National Hockey League History (Part 2)

Events in Sport

Events 101 - 200 of 594

Howe's Christmas Hat Trick

1956-12-25 Detroit's future Hockey Hall of Fame right wing Gordie Howe picks up a Xmas hat-trick & 3 assists in Red Wings' 8-1 win over NY Rangers; most points he scores in a single game in entire 26-year NHL career

Election of Interest

1957-02-11 NHL Players Association forms (NYC), Red Wings' Ted Lindsay elected president

  • 1957-03-16 Toronto Maple Leafs tie NHL record 37 points beating NY Rangers 14-1

Sports History

1957-10-19 Montreal Canadien Maurice "Rocket" Richard, becomes the 1st NHLer to score 500 goals

  • 1957-12-17 The largest trade in NHL history at the time in terms of quantity; Chicago Black Hawks move Nick Mickoski, Jack McIntyre, Bob Bailey & Hec Lalonde to Detroit Red Wings for Earl Reibel, Billy Dea, Bill Dineen & Lorne Ferguson
  • 1958-01-18 Willie O’Ree is the 1st African-American to appear in the NHL, making his debut for the Boston Bruins in a 3-0 victory in Montreal
  • 1958-11-28 George "Punch" Imlach becomes coach of NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs
  • 1958-12-17 Ted Lindsay becomes highest scoring left wing in NHL history, passing Aurel Joliat who retired with 270; scores twice and adds an assist In Chicago Black Hawks' 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins at Chicago Stadium

Sports History

1959-11-01 Montreal Canadiens’ goal tender Jacques Plante becomes first NHL net-minder to wear a fibreglass protective face mask

  • 1960-01-16 Detroit right wing Gordie Howe scores a goal and assist in his 888th career game, a 3-1 win at home over Chicago; becomes NHL's all-time leading scorer, with 947 points passing Montreal's Maurice Richard
  • 1960-09-15 Maurice Richard announces his retirement. He finishes his career with 544 goals, an NHL record at the time.
  • 1960-11-27 Gordie Howe becomes 1st NHLer to score 1,000 points
  • 1961-03-11 Then NHL record 40 penalties, Black Hawks & Maple Leafs (20 each)
  • 1961-11-27 Gordie Howe becomes 1st to play in 1,000 NHL games
  • 1962-03-14 Red Wings' forward Gordie Howe becomes second player in NHL history to score 500 career goals in Detroit's 3-2 loss to NY Rangers
  • 1962-03-27 NHL Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacques Plante ties record winning 6th NHL Vezina trophy

Glenn Hall

1962-11-07 Glenn Hall set NHL record of 503 consecutive games as goalie

  • 1963-10-27 Detroit Red Wings right wing Gordie Howe scores 544th career goal in 6-4 loss to Montreal Canadiens, tying Maurice Richard's all-time NHL regular season record
  • 1963-11-10 Detroit right wing Gordie Howe surpasses Maurice Richard as leading NHL all-time goal scorer with 545th career goal in a 3-0 Red Wings victory over Montreal Canadiens in Detroit
  • 1963-12-04 Boston Bruins' right wing Andy Hebenton sets a new NHL record by playing in his 581st consecutive game in 2-2 tie with Chicago Black Hawks; reaches 630 straight games

Sports History

1964-05-17 First Tim Horton's coffee and donut shop opens in Hamilton, Ontario by NHL player Tim Horton

Sports History

1966-03-02 Chicago Black Hawks right wing Bobby Hull becomes the NHL's first 2-time 50-goal scorer when he strikes in a 5-4 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Stadium

Sports History

1966-03-02 Jean Béliveau scores his 380th career NHL goal when Montreal ties Toronto, 3-3; moves him ahead of Ted Lindsay into the #3 spot all time, behind Gordie Howe and Maurice Richard

Contract of Interest

1966-09-03 Future Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr signs his first NHL contract with the Boston Bruins; 2 year deal paying a then record $70,000 plus signing bonus

