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 23, featuring Manon Rheaume.
Today in Hockey History
Manon Rheaume Plays for Tampa
1992: The Beauport, Quebec native is the first woman to in any major North American sports league. She suits up for the Tampa Bay Lightning in an exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues. She makes seven saves on nine shots in a 2-2 tie with the Blues.
Her appearance draws plenty of attention for the expansion club, but it’s not her only game with Tampa. She plays one period of a 1993 exhibition game against the Boston Bruins and plays 24 men’s minor league games. Rheaume helps Canada win the silver medal in women’s hockey at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and gold at the 1992 and 1994 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
Other Notable Events
1929: The Montreal Maroons name Dunc Munro as their new head coach. He replaces Eddie Gerard behind the bench and leads the Maroons to the semifinals.
1979: The Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets play their first exhibition game as a part of the NHL. Both teams are part of four clubs absorbed into the league after the WHA merges with the NHL. The Hartford Whalers and Quebec Nordiques also join the NHL as part of the merger. Winnipeg defeats Edmonton, 4-2, in a game where Wayne Gretzky also made his NHL debut.
1991: New York Islanders Mike Bossy and Denis Potvin headline the Hockey Hall of Fame class of 1991. The duo were the cornerstones of the Islanders four straight Stanley Cups in the 1980s. Forwards Clint Smith and Bob Pulford enter the Hall as well as coach Scotty Bowman.
2011: Mike Modano signs a one-day contract with the Dallas Stars and then retires. The American finishes with most goals (561) and points (1,374) of any of his countrymen. He spends 20 years with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise before finishing up with the Detroit Red Wings. Modano enters the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.
2017: The Los Angeles Kings complete a two-game sweep of the NHL China Games with a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Jonny Brodzinski scores the game-winning goal in front of 12,759 fans at Wukesong Arena in Beijing. The games were the first NHL games to be played in that country.
Happy Birthday to You
1906: Wildor Larochelle
1941: Simon Nolet
1947: Christian Bordeleau
1968: Dixon Ward
1969: Donald Audette
1983: Joffrey Lupul
1988:Yannick Weber
1990: Gabriel Bourque
