Normally we’d be in the midst of starting up another hockey season now, but we’re in a different world. Last Word on Hockey is 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 November 15th, featuring Bobby Clarke.
Today in Hockey History
Flyers Retire No. 16 of Bobby Clarke
1984: The Philadelphia Flyers great has his No. 16 sweater retired before a game with the Hartford Whalers. Clarke won the Hart Trophy three times in his 15-year playing career with the Flyers. He was a member of the vaunted Broad Street Bullies that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in the early 70s. Clarke retires as Philadelphia’s all-time leading scorer (1,210 points).
Philadelphia goes on to rout Hartford, 6-1, thanks to a pair of goals from Tim Kerr.
Other Notable Events
1915: The National Hockey Association (a precursor to the NHL) sets a salary cap of $800. The league collapses and is absorbed by the NHL two years later.
1927: Jack Adams earns his first coaching win as the Detroit Cougars, later the Detroit Red Wings, in a 6-0 shutout of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He coaches Detroit for 20 seasons and is a general manager for 36. Adams is the only man to win Stanley Cups as a player, coach and GM.
1972: New York Rangers Steve Vickers is the first rookie to get back-to-back hat tricks in a 7-3 win over the Flyers. Vickers got the first hat trick three days earlier against the Los Angeles Kings.
1973: Boston Bruins defenceman Bobby Orr is the first player at his position to get seven points in one game. Orr gets three goals and four assists in a 10-2 drubbing of the Rangers.
2002: A pair of Hall of Famers get milestones in the Dallas Stars 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Dallas’ Mike Modano is the fifth American-born player to get 1,000 points while Colorado’s Patrick Roy passes Terry Sawchuk for most minutes played.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Dave Andreychuk becomes the first player to get 250 power-play goals. He gets the record-breaker in a 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on his way to finishing with 274 extra-man goals.
2015: The Rangers win their ninth straight game for their best start since 1972-73. New York beats the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3, thanks to a goal and two assists from Mats Zuccarello.
2018: The New York Islanders beat the rival Rangers for the eighth consecutive time in a 7-5 win in Brooklyn. Anthony Beauvillier scores three goals for the Islanders, who improve to 7-0-0 against the Rangers in Brooklyn.
Happy Birthday to You
1959: John Paul Kelly
1964: Chris Terreri
1975: Yannick Tremblay
1987: Kevan Miller
1994: Brett Pesce
