL All-Stars beat Montreal All Stars, 6-5
• 1937-12-21 Chicago Black Hawks left wing Paul Thompson becomes first player in NHL history to score against his brother, Boston Bruins goaltender Cecil Thompson; scores with just 9 seconds left in regulation as Bruins win 2-1
• 1938-03-19 NHL Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Americans combine to score 8 goals in just under 5 minutes; Toronto wins game 8-5
• 1938-08-26 Montreal Maroons dropped from NHL
• 1938-12-20 Boston Bruins rookie goalie Frankie Brimsek records his 3rd straight shutout with a 3-0 win over the New York Americans, making it his incredible sixth shutout in his first 8 NHL games
• 1939-03-16 NHL record 10 goals in 1 period-NY Rangers (7), NY Americans (3) & a record 26 points in the 3rd period
• 1939-10-29 NHL Babe Seibert Memorial Game: All-Stars beat Montreal 5-3
• 1940-01-28 Chicago's Les Cunningham scores 5 points in one period to set an NHL record that stands until 1978; records 2 goals & 3 assists in a 10:04 span during the 3d period of an 8-1 win over Montreal
• 1940-02-29 Detroit's Cecil "Tiny" Thompson becomes first goaltender in NHL history to play 40 (or more) games for 12 straight seasons; milestone comes in a 3-1 Red Wings loss at Toronto
• 1940-03-07 Montreal Canadiens lose record tying NHL 15th straight game at home
• 1940-12-01 Four sets of brothers play in one NHL game when Chicago Blackhawks beat NY Rangers, 4-1; Lynn & Muzz Patrick and Neil & Mac Colville (Rangers); Max & Doug Bentley and Bob & Bill Carse (Chicago)
• 1941-02-25 Boston Bruins set NHL record of 23-game unbeaten streak (15-0-8)
• 1941-03-01 Rangers' goalie Dave Kerr becomes the 5th goaltender in NHL history to record 200 career victories when New York wins, 3-1 over the Canadiens at Montreal
• 1941-03-04 Chicago Black Hawks goaltender Sam LoPresti faces NHL record 83 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Bruins in Boston
• 1942-09-28 NY Americans NHL team folded
• 1942-11-20 NHL abolishes regular season OT until WW II is over
• 1943-01-01 Chicago Black Hawks field first trio of brothers to play together in an NHL game; Max, Doug and Reggie Bentley appear for the Hawks in a 6-5 win over the New York Rangers at Chicago Stadium
• 1943-01-03 Max and Doug Bentley assist on brother Reg's only NHL goal in Chicago Blackhawks' 3-3 tie with the Rangers in NYC; only time in NHL history trio of family members score and assist on a scoring play
• 1943-01-14 Montreal Canadiens' left wing Alex Smart becomes the first NHL rookie to score a hat trick in his first NHL game, a 5-1 win at home over the Chicago Black Hawks
• 1943-01-23 Detroit Red Wings scores NHL record 8 goals in 1 period
• 1944-01-23 Detroit Red Wings score 15 goals against New York Rangers with an NHL record 37 points; also record consecutive goals & most lopsided game, 15-0
• 1944-11-11 New York Rangers beat Detroit Red Wings, 5-2 to end NHL record 25 game winless streak (0-21-4)

• 1945-03-18 Montreal Canadien Maurice "Rocket" Richard becomes the 1st NHLer to score 50 goals
• 1945-12-29 Montreal right wing Maurice Richard scores twice in Canadiens' 5-4 loss to Chicago Black Hawks to record his 100th NHL career goal; reaches mark in 145 games, then fastest in history; since broken by Mike Bossy, 100 goals in 129 games
• 1947-11-02 After just 6 games of the season, Chicago Blackhawks trade NHL scoring leader Max Bentley along with Cy Thomas to Toronto Maple Leafs for Gus Bodnar, Bud Poile, Gaye Stewart, Bob Goldham, and Ernie Dickens

• 1951-01-10 Maurice Richard scores his 16th career hat trick in the Montreal Canadiens' 3-0 win over NY Rangers to bring his career total to 274 goals; passes Howie Morenz as NHL's #2 all-time leading goal scorer

