Training camps are back, but we at Last Word on Hockey are still 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 July 19th, featuring Dick Irvin.
Today in Hockey History
Hall of Fame Coach Dick Irvin Born
1892: The four-time Stanley Cup-winning coach is born in Hamilton, Ontario. Irvin plays 94 games in his career with the Chicago Black Hawks. However, his biggest success is when he becomes a coach.
Irvin leads the Toronto Maple Leafs to a Stanley Cup in 1932, but he’s known for his time with the Montreal Canadiens. He helped the Habs win championships in 1944, 1946 and 1953. Irvin’s 15 seasons with the Canadiens are the most by any coach in their history, and he goes 431-313-152 in 896 games. He also helps the careers of Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau.
He’s let go after losing 3-1 in Game 7 to the Detroit Red Wings in the 1955 Stanley Cup Final. Irvin coaches the Blackhawks, who gave him his first coaching job. However, he retires after one season and passes away on May 16, 1957.
Other Notable Events
1988: The Winnipeg Jets trade left winger Steve Rooney to the New Jersey Devils. New Jersey sends back goalie Alain Chevrier in return.
1999: The New York Rangers ink free agent blue-liner Sylvain Lefebvre to a contract. He played previously with the Colorado Avalanche and he plays parts of four seasons in New York.
2002: The Atlanta Thrashers sign free-agent defenceman Uwe Krupp to a deal. Krupp had played two seasons with Detroit and he retires after one year in Atlanta.
2003: The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim add free agent Sergei Fedorov from Detroit. Fedorov had played his entire 13-year career with the Red Wings before signing in Southern California.
2010: Ilya Kovalchuk signs a 17-year, $102 million deal with the Devils. However, that contract is blocked by the league and he signs a 15-year, $100 million pact. The NHL made New Jersey give up $3 million, a third-round draft choice in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and one future first-round draft pick within the next four seasons. However, the league backed down from some of the sanctions for New Jersey circumventing the cap.
2011: Detroit goalie Chris Osgood retires after 14 seasons and 11 in Hockeytown. He finishes his career with 401 wins in 744 games, a 2.49 goals-against average and 50 shutouts, 39 with the Red Wings. He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion with wins in 1998, 2002 and 2008.
Happy Birthday to You
1892: Dick Irvin
1945: Craig Cameron
1962: Craig Muni
1972: Steve Shields
1973: Scott Walker
1983: Fedor Tyutin
1994: Devin Shore
