Hockey is going strong, 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 16, featuring the 1991 Canada Cup.
Today in Hockey History
Canada Wins 1991 Canada Cup
1991: Team Canada takes its fourth Canada Cup in five tournaments. The hosts beat their southern neighbours, 4-2, in Game 2 of the best-of-three series. Both teams dominated round-robin play to reach the final and win their semifinal matchups.
Steve Larmer breaks a 2-2 tie in the third period and Dirk Graham adds an empty-net goal for Canada. Bill Ranford goes 6-0 in goal and earns tournament MVP honours. Canada wins despite not having leading-scorer Wayne Gretzky. He’s out because of a hit into the boards by American defenceman Gary Suter in Game 1. The World Cup of Hockey replaces the Canada Cup in 1996.
Other Notable Events
1916: “One Eyed” Frank McGee dies in action on the Somme battlefield in World War I for Canada. McGee was a critical part of the 1905 Ottawa Silver Seven team that dominated from 1903 to 1905.
1978: Gretzky takes part in his first professional camp with the WHA’s Indianapolis Racers. He plays eight games with Indianapolis, but he’s sold to the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton gets absorbed into the NHL, but they manage to keep Gretzky.
1979: The Oilers hold their first NHL camp as a member of the league with Gretzky included at the University of Alberta. Edmonton makes the playoffs as it finishes fourth in the Smythe Division. However, the Oilers got swept by the mighty Philadelphia Flyers in the first round.
1996: Borje Salming, Al Arbour and Bobby Bauer are the latest entrants into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Salming was a standout on defence for the Toronto Maple Leafs while Arbour coached the Islanders to four straight Stanley Cups. Bauer starred for the Boston Bruins in the 1930s and 1940s. Announcer Bob Cole also earned a spot in the Hall of Fame.
1998: Former Quebec Nordiques teammates Peter Stastny and Michel Goulet are part of the Hall of Fame class of 1998. Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks star Roy Conacher is also part of the group.
Happy Birthday to You
1934: Gerry Melnyk
1953: Eric Vail
1961: Rick Lanz; Kevin LaVallee
1980: Patrik Stefan
1989: Braden Holtby
1994: Anthony Mantha
1999: Brady Tkachuk