• 1952-02-17 Montreal Canadiens center Elmer Lach picks up his 354th career assist in a 3-2 loss at the NY Rangers to become NHL's all-time assists leader; passes Bill Cowley's mark
• 1952-03-23 NY Rangers blow 6-2 lead, lose 7-6 to Chicago Black Hawks; Bill Mosienko scores fastest hat trick in NHL history, 21 seconds
• 1954-01-09 Bert Olmstead of the Montreal Canadiens, ties NHL record of 8 points in game

• 1955-02-01 Hap Day becomes the first man to serve as Toronto Maple Leafs' captain, coach and general manager when he is appointed to run the famous Canadian NHL club
• 1955-03-16 NHL President Clarence Campbell suspends Montreal Canadiens superstar Maurice "Rocket" Richard for the remainder of the season after he viciously attacked an opponent; Riots ensued in Montreal
• 1955-12-29 NHL officials wear new vertically striped black-and-white sweaters for the first time in Montreal Canadiens' 5-2 win over Toronto Maple Leafs

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Birthdays 1 - 100 of 715

• 1870-01-02 Tex Rickard, American boxing promoter and entrepreneur (founder NHL New York Rangers; builder third incarnation of Madison Square Garden, NYC), born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 1929)
• 1877-11-17 Frank Calder, British born Canadian ice hockey executive (first NHL President), born in Bristol, England (d. 1943)
• 1883-12-30 Lester Patrick, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman (6 x Stanley Cups as player, coach and manager), born in Drummondville, Quebec (d. 1960)
• 1887-10-31 Newsy Lalonde, Canadian ice hockey (Montreal Canadiens) and lacrosse player, born in Cornwall, Ontario (d. 1970)

• 1892-03-01 Billy Coutu, Canadian ice hockey defenceman (Stanley Cup 1924; Montreal Canadiens; only player banned from NHL for life, attacked referee 1927), born in North Bay, Ontario (d. 1977)
• 1895-03-01 Duke Keats, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame centre (WCHL First-Team All-Star 1921-26; Edmonton Eskimos; NHL: Chicago Black Hawks), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 1972)

• 1897-05-13 Babe Dye, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame right wing (Stanley Cup 1922; NHL scoring champion 1922–23, 24-25; Toronto St. Patricks/Maple Leafs), born in Hamilton, Ontario (d. 1962)
• 1898-07-23 Red Dutton, Canadian ice hockey player (Calgary Tigers) and coach, born in Russell, Manitoba (d. 1987)
• 1901-10-07 Frank Boucher, Canadian Hockey HOF center (Ottawa Sens, Vancouver Maroons, NY Rangers), coach (Stanley Cup 1939–40 NY Rangers) and executive (GM NY Rangers), born in Ottawa, Ontario (d. 1977)
• 1904-01-14 (Charles) "Babe" Siebert, Canadian NHL ice hockey player, 1925-39, 3X All-Star (Montreal Maroons, Boston Bruins, and 2 other teams), born in Plattsville, Ontario (d. 1939)
• 1904-11-05 Cooney Weiland, Canadian ice hockey coach (Stanley Cup 1941 Boston Bruins; Harvard Uni) and NHL forward (Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings), born in Seaforth, Ontario (d. 1985)
• 1904-12-31 Chuck Gardiner, Canadian NHL goalie (Vezina winner), born in Edinburgh, United Kingdom (d. 1934)