  • 1966-10-19 Bobby Orr makes his NHL regular-season debut for the Boston Bruins against the Detroit Red Wings
  • 1967-12-08 NHL California Seals change name to Oakland Seals
  • 1968-01-13 Minnesota North Stars NHL player Bill Masterson, suffers head injuries during a game and dies two days later, becoming the 1st player to die as result of a game
  • 1968-01-15 Minnesota North Stars forward Bill Masterton dies 2 days after suffering a head injury in a game against the Oakland Seals; the only death as a result of a game injury in NHL history
  • 1968-02-24 Gary Unger begins NHL consecutive game record of 914 games
  • 1968-03-01 High winds blow-off the Philadelphia Spectrum's roof, forcing the Flyers to play their final month of the NHL season on the road, with home games moved to Toronto, NYC and Quebec City
  • 1968-03-03 Jean Béliveau (Montreal) becomes 2nd NHLer to score 1,000 pts

Esposito Scores on Brother's Debut

1968-12-05 Future Hockey Hall of Fame center Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins scores 2 goals in his goaltender brother Tony's (also HOF) NHL debut for the Montreal Canadiens; 2-2 tie

  • 1968-12-26 Bruin Ted Green sets NHL penalty record of 3 minors, 2 majors & 2 game misconducts in a game against NY Rangers in NY's Madison Square Garden
  • 1969-01-01 Jack Kent Cooke, owner of NHL's LA Kings, fines each player $100 for "NOT" arguing with the referee
  • 1969-02-16 Detroit Red Wings' captain Alex Delvecchio picks up an assist in a 6-2 defeat at Minnesota to become the 3rd player in NHL history to score 1,000 career points
  • 1969-03-01 Phil Esposito has a goal and assist in Boston Bruins' 8-5 win over NY Rangers to give him 99 points for the season, breaking the NHL record for most points in a season (97) held by Stan Mikita
  • 1969-03-02 Boston center Phil Esposito becomes first player in NHL history to record 100 points in a season when he scores 2 3rd-period goals in the Bruins' 4-0 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins
  • 1969-03-16 Boston Bruins scores a NHL record 8 goals in 1 period
  • 1969-04-02 Toronto center Forbes Kennedy sets a Stanley Cup playoff record for most penalties in one game with 8 as the Maple Leafs crash 10-0 to the Bruins at Boston; Boston’s first NHL playoff victory in 10 years
  • 1969-11-02 41-year old Detroit right wing Gordie Howe picks up his 19th and final NHL hat trick as the Red Wings beat Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3; Howe is the oldest player to score an NHL hat-trick
  • 1969-12-02 Two years after doubling its size from six to 12, the NHL announces 2 new teams would be joining the League the following year; Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks
  • 1970-01-16 Inaugural Buffalo Sabres owners Seymour H. Knox III and Northrup Knox hire former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager and head coach Punch Imlach in the same capacities for their new NHL franchise

Sawchuk's Final Victory

1970-02-01 Rangers' goalie Terry Sawchuk records his 447th (and final) victory, and 103rd career shutout when New York beats the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-0; both are NHL records at the time

  • 1970-03-01 Boston's Bobby Orr becomes the first defenseman in NHL history to score 25 goals in a season during a 3-1 Bruins win over the visiting St. Louis Blues
  • 1970-03-01 Minnesota coach Charlie Burns becomes the final player/coach in NHL history, when he plays in the North Stars' 8-0 win over Toronto Maple Leafs; remains in role for final month of the season
  • 1970-03-04 NY Rangers set then NHL record of 126 games without being shut-out
  • 1970-12-03 Claude Ruel resigns as coach of the NHL Montreal Canadiens; replacement Al MacNeil leads Habs to a Stanley Cup championship 5 months later

Canadiens Obtain Mahovlich

1971-01-13 In a high profile NHL trade, the Montreal Canadiens obtain future Hockey Hall of Fame left wing Frank Mahovlich from Detroit, in exchange for Bill Collins, Guy Charron and Mickey Redmond

