PUTTIN' ON THE FOIL!
This is my blog for hockey fun. I dont write long articles on hockey things, I just love to share videos, pictures and hockey history. Don't expect a lot of insight, just fun.
Today in the 66th birthday ofDanny Grantthe winner of the Calder Trophyas the NHL's Rookie of the Year for the 1968-69 season while a member of the Minnesota North Stars.
After 6 season with the Minnesota North Stars, Grant would save his best season for 1974-75 when he led the Detroit Red Wings in goals with 50 while playing on a line with Marcel Dionne.
1923 - Ottawa Senator Cy Denneny becomes NHL's all time scorer (143 goals), even though he only led the NHL in goals one season and that was the 1923-24 season with 22. He also led the league that season in points with 24.
He led the NHL in assist twice, 1917-18 with 10 and the 1924-25 with 15.
Today in 1971 Jean Believau scores his 500th NHL goal. He scored it against Gilles Gillbert and the Minnesota North Stars. Beliveau would retire after the 1970-71 season, and when he retired he was the Montreal Canadiens all time leader in points, second in goals (behind Guy Lafluer) and the NHL record holder for playoff scorer. He finished his career with 507 goals,712 assist and 1,219 points.
He would be inducted into the Hockey Hall Fame in 1972.
Today is the 50th birthday of Chicago Blackhawk great and former Blackhawk coach Denis Savard.
Drafted in the first round, 3rd overall in the 1980 NHL draft by the Blackhawks. He was the highest drafted player in Blackhawks history until Patrick Kane was taken first overall in 2007. He soon set the now broken Blackhawks rookie record for points with 75.
After 10 seasons with the 'Hawks Savard was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for future 'Hawks captain and defenseman Chris Chelios. He then signed as a free agent with Tampa Bay Lightning in 1993 and then was traded back to the Blackhawks in 1995 and finish his playing career where it started in Chicago by retiring in 1997.
He is 3rd in points Blackhawks history behind Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita with 1338.
He was the 26th player to reach 1000 points in NHL history on March 11 1990, the second player to reach that mark in the 1990s behind Edmonton Oiler Jari Kurri, who got number 1000 in January 1990.
His jersey number 18 was retired by Chicago in 1998 and he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000.
He would be named the headcoach for the Blackhawks for the 2006/07 replacing Trent Yawney.
Savard was relieved of the coaching duties 4 games into the 2008-2009 season, being replaced by current head coach Joel Quenneville.
Just saw a commercial for a new team joining the ECHL for the 2011-2012 season, the Chicago Express will call the Sears Center at Hoffman Estates, IL (which is part of Schaumburg) home ice.
The head coach will be Steve Martinson, the owner and CEO is a former member of the ownership of the Rockford Icehogs of the AHL and the team colors are ice blue and white.