• 1906-01-29 Joe Primeau, Canadian Hockey HOF center (Stanley Cup, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy 1931–32; Toronto Maple Leafs) and coach (Stanley Cup 1950-51 Toronto Maple Leafs), born in Lindsay, Ontario (d. 1989)
• 1907-05-01 Kate Smith, American singer ("God Bless America"; "When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain"), radio star, and NHL Philadelphia Flyers good luck charm, born in Greenville, Virginia (d. 1986)
• 1908-10-01 Doug Young, Canadian NHL defenceman (Stanley Cup 1936-37, Detroit Red Wings captain), born in Medicine Hat, Alberta (d. 1990)
• 1914-04-24 Phil Watson, Canadian NHL right wing (Stanley Cup 1940 [NYR], 1944 [Montreal Canadiens]) and coach (NY Rangers), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 1991)
• 1918-01-22 Elmer Lach, Canadian Hockey HOF center (Stanley Cup 1944, 46, 53 Montreal Canadiens; Hart Trophy 1945; Art Ross Trophy 1948; 5 x NHL All Star), born in Nokomis, Saskatchewan (d. 2015)
• 1918-02-22 Charles "Charlie O" Finley, American sports entrepreneur (MLB's Kansas City/Oakland A's: NHL's California Golden Seals), born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 1996)
• 1918-02-22 Sid Abel, Canadian NHL hockey player (1948-49 Hart Trophy), born in Melville, Saskatchewan (d. 2000)
• 1918-03-21 Joe Carveth, Canadian ice hockey right wing (NHL All Star 1950; Stanley Cup 1943, 50 Detroit Red Wings; Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens), born in Regina, Saskatchewan (d. 1985)
• 1921-03-15 Stafford Smythe, Canadian NHL executive (President Toronto Maple Leafs 1961–69, 1970-71), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 1971)

• 1921-11-02 Bill Mosienko, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame right wing (fastest hat trick in NHL history, 21 seconds 1952; 5-time All Star), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (d. 1994)
• 1923-04-24 Gus Bodnar, Canadian NHL center (NHL record 3 assists in 21 seconds 1952), born in Fort William, Ontario (d. 2005)
• 1924-02-10 Bud Poile, Canadian ice hockey player, born in Fort William, Ontario (d. 2005)
• 1924-02-19 Bruce Norris, American Hockey Hall of Fame executive (owner Detroit Red Wings 1952-82), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1986)

• 1925-12-15 Sam Pollock, Canadian NHL hockey general manager, 9X Stanley Cups (Montreal Canadiens, 1964-78), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 2007)
• 1926-09-13 Emile Francis, Canadian Hockey HOF coach (NY Rangers 1965-75; St. Louis Blues) and executive (GM: NY Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers), born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan (d. 2022) [1]
• 1927-01-01 Calum MacKay, Canadian NHL ice hockey player, 1947-55 (Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2001)
• 1927-01-25 Fernie Flaman, Canadian Hockey HOF defenceman (Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs) and coach (Northeastern University 1970-89), born in Dysart, Canada (d. 2012)
• 1927-10-06 Phil Maloney, Canadian ice hockey center (NHL: Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks) and coach (Vancouver Canucks), born in Ottawa, Ontario (d. 2020)
• 1928-02-18 Tom Johnson, Canadian NHL ice hockey defenseman, 1947-65 (5 x Stanley Cups - Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins), and executive (Bruins - 2 x Stanley Cups), born in Baldur, Manitoba (d. 2007)

• 1929-01-25 Brian O'Neill, Canadian sports executive (executive vice president NHL 1977-92), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 2023)
• 1929-10-03 Andy Hebenton, Canadian ice hockey right wing (record 630 consecutive games; NY Rangers, Boston Bruins), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (d. 2019)

• 1930-03-16 Don Perry, Canadian ice hockey coach (LA Kings 1982-84), born in Edmonton, Alberta (d. 2019)
• 1931-02-14 Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, Canadian Hockey HOF right wing (11 x NHL All-star; 6 x Stanley Cup - Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers) and coach (NY Rangers, Atlanta Flames, Montreal Canadiens), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 2001)
• 1931-03-04 Bob Johnson, American collegiate and NHL ice hockey coach (University of Wisconsin Badgers, 1966-82; US Olympic team, 1976; Calgary Flames, 1982-87; Pittsburgh Penguins, 1990-91), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota (d. 1991)