  • 1971-01-19 NHL Writers' Association renamed Professional Hockey Writers' Association
  • 1971-02-11 Montreal Canadien John Believau scores his 500th NHL goal
  • 1971-02-20 "Mr. Hockey," Gordie Howe scores a goal and adds 3 assists, including his 1,800th career NHL point, in 6-5 Red Wings' win over Buffalo in Detroit; Howe's 1,670th game
  • 1971-02-20 Bruin Phil Esposito is NHL's quickest to score 50 goals in a season
  • 1971-02-23 Boston Bruins begin 13 NHL game winning streak
  • 1971-03-20 Boston Bruins win 13th straight NHL game
  • 1971-08-26 Bobby Orr signs a five-year contract with the Boston Bruins worth one million dollars, the first million dollar contract in NHL history
  • 1971-09-09 NHL great Gordie Howe retires (for the first time), after 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings
  • 1971-11-21 NY Rangers scores a NHL record 8 goals in 1 period
  • 1971-12-30 Long Island NHL franchise purchased (NY Islanders)
  • 1972-02-15 Newly-formed NHL franchise New York Islanders hire Bill Torrey as their first General Manager
  • 1972-02-22 Red Wings rookie Henry Boucha scores in his first NHL Game in 5-4 win over Toronto Maple Leafs at Olympias Arena in Detroit, Michigan
  • 1972-03-25 Chicago Black Hawks Bobby Hull becomes the 2nd NHLer to score 600 goals, with a goal in Boston assisted by his brother Dennis
  • 1972-09-27 1st NHL exhibition game at Nassau Coliseum; NY Rangers beat NY Islanders, 6-4
  • 1972-10-07 First NY Islanders NHL game at Nassau Coliseum; Calgary Flames win, 3-2
  • 1972-11-22 In Pittsburgh, Penguins set NHL record for scoring fastest 5 goals (2:07) in 10-4 win over St. Louis Blues
  • 1973-01-28 NHL Detroit Red Wings Henry Boucha scores 6 seconds into game in 4-2 win over Canadiens at The Forum in Montreal, Quebec
  • 1973-02-21 Chicago Black Hawks, record 262nd NHL game without being shut-out
  • 1973-03-21 Montreal Canadiens' left wing Frank Mahovlich becomes 5th NHL player to score 500 goals
  • 1973-03-31 Boston Bruins defenceman Bobby Orr scores his 3rd career hat trick in a 7-3 loss at Toronto to become the first player in NHL history to score 100 points for 4 straight seasons
  • 1973-03-31 Philadelphia Flyers score an NHL record tying 8 goals from an astounding 60 shots in the 2nd period of a 10-2 win over New York Islanders
  • 1973-04-01 Despite a final round, 5-3 loss to Montreal, Boston Bruins center Phil Esposito wins his third consecutive NHL scoring title with 130 points from 55 goals and 75 assists in the 78-game season

Sports History

1973-11-04 Chicago centre Stan Mikita registers his 1,000 NHL career point in the Black Hawks 5-3 loss to the Minnesota North Stars at the Met Centre, Bloomington, Minnesota

