Normally we’d be closing in on the final push of the season. However, 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 March 10th, featuring the NHL debut of the Zamboni machine.
Today in Hockey History
Zamboni Machine Makes First NHL Appearance
1955: The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs play to a 0-0 tie at the Montreal Forum. Habs goalie Jacques Plante and Leafs goalie hold both teams scoreless, but that’s not the big news. The Zamboni machine debuts to help resurface the ice between period.
In-game ice maintenance would require a team of workers that had to to meticulously squeegee the ice. The machine was created by Frank Zamboni in 1949 and becomes a staple at rinks around the world.
Other Notable Events
1920: Quebec Bulldogs forward Joe Malone becomes the first player to score six goals twice in one career. He hits the Ottawa Senators for six in a 10-4 victory after doing it six weeks earlier against the Sens.
1927: Montreal’s Howie Morenz gets his first career hat trick in a 4-2 win over the Toronto St. Patricks.
1971: Boston Bruins defenceman Bobby Orr scores twice in an 8-1 rout of the California Golden Seals. His two goals give him 34, which is the most by a defender in a single season.
1978: Boston acquires Dennis O’Brien off waivers from Cleveland Barons to make him the first player to be on four teams in the season season. He starts with the Minnesota North Stars before being traded to the Colorado Rockies and the Barons in the same campaign.
1980: The New York Islanders acquire Butch Goring from the Los Angeles Kings for Billy Harris and Dave Lewis. Goring becomes a key cog in the Isles four straight Stanley Cups.
1992: Islanders coach Al Arbour gets his 700th in a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Arbour joins Scotty Bowman as the only coaches to win that many games at that point.
Pittsburgh Penguins great Mario Lemieux gets to 100 points for the seventh time in his career. He gets an assist in a 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames.
2002: San Jose Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabakov is the first netminder to score a power-play goal in a 7-4 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
2003: Toronto’s Mats Sundin gets his 1,000th NHL point with a goal in a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Happy Birthday to You
1961: Mike Bullard
1975: Andy Sutton
1987: Tuukka Rask
1995: Tyler Motte
