Hockey is finally 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 August 18th, featuring Doug Gilmour.
Today in Hockey History
Maple Leafs Name Doug Gilmour Captain
1994: The Toronto Maple Leafs name the Kingston, Ontario native the team’s 15th captain. Gilmour gets “the C” after the Leafs trade former captain Wendel Clark to the Quebec Nordiques. Toronto’s top centre is coming off 127 and 111 point seasons with the club.
The offensive production dries up for Gilmour and he’s traded to the New Jersey Devils at the February 1997 trade deadline. He goes on to play for Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, and Montreal Canadiens. The 2011 Hockey Hall of Famer plays one last game for the Maple Leafs before the 2002-03 season.
Other Notable Events
1986: The New York Rangers acquire Walt Poddubny in a deal with the Maple Leafs. Mike Allison comes to Toronto in exchange. Poddubny has 40 goals and finishes with 87 points in his first season with the Blueshirts. He adds 38 goals and 88 points in 1987-88. However, New York trades him to Quebec on August 1, 1988.
1996: The San Jose Sharks sign free agent goalie Kelly Hrudey, who played the last eight seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. He spends two seasons with the Sharks before retiring in 1998.
1997: San Jose obtains goalie Mike Vernon from the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit gets a third-round pick in the 1998 NHL Draft and a second-round selection in the 1999 NHL Draft.
1998: The NHL names Claude Loiselle as the manager of hockey operations. He became an assistant general manager with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Maple Leafs later in his career.
2000: The expansion Minnesota Wild sign undrafted free agent Pascal Dupuis to a contract. Minnesota takes a chance on the Laval, Quebec native after he scores 50 goals with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL. He plays parts of six seasons with the Wild and has brief stints with the Rangers and Atlanta Thrashers. However, his biggest success is with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He becomes a reliable role player and shares a line with Sidney Crosby. Dupuis scores 25 goals in 2011-12 and is part of the Penguins’ 2009 Stanley Cup winning squad. The winger is forced to retire due to a medical condition related to blood clots and he’s forced to give up hockey on Dec. 8, 2015.
Happy Birthday to You
1935: Forbes Kennedy
1962: Geoff Courtnall
1975: Petr Cajanek
1995: Joel L’Esperance