Richard Scores 1,000

1973-12-20 Montreal Canadien Henri Richard scores his 1,000th NHL point

  • 1974-10-09 Washington Capitals 1st NHL game, losing 6-3 to NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden; start of a 37 game road losing streak for Washington
  • 1974-10-15 Washington Capitals 1st NHL tie, playing LA Kings to 1-1 tie
  • 1974-10-17 Washington Capitals 1st NHL home victory, beating Chicago 4-3
  • 1974-10-19 NHL Detroit Red Wing Mickey Redmond scores 1st hat trick against Washington Capitals
  • 1974-10-21 NHL New York Islanders and goaltender Billy Smith's 1st shut-out win, 5-0 vs Washington Capitals
  • 1974-12-19 Dave Kryskow scores Washington Capitals 1st NHL shorthanded goal
  • 1974-12-22 Phil Esposito, Boston, became 6th NHLer to score 500 goals
  • 1974-12-26 Washington Capitals 1st NHL sellout
  • 1975-01-04 NHL Boston Bruins Dave Forbes becomes 1st athlete indicted for criminal assault for excessive violence during play; stick butt-end the face of Minnesota North Star Henry Boucha caused permanent vision damage; court case ends in hung jury, and a civil settlement is eventually reached
  • 1975-02-16 Washington Capitals 1st NHL shutout, beating KC Scouts 3-0
  • 1975-03-26 Washington Capitals play record NHL 37th road game without a win & NHL record of 17 straight loses
  • 1975-03-28 NHL Washington Capitals win 1st game on road after 37 straight road loses
  • 1975-10-30 John Bucyk, Boston, became 7th NHLer to score 500 goals
  • 1975-12-17 NHL NY Islanders shut-out NY Rangers, for 1st time in 3-0 win with Billy Smith in goal
  • 1975-12-21 Buffalo Sabres set NHL record of 40 points beating Caps 14-2 scoring 5 goals vs Washington Caps in 4:57
  • 1975-12-28 In the aftermath of the Cold War, the New York Rangers become first team in NHL history to face a touring Soviet hockey squad; Soviet Army beats the Rangers, 7-3 at Madison Square Garden

Sittler's 10 Points

1976-02-07 Toronto center Darryl Sittler sets NHL record with 10 points in a Maple Leafs' 11-4 win over Boston at Maple Leaf Gardens; 6 goals, 4 assists

  • 1976-04-03 Philadelphia Flyers win record tying 20th straight NHL home game
  • 1977-02-02 Toronto Maple Leafs Ian Turnbull scores 5 goals, NHL record for a defenseman
  • 1977-02-19 Right wing Rod Gilbert scores a goal and adds an assist in a 5-2 defeat at the NY Islanders to become first player in NY Rangers history (11th in NHL) to score 1,000 career points
  • 1977-04-02 Montreal Canadiens rout the Washington Capitals, 11-0 at the Montreal Forum to set an NHL record of 34 straight home games without a loss
  • 1977-04-03 Boston Bruin Jean Ratelle scores his 1,000th NHL point
  • 1977-08-09 NHL refuses merger of 6 WHA clubs
  • 1977-08-25 Canadian NHL player Tim Horton posthumously inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame
  • 1977-12-17 Rookie defenseman Barry Beck scores first career hat trick and adds an assist in Colorado Rockies' 5-1 win v Minnesota North Stars; sets NHL record for rookie defensemen with a goal in his 6th straight game

Bossy's Hat Trick

1978-02-04 NHL New York Islanders rookie Mike Bossy scores 1st career hat trick in 6-1 win over Washington Capitols at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York

  • 1978-04-01 New York Islanders right wing Mike Bossy becomes first NHL rookie to score 50 goals in a season after scoring #50 and #51 in the closing moments in a 3-2 win over Washington

Birthdays in Sport

Birthdays 101 - 200 of 715

Darryl Sittler (73 years old)

1950-09-18 Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame center (NHL record for most points in a game, 10), born in St. Jacobs, Ontario

Gilbert Perreault (73 years old)

1950-11-13 Canadian Hockey HOF center (8 x NHL All Star; 512 goals Buffalo Sabres; Calder Memorial Trophy 1971; Lady Byng Memorial Trophy 1973), born in Victoriaville, Quebec

  • 1950-12-12 Billy Smith, Canadian Hockey HOF goaltender (Vezina Trophy 1982; Conn Smythe Trophy 1983; Stanley Cup 1980, 81, 82, 83; NY Islanders), born in Perth, Ontario
  • 1951-03-27 Bobby Lalonde, NHLer (Boston Bruins), born in Montreal
  • 1951-06-01 Henty Boucha, Ojibwa-American NHL and WHA ice hockey forward, 1972-77 (Olympic silver, 1972; Detroit Red Wings and 3 other teams), born in Warroad, Minnesota (d. 2023)
  • 1951-06-02 Larry Robinson, Canadian Hockey HOF defenceman (Stanley Cup x 6 Montreal Canadiens; James Norris Memorial Trophy 1977, 80; Conn Smythe Trophy 1978) and coach (Stanley Cup 2000 NJ Devils; LA Kings), born in Winchester, Ontario

