During the NHL’s hiatus, we at the Last Word on Hockey are going to look back at each date’s historical significance to the game. We’ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here’s our look at this date in hockey history for June 10th, featuring Guy Lafleur.
Today in Hockey History
Guy LaFleur Taken No. 1 By Canadiens
1971: The Montreal Canadiens select Lafleur with the first overall pick of the amateur draft. “The Flower” is coming off a banner year with Quebec of the QMJHL with 130 goals in 62 games. He would prove to a vital contributor to the Habs dynasty of the late 1970s that saw him win five Stanley Cups.
Montreal also landed another Hall of Famer in the second round when it selected Larry Robinson. He was selected 20th overall and earned a total of 10 titles between his playing and coaching days.
Other Notable Events
1973: The New York Islanders hire Al Arbour as head coach. Arbour would lead the team to four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-83 and would retire as the winningest coach in NHL history.
1989: Wayne Gretzky wins his record ninth Hart Trophy in his first season with the Los Angeles Kings.
1996: Uwe Krupp scored 4:31 into the third overtime as the Colorado Avalanche win their first Stanley Cup. Patrick Roy stops 63 shots in a 1-0 Game 4 win over the Florida Panthers.
1999: Craig Ludwig‘s first playoff goal in 11 years helps the Dallas Stars win Game 2, 4-2, over the Buffalo Sabres.
2000: Jason Arnott scores 8:20 into the second overtime as the New Jersey Devils win their second Stanley Cup. Scott Stevens wins the Conn Smythe as the Devils beat the Stars, 2-1, in Game 6.
2002: Dominik Hasek becomes the first goalie to get a shutout in all four rounds of the same post-season. He stops 17 shots as the Detroit Red Wings blank the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-0, in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final. Brett Hull also scores his 100th post-season goal and coach Scotty Bowman earns his 35th win the Stanley Cup final.
2011: Roberto Luongo gets his second 1-0 shutout of the Stanley Cup final in Game 5. The Vancouver Canucks beat the Boston Bruins thanks to Maxim Lapierre‘s goal and Luongo’s 31 saves.
2016: The great Gordie Howe passes away at the age of 88. “Mr. Hockey” won the Hart and Art Ross Trophies six times and the Stanley Cup four times. He retires as the NHL record-holder in games played (1,767). He scored 801 goals, 1049 assists and 1850 points over his glorious career.
Happy Birthday to You
1949: Dennis O’Brien
1956: Mike Eaves
1962: Brent Sutter
1966: Brian Benning
1986: Chad Johnson
1998: Kieffer Bellows
