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 September 1st featuring Mario Lemieux.
Today in Hockey History
Mario Lemieux Owns Penguins
1999: The Pittsburgh Penguins great becomes an off-ice saviour for the club. His ownership application is approved by the Board of Governors. The club owes him $32 million in deferred salary and he converts that into equity.
Lemieux is the first player in North America to own the team he used to play for. He takes on the role of president, CEO and chairman of the Penguins. “Super Mario” adds the title of top-line centre when he returns as a player in late December 2000.
Other Notable Events
1883: Montreal Canadiens great Didier Pitre is born in Valleyfield, Quebec. He is nicknamed “Cannonball” because of his speed and hard shot. Pitre, Newsy Lalonde and Jack Laviolette become a devastating trio known The Flying Frenchmen. They help the Canadiens win their first Stanley Cup in 1916 and advance to the final in 1917. However, that Final against Seattle is abandoned due to the Spanish Flu epidemic. Pitre becomes a defenceman at the age of 38 in his final two seasons. He retires in 1923 and joins the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.
1936: Hall of Famer Howie Morenz returns to the Canadiens after they purchase his contract from the New York Rangers. Morenz scored a career-low six goals for the Chicago Blackhawks before being sent to the Rangers. His career ends when he suffers a terrible leg injury on January 28, 1937. He dies from a coronary embolism caused by blood clots in his leg while in the hospital.
1964: Brian Bellows is born in St. Catharines, Ontario on this date. He becomes the hottest prospect since Wayne Gretzky during his junior career in Kitchener of the OHL. The Minnesota North Stars draft him second in the 1982 NHL Draft. Bellows scores 30 goals seven times in 10 seasons with the North Stars. Montreal acquires him via trade in 1992 and he scores 40 goals for the Cup-winning Habs. He plays with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Washington Capitals before he retires. Bellows finishes with 1,022 points (485 goals, 537 assists) in 1,188 NHL games.
1994: The Might Ducks sign Paul Kariya to an entry-level contract. He scores 300 goals with the club before moving to the Colorado Avalanche.
Happy Birthday to You
1883: Didier Pitre
1906: Jimmy Ward
1954: Dave Lumley
1960: Alan Haworth
1964: Brian Bellows; Norm Maciver
1987: Mats Zuccarello
1989: Gustav Nyquist
1995: Nathan MacKinnon