Marcel Dionne (72 years old)

1951-08-03 Canadian NHL center (LA Kings, NY Rangers), born in Drummondville, Quebec

Guy Lafleur (1951-2022)

1951-09-20 Canadian Hockey HOF right wing (5 x Stanley Cup, 2 x NHL MVP, NHL Playoff MVP Montreal Canadiens; NY Rangers, Quebec Nordiques), born in Thurso, Quebec [1]

  • 1951-12-17 Ken Hitchcock, Canadian NHL hockey coach, 1995-2019 (Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues), born in Edmonton, Alberta
  • 1952-07-01 Steve Shutt, Canadian NHL left wing (5-time Stanley Cup winner), born in Willowdale, Canada
  • 1952-08-19 Jimmy Watson, Canadian NHL hockey defenseman, 1973-82 (2 x Stanley Cup Champion - Philadelphia Flyers, and 2 other teams), and youth hockey coach, born in Smithers, British Columbia
  • 1952-10-01 Jacques Martin, Canadian NHL coach, executive (Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens), born in Rockland, Ontario
  • 1952-10-10 Bobby Nystrom, Swedish NHL right wing (Stanley Cup 1979-83; jersey #23 retired 1995), born in Stockholm, Sweden
  • 1952-10-20 Dave McLelland, Canadian NHL goaltender (Vancouver Canucks), born in Penticton, British Columbia
  • 1953-02-09 André Sevard, Canadian NHL player, born in Témiscaming, Quebec
  • 1953-02-16 André St. Laurent, Canadian NHL hockey forward, 1973-90 (New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings, and 2 other teams), born in Rouyn, Quebec

Denis Potvin (70 years old)

1953-10-29 Canadian born NHL defenseman (NY Islanders - Norris trophy), born in Vanier, Ontario

  • 1953-11-02 Rick Meagher, Canadian ice hockey center (NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy 1990; St. Louis Blues captain), born in Belleville, Ontario
  • 1953-12-13 Bob Gainey, Canadian NHL player and hockey bureaucrat, born in Peterborough, Canada
  • 1954-03-20 Charlie Simmer, Ontario, NHL left winger (LA Kings)
  • 1954-07-13 Rick Chartraw, American NHL ice hockey defenseman, 1974-84 (Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings and 2 other teams), born in Caracas, Venezuela
  • 1954-08-10 Cameron Connor, Canadian WHA and NHL ice hockey forward, 1974-83 (Phoenix Roadrunners, Edmonton Oilers, and 3 other teams), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 1954-08-24 Alain Daigle, French Canadian NHL ice hockey player, 1974-80 (Chicago Blackhawks), born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec
  • 1954-09-20 Henry Samueli, American NHL team owner (Anaheim Ducks), born in Buffalo, New York
  • 1955-01-27 Brian Engblom, Canadian NHL hockey player, 1975-87 (Montreal Canadiens, and 4 other teams), and TV broadcaster, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 1955-03-24 Doug Jarvis, Canadian ice hockey forward (record for most consecutive NHL games 964; Stanley Cup 1976-79 Montreal Canadiens), born in Brantford, Ontario
  • 1955-11-17 Bill McCreary, Ontario, NHL referee
  • 1955-12-02 Paul Holmgren, American NHL right wing, 1975-85 (Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota North Stars), coach, 1988-96 (Philadelphia, Hartford Whalers), and executive (Philadelphia Flyers), born in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Bryan Trottier (67 years old)

1956-07-17 American NHL Center (NY Islanders), born in Val Marie, Saskatchewan

Peter Šťastný (67 years old)