• 1932-07-15 Ed Litzenberger, Canadian NHL right wing (Stanley Cup 1961-4), born in Neudorf, Saskatchewan (d. 2010)
• 1932-08-28 Andy Bathgate, Canadian professional ice hockey player (New York Rangers, 1958 NHL MVP), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (d. 2016)
• 1932-09-14 Harry Sinden, Canadian NHL player and coach (Team Canada), born in Weston, Ontario, Canada
• 1932-11-27 Ken Schinkel, Canadian ice hockey right wing (NY Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins 636 NHL games) and coach (Pittsburgh Penguins 1972-77), born in Jansen, Saskatchewan (d. 2020)
• 1932-12-20 Neil Armstrong, Canadian ice hockey linesman (1,744 NHL games; Hockey Hall of Fame), born in Plympton, Ontario (d. 2020)
• 1933-04-10 Ron Murphy, Canadian NHL player (New York Rangers), born in Ontario, Canada (d. 2014)

• 1934-02-09 John A Ziegler Jr, American lawyer, and sports league executive (4th NHL president, 1977-92), born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan (d. 2018)
• 1934-12-11 Mike Nykoluk, Canadian ice hockey coach (NHL's 1st full-time assistant coach - Philadelphia Flyers, 1972-78), and (head coach - Toronto Maple Leafs, 1980-84), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2022)
• 1935-09-27 Al MacNeil, Canadian NHL defenceman, coach (Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup 1970-71), born in Sydney, Nova Scotia
• 1935-10-15 Willie O'Ree, Canadian Hockey HOF wing (first black player in NHL Boston Bruins), born in Fredericton, New Brunswick

• 1936-09-09 Bobby Baun, Canadian NHL hockey defenseman, 1956-73 (Toronto Maple Leafs, and 2 other teams), born in Lanigan, Saskatchewan (d. 2023)
• 1937-02-05 Larry Hillman, Canadian ice hockey defenceman (Stanley Cup 1955 Detroit RW, 1962, 63, 64, 1967 Toronto ML, 1969 Montreal Canadiens) and coach (Winnipeg Jets 1977-79), born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario (d. 2022)
• 1938-03-18 Bob Nevin, Canadian ice hockey right wing (Stanley Cup 1962, 63; Toronto Maple Leafs; NY Rangers; 1,128 career NHL games), born in Timmins, Ontario (d. 2020)
• 1938-09-12 Claude Ruel, Canadian NHL coach (Stanley Cup 1968-69, Montreal Canadiens), born in Sherbrooke, Quebec (d. 2015)
• 1938-10-12 Bob Miller, American NHL broadcaster, born in Chicago, Illinois
• 1938-12-17 Gilles Tremblay, Canadian NHL hockey left winger, 1961-69, 4X Stanley Cup champ (Montreal Canadiens), and French-language broadcaster, 1971-97, born in Montmorency, Quebec (d. 2014)

• 1939-06-23 Bill Mahoney, Canadian ice hockey coach (NHL: Minnesota North Stars 1983-85), born in Peterborough, Ontario (d. 2021)
• 1940-04-09 Jimmy Roberts, Canadian ice hockey defenceman (NHL All Star 1965, 69, 70; Stanley Cup 1965, 66, 73, 76, 77; Montreal Canadiens), born in Toronto (d. 2015)

• 1940-10-03 Jean Ratelle, Canadian Hockey HOF center (NY Rangers, Boston Bruins; named in "100 Greatest NHL Players"), born in Lac Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada
• 1940-10-04 Vic Hadfield, Canadian ice hockey left wing (1,004 NHL games; NY Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins), born in Oakville, Ontario
• 1940-12-01 Ron Finn, Canadian NHL linesman (2,373 regular season games, 2 x All-Star games, Rendez-vous '87 and 4 x Canada Cups), born in Toronto, Ontario
• 1940-12-02 Gerry Cheevers, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame goalie and broadcaster (longest undefeated streak-32 games 1972; Boston Bruins), born in St. Catharines, Ontario
• 1941-07-01 Rod Gilbert, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame right-wing, 1960-78 (NY Rangers; first NYR to have # retired), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 2021)
• 1941-11-18 Peter Pocklington, Canadian NHL team owner (Edmonton Oiler), born in Regina, Saskatchewan
• 1941-11-22 Jacques Laperrière, Canadian Hockey HOF defenceman (Stanley Cup x 6 Montreal Canadiens; Calder Trophy 1964; Norris Trophy 1966; NHL All-Star x 5), born in Béarn, Quebec

