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 16th, featuring Miikka Kiprusoff.
Today in Hockey History
Miikka Kiprusoff Becomes a Flame
2003: The Calgary Flames get the Finnish goalie from the San Jose Sharks for a second-round pick in the 2005 NHL Draft. “Kipper” went 5-14 in the previous season with the Sharks. However, he would get a new lease on life in Calgary.
Kiprusoff goes 24-10-4 with a 1.69 goals-against-average to league the league. He would lead the Flames to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, but Calgary would lose to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Finn would get the Vezina Trophy the next season.
Other Notable Events
1926: The New York Rangers prove to be a Broadway hit in their debut game. Bill Cook scores the first goal in team history and Hal Winkler becomes the first goalie to get a shutout in his debut. The Rangers defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Montreal Maroons, 1-0.
1969: Boston Bruins defenceman Bobby Orr has his first four-assist game of his career. He helps the Bruins to a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
1986: New York Islanders forward Mike Bossy passes Maurice Richard with his 545th career goal. Bossy moves into sixth on the list in a 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
1993: The Hockey Hall of Fame inducted its newest members: Billy Smith, Steve Shutt, Guy Lapointe, and Edgar Laprade.
2001: The Detroit Red Wings celebrate a pair of milestones in an 8-3 rout of the Minnesota Wild. Steve Yzerman scores twice for this 650th career goal while Brett Hull has two assists to get 1,200 points.
2014: Sharks goalie Troy Grosenick makes 45 saves in his NHL debut to blank the Carolina Hurricanes, 2-0. He becomes the third American goalie to get a shutout in his first game.
2018: Jason Dickinson scores 1:34 into overtime to give the Dallas Stars a 1-0 win over the Bruins. Ben Bishop makes 23 saves in the North Stars/Stars first 1-0 OT win since the extra session returned in 1983-84.
2019: Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos scores his 400th career goal in a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Stamkos reaches the mark in his 763rd career game. He is the second-fastest active player to get to the mark behind Alex Ovechkin.
Happy Birthday to You
1948: Dave Forbes
1955: Pierre Larouche
1981: Stephane Veilleux
1983: Kari Lehtonen
1990: Tim Schaller