1956-09-18 Slovak-Canadian Hockey HOF center (2nd-highest NHL scorer 1980s, after Wayne Gretzky; World C'ship gold 1976, 77; Canada Cup gold 1984; Quebec Nordiques, NJ Devils, St. Louis Blues), born in Bratislava, Slovakia

  • 1956-10-07 Brian Sutter, Canadian NHL left wing, 1976-88 (St. Louis Blues), and coach, 1988-2004 (St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, and 2 other teams), born in Viking, Alberta

Mike Bossy (1957-2022)

1957-01-22 Canadian Hockey HOF right wing (Stanley Cup 1980-83; Conn Smythe Trophy 1982; 7 x NHL All Star; NY Islanders), born in Montreal, Quebec

  • 1957-05-03 Rod Langway, American NHL ice hockey defenseman, 1978-93 (Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals), born in Taipei, Taiwan
  • 1957-07-01 Hannu Kamppuri, Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender (NHL NJ Devils), born in Helsinki, Finland
  • 1957-09-22 Mark Johnson, American NHL forward (Olympic gold 1980, Pitts, NJ), born in Madison, Wisconsin
  • 1957-10-02 Gordie Roberts, American ice hockey defenceman (Stanley Cup 1991-92, Pittsburgh Penguins; first American to 1,000 NHL games), born in Detroit, Michigan
  • 1958-02-28 Mark Pavelich, American ice hockey forward (Olympic gold 1980 'Miracle on Ice'; NY Rangers, Minnesota North Stars, San Jose Sharks), born in Eveleth, Minnesota (d. 2021)
  • 1958-04-20 Viacheslav Fetisov, Russian Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman (Olympic gold 1984, 88; Stanley Cup 1997-98, Detroit Red Wings), born in Moscow, Russia
  • 1958-08-19 Darryl Sutter, Canadian NHL center, 1979-87 (Chicago Black Hawks), coach, 1992-2007, 2011-23 (Black Hawks, San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings), and general manager (Flames, 2003-10), born in Viking, Alberta
  • 1958-10-18 Kjell Samuelsson, Swedish NHL defenseman (Philadelphia Flyers), born in Tyngsryd, Sweden
  • 1959-03-29 Brad McCrimmon, Canadian ice hockey defenseman (Stanley Cup 1989 Calgary Flames; NHL All-Star 1988; Plus-Minus Award +48 1989), born in Dodsland, Saskatchewan (d. 2011)
  • 1959-04-15 Kevin Lowe, Canadian NHL defenceman, coach and executive (Edmonton Oilers; Stanley Cup x 6), born in Lachute, Quebec
  • 1959-05-12 Dave Christian, American NHL right wing, 1980-94 (Olympic gold, 1980; Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, and 3 other teams), born in Warroad, Minnesota
  • 1959-05-24 Pelle Lindbergh, Swedish NHL goaltender, 1981-86, Vezina Award winner (Philadelphia Flyers), born in Stockholm, Sweden (d. 1986)
  • 1959-06-02 Charlie Huddy, Oshawa, NHL defenseman (Buffalo Sabres)

Mike Gartner (64 years old)

1959-10-29 Canadian NHL right wing (Toronto Maple Leafs), born in Ottawa, Ontario

  • 1959-11-29 Neal Broten, American NHL center, 1980-97 (US Olympic gold, 1980; Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars, and 3 other teams), born in Roseau, Minnesota

Dino Ciccarelli (64 years old)

1960-02-08 Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame right wing (most goals for NHL undrafted player, 608), born in Sarnia, Ontario

  • 1960-02-18 Andy Moog, Canadian NHL goalie (Oilers, Bruins, Olympics-Canada-1988), born in Penticton, Canada
  • 1960-03-16 Duane Sutter, Canadian NHL right wing, 1979-90 (New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks), and coach, 2000-02 (Florida Panthers), born in Viking, Alberta
  • 1960-03-18 Guy Carbonneau, Sept-iles, NHL center (Dallas Stars)

Jari Kurri (63 years old)