• 1942-03-02 Claude Larose, Canadian NHL right wing (Stanley Cup 1965, 66, 68, 71, 73; Montreal Canadiens), born in Hearst, Ontario
• 1942-07-01 Doug Carpenter, Canadian ice hockey coach (NJ Devils 1984-88, Toronto Maple Leafs 1989-91), born in Cornwall, Ontario
• 1943-03-07 Billy MacMillan, Canadian NHL hockey right wing, 1970-77 (Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlanta Flames, NY Islanders), and coach, 1980-84 (Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils), born in Charlottetown, Canada (d. 2023)
• 1943-04-23 Tony Esposito, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender (6 x NHL All Star; Vezina Trophy 1970, 72, 74; Chicago Blackhawks), born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (d. 2021)
• 1943-07-06 Joe Watson, Canadian NHL hockey defenseman, 1966-79 (2 x Stanley Cup Champion - Philadelphia Flyers, and 2 other teams), and memoirist (Thundermouth), born in Smithers, British Columbia
• 1943-09-02 Glenn Sather, NHL coach (Edmonton Oiler)
• 1943-09-21 Jerry Bruckheimer, American film and television producer (Flashdance; Top Gun; Pirates of the Caribbean; CSI0 and NHL team owner (Seattle Kraken), born in Detroit, Michigan
• 1943-11-22 Yvan Cournoyer, Canadian NHL ice hockey winger, 1963-79 (Montreal Canadiens, 10 Stanley Cups), born in Drummondville, Quebec
• 1945-03-27 Briton Selby, Canadian NHL player, born in Kingston, Ontario
• 1945-09-08 Rogie Vachon, Canadian NHL goalie (Canadiens, Kings, Vezina-1968), born in Quebec
• 1946-05-20 Craig Patrick, American NHL center and executive (USA Olympic gold 1980; GM Pittsburgh Penguins, Stanley Cup 1991-92, 2009), born in Detroit, Michigan
• 1946-10-10 Pete Mahvolich, Canadian ice hockey center (Stanley Cup 1971, 73, 76, 77 Montreal Canadiens; Canada Cup 1976), born in Timmins, Ontario

• 1948-07-06 Brad Park, Canadian NHL defenseman (NY Rangers, Boston Bruins), born in Toronto, Ontario
• 1948-08-03 Pierre Lacroix, Canadian NHL executive (Quebec Nordiques; Stanley Cup 1996, 2001 Colorado Avalanche), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 2020)
• 1948-12-31 René Robert, Canadian ice hockey winger (NHL All Star 1972-73, 74-75; Buffalo Sabres 1st 100 point player 1974-75), born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec (d. 2021)
• 1949-03-25 Jean Potvin, Canadian NHL player, 1970-81 (New York Islanders, and three other teams), born in Ottawa, Ontario
• 1949-03-27 Russ Conway, American sports journalist (Eagleson NHL scandal), born in Haverhill, Massachusetts (d. 2019)
• 1949-08-13 Bobby Clarke, Canadian NHL player and coach (Philadelphia Flyer), born in Flin Flon, Manitoba
• 1949-10-21 Michel Brière, Canadian NHL ice hockey player, 1969-70 (Pittsburgh Penquins), born in Malartic, Quebec (d. 1971)
• 1949-11-18 Ted Sator, NHL coach (NY Rangers, Buffalo Sabres), born in Utica, New York
• 1950-04-17 Bruce McNall, American former NHL team owner, born in Arcadia, California

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• 1988-07-17 NHL ice hockey star player Wayne Gretzky (27) weds actress Janet Jones (27) at St. Joseph's Basilica in Edmonton, Canada

