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 23rd featuring Doug Harvey.
Today in Hockey History
Doug Harvey Inducted Into Hall of Fame
1973: The Montreal Canadiens defenceman headlines this year’s Hall of Fame class with four others. Harvey was a cornerstone of the 1950s Canadiens dynasty and won seven Norris Trophies. The Montreal native helped his hometown team to six Stanley Cups and was a 10-time All-Star.
Harvey never scores more than 10 goals or gets more than 50 points, but he’s a shutdown defenceman. He boycotts the ceremony because he felt he should have been inducted with Gordie Howe and former teammates Jean Beliveau and Bernie Geoffrion. Players Chuck Rayner, Tommy Smith, referee Frank Udvari and former Canadiens owner Hartland Molson also make the Hall.
Other Notable Events
1926: Montreal purchases the contract of goalie George Hainsworth from the Saskatoon Crescents of the WHL. The future Hall of Famer won three straight Vezina Trophies and two Stanley Cups with the Habs.
1962: Goalie and future broadcaster Glenn Healy is born in Pickering, Ontario. He plays 15 seasons as a goalie in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs. Healy goes 166-190 with 47 ties with a 3.37 goals-against average and .887 save percentage in 437 appearances. He wins a Stanley Cup in 1994 for the Rangers after backing up Mike Richter. Healy becomes an analyst and president of the NHL Alumni Association after retiring in 2001.
1964: Future NHL forward and broadcaster Ray Ferraro is born in Trail, British Columbia. Ferraro is taken in the fifth round of the 1982 NHL Draft by the Hartford Whalers. He plays 18 seasons with six teams, including the Islanders, Rangers, Kings, Atlanta Thrashers and St. Louis Blues. He retires after the 2001-02 season with 898 points (408 goals, 490 assists) in 1,258 games.
2013: The Washington Capitals sign free agent forward Mikhail Grabovski to a free agent deal. He had played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal previously. The Russian forward scores 13 goals with the team before finishing his career with the Islanders.
2015: Free agent defenceman Christian Ehrhoff signs a free agent contract with the Kings. The German blueliner is traded to the Chicago Blackhawks during the season for Rob Scuderi. Ehrhoff would retire after paying for the Blackhawks in eight games the next season.
Happy Birthday to You
1952: Dave Gardner
1954: Jack Carlson
1962: Glenn Healy
1963: Randy Moller
1964: Ray Ferraro
1975: Jarkko Ruutu
1988: Carl Hagelin