1960-05-18 Finnish NHL right wing (Edmonton Oilers), born in Helsinki, Finland

  • 1960-06-30 Randy Ladouceur, Canadian ice hockey defenseman, 1983-96 (Detroit Red Wings, captain: Hartford Whalers & Anaheim Mighty Ducks), and coach, born in Brockville, Ontario
  • 1960-07-31 Dale Hunter, Canadian NHL center, coach, owner (Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals, London Knights [OHL]), born in Petrolia, Ontario
  • 1960-10-02 Glenn Anderson, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame right wing (6 Stanley Cup wins; Edmonton Oilers [5]), born in Vancouver, British Columbia
  • 1960-10-18 Doug Lidster, Kamloops, NHL defenseman (NY Rangers)
  • 1960-12-03 Igor Larionov, Russian Hockey Hall of Fame center (Stanley Cup 1997-98, 2002, Detroit Red Wings; Olympic gold 1984, 88), born in Moscow, Russia

Ray Bourque (63 years old)

1960-12-28 Canadian Hockey HOF defenseman (19 x NHL All Star; Stanley Cup 2001 Colorado Avalanche; NHL records most career goals, assists & points by a defenceman; 5 x Norris Trophy; Boston Bruins), born in Saint-Laurent, Quebec

  • 1961-01-13 Kelly Hrudey, Canadian NHL goalie, 1983-98 (NY Islanders; LA Kings), and broadcaster, born in Edmonton, Alberta

Mark Messier (63 years old)

1961-01-18 Canadian NHL Center (Edmonton, NY Rangers), born in Edmonton, Alberta

Wayne Gretzky (63 years old)

1961-01-26 Canadian ice hockey HOF center (Stanley Cup 1984, 85, 87, 88; Hart Memorial Trophy [MVP] 1980–87, 89; Art Ross Trophy [scoring champion] 1981–87, 90, 91, 94; Edmonton Oilers, LA Kings), born in Brantford, Ontario

  • 1961-02-04 Denis Savard, Canadian NHL centre (Chicago Blackhawks) named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players' in history, born in Pointe Gatineau, Canada
  • 1961-03-08 Larry Murphy, Scarborough, NHL defenseman (Toronto Maple Leafs)
  • 1961-03-15 Craig Ludwig, American NHL defenseman (Dallas Stars), born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin
  • 1961-05-10 Randy Cunneyworth, Canadian ice hockey left wing (Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers) and coach (Atlanta Thrashers, Montreal Canadiens), born in Etobicoke, Ontario
  • 1961-05-14 Alain Vigneault, Canadian NHL ice hockey coach, since 1997 (New York Rangers, 2013-18; Philadelphia Flyers, 2019-present; and two other teams), born in Quebec City, Quebec
  • 1961-05-23 Dave Babych, Edmonton, NHL defenseman (Vancouver Canucks)

Paul Coffey (62 years old)

1961-06-01 Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman (Norris Trophy 1984–85, 1985–86, 1994–95; 14 x NHL All Star; Stanley Cup 1984, 85, 87-Edmonton, 1991-Pittsburgh), born in Weston, Ontario