• 2004-09-03 "Baywatch" actress Gena Lee Nolin (32) weds NHL hockey player Cale Hulse (30) at the Royal Palms Resort in Phoenix, Arizona
• 2007-08-11 U.S. Women's Olympic ice hockey team member Krissy Wendell (25) weds NHL player John Pohl (28) at the Rose Hill Alliance Church in West Roseville, Minnesota
• 2007-08-25 American NHL Dallas Stars hockey player Mike Modano (37) weds "Dancing with the Stars" season 3 alumna Willa Ford (26) in Athens, Texas; divorce in 2012

• 1929-01-06 Tex Rickard, American boxing promoter and entrepreneur (founder NHL New York Rangers; builder third incarnation of Madison Square Garden, NYC), dies of complications from an appendectomy at 59
• 1939-08-25 (Charles) "Babe" Siebert, Canadian NHL ice hockey player, 1925-39, 3X All-Star (Montreal Maroons, Boston Bruins, and 2 other teams), drowns in Lake Huron at 35
• 1943-02-04 Frank Calder, British-Canadian 1st NHL president, dies at 65

• 1960-06-01 Lester Patrick, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman (6 x Stanley Cups as player, coach and manager), dies from a heart attack at 76
• 1962-01-03 Babe Dye, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame right wing (Stanley Cup 1922; NHL scoring champion 1922–23, 24-25; Toronto St. Patricks/Maple Leafs), dies at 64
• 1964-08-05 Art Ross, Canadian-American hockey player (Montreal Wanderers), coach (Boston Bruins, 1924-45), and namesake of NHL's scoring champion trophy, dies at 79
• 1968-01-15 Bill Masterton, Canadian American NHL player, first to be fatally injured during a game (Jan 13), dies at 29
• 1968-05-01 Jack Adams, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame center (Vancouver Millionaires, Toronto St. Patricks; Ottawa Senators) and coach / general manager (Detroit Red Wings), dies at 72 [1]

• 1971-04-13 Michel Brière, Canadian NHL ice hockey player, 1969-70 (Pittsburgh Penquins), dies from injuries sustained in a car crash, after 11 months in a coma, at 21
• 1971-10-13 Stafford Smythe, Canadian NHL executive (President Toronto Maple Leafs 1961–69, 1970-71), dies from an acute stomach ulcer at 50
• 1977-02-25 Billy Coutu, Canadian ice hockey defenceman (Stanley Cup 1924; Montreal Canadiens; only player banned from NHL for life, attacked referee 1927), dies at 84
• 1980-11-18 Conn Smythe, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame team owner (Toronto Maple Leafs 1927-61; Stanley Cup x 8), dies of heart failure at 85
• 1983-05-25 Black Jack Stewart, Canadian NHL hockey player (b. 1917)
• 1983-12-17 Erik Christensen, NHL player

• 1984-07-25 Bryan Hextall, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame right wing (NY Rangers; 3-time 1st team NHL All Star), dies from a heart attack at 70
• 1985-07-03 Cooney Weiland, Canadian ice hockey coach (Stanley Cup 1941 Boston Bruins; Harvard Uni) and NHL forward (Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings), dies at 80
• 1985-11-11 Pelle Lindbergh, Swedish NHL goaltender, 1981-86, Vezina Award winner (Philadelphia Flyers), dies after drunk driving collision between his Porsche and wall at 26
• 1986-06-17 Kate Smith, American singer ("God Bless America"; "When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain"), radio star, and NHL Philadelphia Flyers good luck charm, dies of respiratory arrest at 78
• 1986-11-10 Francis "King" Clancy, Canadian NHL ice hockey defenseman, 1921-36, 3X Stanley Cup (Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs), referee (1938-49), coach, 1953-56 (Toronto), executive, and trophy namesake, dies of septic shock at 84
• 1989-02-10 Dan Kelly, Canadian-born NHL sportscaster ("He shoots, he scores!"), dies of cancer at 52,
• 1989-05-14 Joe Primeau, Canadian Hockey HOF center (Stanley Cup, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy 1931–32; Toronto Maple Leafs) and coach (Stanley Cup 1950-51 Toronto Maple Leafs), dies at 83
• 1989-06-03 John McCauley, American NHL official, dies at 44
• 1990-05-15 Doug Young, Canadian NHL defenceman (Stanley Cup 1936-37, Detroit Red Wings captain), dies at 81
• 1991-02-01 Phil Watson, Canadian NHL right wing (Stanley Cup 1940 [NYR], 1944 [Montreal Canadiens]) and coach (NY Rangers), dies at 76
• 1991-11-26 Bob Johnson, collegiate and NHL ice hockey coach (University of Wisconsin Badgers, 1966-82; US Olympic team, 1976; Calgary Flames, 1982-87; Pittsburgh Penguins, 1990-91), dies of brain cancer at 60
• 1994-07-09 Bill Mosienko, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame right wing (fastest hat trick in NHL history, 21 seconds 1952; 5-time All Star), dies at 72
• 1995-08-02 Brian Smith, Canadian sportscaster and NHL player, dies at 54 after being shot the previous day
• 1996-02-19 Charles "Charlie O" Finley, American sports entrepreneur (MLB's Kansas City/Oakland A's: NHL's California Golden Seals), dies at 77
• 1996-08-13 Tom Mees, American ESPN sports anchor (NHL), drowns at 46
• 1997-08-16 Yanick Dupre, Canadian NHL left wing, dies of Leukemia at 24

