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 December 7th, featuring Johnny Bucyk.
Today in Hockey History
Johnny Bucyk Becomes Bruins All-Time Scoring Leader
1967: The Boston Bruins great becomes the team’s all-time leading scorer with a point in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers. Bucyk passes Milt Schmidt for first on the team’s points list with his 576th point.
He becomes the first Boston player to get 250 goals in team history one year later. Bucyk gets a goal and two assists in a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. He finishes with 566 career goals in 1,540 games.
Other Notable Events
1919: The Toronto Arenas change their name to the St. Patricks, which stays until 1926-27. However, they change their name to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1961: Montreal Canadiens forward Jean Beliveau serves in his first game as captain. He was voted captain in October, but had to sit out the first 25 games due to a knee injury. Beliveau remains captain until retiring after the 1970-71 season.
1966: The Habs Henri Richard scores his 250th goal in a 6-3 win over the Maple Leafs. He becomes the seventh player in history to reach the mark and second behind brother, Maurice Richard.
1975: Bucyk scores to tie Beliveau for sixth place on the all-time list with his 507th goal. He scores in a 2-2 tie with Montreal.
1977: Bob Sirois scores twice as the Washington Capitals end a 20-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Barons.
1982: Edmonton Oilers centre Wayne Gretzky scores twice as he extends his NHL-record 30-game point streak. Gretzky powers the Oilers to a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. He scores 24 goals and has 52 assists for 76 points during the streak, which ends two days later.
1985: Marcel Dionne becomes the first player to score 500 goals as a member of the Los Angeles Kings. He scores in a 3-2 victory over the host Winnipeg Jets.
1988: The New York Islanders fire head coach Terry Simpson eight months after leading them to a Patrick Division title. Al Arbour comes out of retirement and leads the Isles to the Wales Conference final in 1993.
2002: Minnesota Wild forward Marian Gaborik is fifth player to get five hat tricks before the age of 21. He leads the Wild to a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
Happy Birthday to You
1898: Ching Johnson
1911: Earl Seibert
1927: Nick Mickoski
1940: Gerry Cheevers
1947: Garry Unger
1976: Georges Laraque
1984: Milan Michalek
1991: Riley Sheahan
1992: Sean Couturier