  • 1961-06-24 Bernie Nicholls, Canadian NHL center, 1981-99 (Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and 4 other teams), born in Haliburton, Ontario
  • 1961-08-17 Jamie Macoun, Canadian NHL defenceman (Toronto Maple Leafs), born in Newmarket, Ontario
  • 1961-10-29 Joel Otto, American NHL center (Philadelphia Flyers, Team USA Olympics 1998), born in Elk River, Minnesota
  • 1961-11-19 Grant Ledyard, Canadian NHL defenseman, 1984-2002 (Dallas Stars, Buffalo Sabres, and 7 other teams), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 1961-11-26 Dave Hannan, Canadian NHL center (Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche), born in Onaping Falls, Ontario
  • 1962-01-25 Chris Chelios, American Hockey HOF defenseman (Stanley Cup 1986 Montreal Canadiens, 2002, 08 Detroit Red Wings; James Norris Trophy 1989, 93, 96; IIHF HOF), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1962-03-02 Raimo Summanen, Finnish ice hockey left wing (World C'Ships gold 1995; NHL: Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks) and coach (Finland; HIFK), born in Jyväskylä, Finland
  • 1962-04-28 Evguenni Rochtchin, NHL forward (Team Belarus, Olympics 1998)
  • 1962-04-29 Bruce Driver, Canadian NHL defenseman (NY Rangers), born in Toronto, Ontario
  • 1962-06-10 Brent Sutter, Canadian ice hockey center (Canada Cup gold 1984, 87, 91; NY Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks), and coach (NJ Devils, Calgary Flames), born in Viking, Alberta
  • 1962-07-19 Craig Muni, NHL defenseman (Winnipeg Jets), born in Toronto, Ontario
  • 1962-07-31 Troy Murray, Canadian NHL center, broadcaster (Chicago Black Hawks), born in Calgary, Alberta
  • 1962-08-09 Jim Johnson, American NHL defenseman (Washington Capitals), born in New Hope, Minnesota
  • 1962-08-23 Glenn Healy, Canadian NHL goalie (NY Rangers), born in Pickering, Ontario, Canada

Grant Fuhr (61 years old)

1962-09-28 Canadian NHL goalie (Oilers), born in Spruce Grove, Alberta

  • 1962-12-14 Chris Dahlquist, American NHL defenseman (Ottawa Senators), born in Fridley, Minnesota
  • 1963-02-06 Mike Hough, Canadian NHL left wing (Florida Panthers), born in Montreal, Quebec
  • 1963-03-01 Magnus Svensson, Swedish ice hockey defenseman (Olympic gold 1994; NHL: Florida Panthers), born in Tranås, Sweden
  • 1963-03-01 Ron Francis, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame center (Stanley Cup 1991, 92; Pittsburgh Penguins; NHL All-Star 1983, 85, 90, 96) and executive (Carolina Hurricanes; Seattle 2021), born in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario
  • 1963-03-03 Kelly Miller, NHL left wing (Washington Capitals), born in Detroit, Michigan
  • 1963-03-07 Mike Eagles, Canadian NHL center (Washington Capitals), born in Sussex, New Brunswick
  • 1963-03-08 Mike Lalor, American NHL defenseman (Dallas Stars), born in Buffalo, New York
  • 1963-04-04 Dale Hawerchuk, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame center (#1 pick NHL Draft 1981; Calder Trophy 1982; Canada Cup 1987, 91; Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2020)
  • 1963-04-16 Garry Galley, Canadian NHL defenseman (Buffalo Sabres), born in Montreal, Quebec

Mike Babcock (61 years old)

1963-04-29 Canadian NHL Coach (Anaheim, Detroit, Team Canada), born in Manitouwadge, Ontario

  • 1963-04-30 Steve Smith, Scottish-Canadian ice hockey defenseman (NHL All-Star 1991; Canada Cup gold [Canada] 1991; Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames), born in Glasgow, Scotland
  • 1963-05-18 Marty McSorley, Canadian ice hockey defenseman (Stanley Cup 1987, 88 Edmonton Oilers; NHL Plus-Minus Award 1991 LA Kings), born in Hamilton, Ontario
  • 1963-05-29 Claude Loiselle, Canadian hockey center, executive (NHL 1994-2002), born in Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1963-06-13 Randy Gilhen, Canadian-German ice hockey forward (Stanley Cup 1991, Pittsburgh Penguins; first German-born player to win SC), born in Zweibrücken, West Germany
  • 1963-06-14 James Patrick, Canadian NHL defenseman (Calgary Flames), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  • 1963-06-25 Doug Gilmour, Canadian Hockey HOF center (Canada Cup gold 1987; Stanley Cup 1989 Calgary Flames; 2 x NHL All Star; Toronto Maple Leafs), born in Kingston, Ontario
  • 1963-07-11 Al MacInnis, Canadian NHL defenseman (Team Canada, St Louis), born in Inverness, Nova Scotia

Weddings in Sport


Deaths in Sport