• 2001-08-21 Calum MacKay, Canadian NHL ice hockey player, 1947-55 (Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens), dies at 74
• 2005-07-01 Gus Bodnar, Canadian NHL center (NHL record 3 assists in 21 seconds 1952), dies at 82
• 2006-03-11 Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, Canadian Hockey HOF right wing (11 x NHL All-star; 6 x Stanley Cup - Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers) and coach (NY Rangers, Atlanta Flames, Montreal Canadiens), dies at 75
• 2007-08-15 Sam Pollock, Canadian NHL hockey general manager, 9X Stanley Cups (Montreal Canadiens, 1964-78), dies at 81
• 2007-11-21 Tom Johnson, Canadian NHL ice hockey defenseman, 1947-65 (5 x Stanley Cups - Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins), and executive (Bruins - 2 x Stanley Cups), dies of heart failure at 79
• 2010-07-05 Bob Probert, Canadian NHL right wing, 1985-2002 (Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings), dies of a heart attack while boating at 45
• 2010-11-01 Ed Litzenberger, Canadian NHL right wing (Stanley Cup 1961-4), dies at 78
• 2011-09-07 Brad McCrimmon, Canadian ice hockey defenseman (Stanley Cup 1989 Calgary Flames; NHL All-Star 1988; Plus-Minus Award +48 1989), dies as head coach KHL Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in plane crash at 52
• 2011-09-07 Ruslan Salei, Belarusian ice hockey defenceman (917 NHL games; 48 internationals), dies in Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash at 36
• 2012-06-22 Fernie Flaman, Canadian Hockey HOF defenceman (Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs) and coach (Northeastern University 1970-89), dies at 85
• 2014-03-06 Ron Murphy, Canadian NHL player, dies at 80
• 2014-11-26 Gilles Tremblay, Canadian NHL hockey left winger, 1961-69, 4X Stanley Cup champ (Montreal Canadiens), and French-language broadcaster, 1971-97, dies of heart failure at 75

• 2015-02-09 Claude Ruel, Canadian NHL coach (Stanley Cup 1968-69, Montreal Canadiens), dies at 76
• 2015-04-04 Elmer Lach, Canadian Hockey HOF center (Stanley Cup 1944, 46, 53 Montreal Canadiens; Hart Trophy 1945; Art Ross Trophy 1948; 5 x NHL All Star), dies of a stroke at 97
• 2015-10-23 Jimmy Roberts, Canadian ice hockey defenceman (NHL All Star 1965, 69, 70; Stanley Cup 1965, 66, 73, 76, 77; Montreal Canadiens), dies at 75

• 2017-12-10 Zarley Zalapski, Canadian NHL defenseman, 1987-2000 (Pittsburgh Penguins; Calgary Flames, and 3 other teams), dies of a viral infection at 49

