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 21, featuring Howie Morenz.
Today in Hockey History
Canadiens Great Howie Morenz Born
1902: The Montreal Canadiens great is born in Mitchell, Ontario. He is one of the most electrifying players of the early NHL. Morenz is known as the “Stratford Streak: and signs with the team for the 1923-24 season. He scores 28 goals in 30 games in his second season and 40 in 44 games in 1929-30.
His blazing speed is useful in an era where forward passing is not legal. End-to-end rushes are common and Morenz is a master of that. He plays also with the Chicago Black Hawks and New York Rangers before returning to the Habs in 1936-37. Morenz tragically dies from a blood clot as the result of a broken leg in January 1937.
Other Notable Events
1967: Retired goalie Jacques Plante returns to play in an exhibition game with the California Seals against the Los Angeles Kings. Plante doesn’t play a regular season game for the club, but returns with the St. Louis Blues for the 1968-69 season. He and Glenn Hall help the expansion club give up the fewest goals. The duo win the Vezina Trophy and steer the Blues to the Stanley Cup Final. He enter the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978.
1992: Marcel Dionne, Lanny McDonald, Bob Gainey and Woody Dumart headline this year’s Hall of Fame class. Longtime Philadelphia Flyers executive Keith Allen is inducted in the builder category.
2002: The Ottawa Senators send defenceman Sami Salo to the Vancouver Canucks for Peter Schaefer. Salo spends nine seasons with the Canucks and gains fame for his powerful slap shot. However, injuries are also part of his tenure with the team.
2017: Tanner Pearson scores twice as the Kings get a 5-2 victory over the Canucks in Shanghai. The game is the first in China and 10,888 fans show up to the game. Adrian Kempe scores past Jacob Markstrom for the first NHL goal in China.
Happy Birthday to You
1902: Howie Morenz
1955: Matti Hagman
1962: Gord Dineen
1963: Troy Loney
1964: Bob Errey
1969: Curtis Leschyshyn
1990: Nick Jensen