• 2018-10-25 John A Ziegler Jr, American lawyer, and sports league executive (4th NHL president, 1977-92), dies at 84
• 2019-01-29 Andy Hebenton, Canadian ice hockey right wing (record 630 consecutive games; NY Rangers, Boston Bruins), dies at 89

• 2019-04-15 Don Perry, Canadian NHL coach (LA Kings 1982-84), dies at 89
• 2019-07-07 Greg Johnson, Canadian NHL hockey center, 1994-2006 (Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators (captain 2002-06), and 2 other teams), dies of suspected suicide at 48
• 2019-08-20 Russ Conway, American sports journalist (Eagleson NHL scandal), dies of heart disease at 70
• 2020-02-21 Phil Maloney, Canadian ice hockey center (NHL: Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks) and coach (Vancouver Canucks), dies at 92
• 2020-08-18 Dale Hawerchuk, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame center (#1 pick NHL Draft 1981; Calder Trophy 1982; Canada Cup 1987, 91; Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres), dies from stomach cancer at 57
• 2020-09-16 Jack Kelley, American collegiate, WHA, and NHL ice hockey coach, and executive (Colby College coach, 1955-62; Boston University coach, 1962-72; New England Whalers, coach and general manager, 1972-81; Pittsburgh Penquins president, 1993-2001), dies at 93
• 2020-09-21 Bob Nevin, Canadian ice hockey right wing (Stanley Cup 1962, 63; Toronto Maple Leafs; NY Rangers; 1,128 career NHL games), dies at 82
• 2020-11-20 Ken Schinkel, Canadian ice hockey right wing (NY Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins 636 NHL games) and coach (Pittsburgh Penguins 1972-77), dies at 87
• 2020-12-06 Neil Armstrong, Canadian ice hockey linesman (1,744 NHL games; Hockey Hall of Fame), dies at 87
• 2020-12-13 Pierre Lacroix, Canadian NHL executive (Quebec Nordiques; Stanley Cup 1996, 2001 Colorado Avalanche), dies from COVID-19 complications at 72
• 2021-03-04 Mark Pavelich, American ice hockey forward (Olympic gold 1980 'Miracle on Ice'; NY Rangers, Minnesota North Stars, San Jose Sharks), dies at 63
• 2021-12-16 Bill Mahoney, Canadian ice hockey coach (NHL: Minnesota North Stars 1983-85), dies at 82
• 2022-01-31 Mike Nykoluk, Canadian ice hockey coach (NHL's 1st full-time assistant coach - Philadelphia Flyers, 1972-78), and (head coach - Toronto Maple Leafs, 1980-84), dies at 87

• 2022-06-03 Larry Hillman, Canadian ice hockey defenceman (Stanley Cup 1955 Detroit RW, 1962, 63, 64, 1967 Toronto ML, 1969 Montreal Canadiens) and coach (Winnipeg Jets 1977-79), dies at 85
• 2022-07-06 Bryan Marchment, Canadian NHL defenseman, 1989-2006 (Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, and 7 other teams), dies at 53
• 2023-05-04 Petr Klíma, Czech NHL right wing, 1985-99 (Detroit Red Wings; Edmonton Oilers, and 3 other teams), dies at 58
• 2023-07-15 Billy MacMillan, Canadian NHL hockey right wing, 1970-77 (Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlanta Flames, NY Islanders), and coach, 1980-84 (Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils). dies at 80
• 2023-07-21 Brian O'Neill, Canadian sports executive (executive vice president NHL 1977-92), dies at 94
• 2023-08-14 Bobby Baun, Canadian NHL hockey defenseman, 1956-73 (Toronto Maple Leafs, and 2 other teams), dies at 86
• 2023-09-18 Henty Boucha, Ojibwa-American NHL and WHA ice hockey forward, 1972-77 (Olympic silver, 1972; Detroit Red Wings and 3 other teams). dies at 72

• Bob Cleary
• Dino Ciccarelli
• Gilbert Perreault
• Jacques Plante
• Joe Sakic
• Wayne Gretzky