Hockey is finally back! Normally we’d be closing in on the mid-way point of the regular 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 February 9th featuring the 1967 NHL expansion.
Today in Hockey History
NHL Expansion Announced for 1967
1966: The league announces its first expansion since it dropped to six teams in 1942-43. Six franchises are given conditional entry into the league for the 1967-68 campaign.
Franchises are given to Philadelphia, St. Louis, the Twin Cities, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. The newcomers will pay a $2 million franchise fee and must have an arena that seats at least 12,500. Philadelphia is the first team expansion team to win a Stanley Cup.
Other Notable Events
1924: The league announces the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s first individual award. It’s for the player most valuable to their respective team. Ottawa Senators centre Frank Nighbor becomes the first winner after the 1923-24 season.
1971: Ken Hodge assists on all six Boston Bruins goals in a 6-3 home win over the New York Rangers. Phil Esposito gets a goal and four assists as they extend their home unbeaten run to 21 goals (20 wins and a tie.)
1984; Guy Lafleur passes Jean Beliveau for first on the Montreal Canadiens all-time scoring list Lafleur gets three goals and an assist in a 7-6 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. He gets his 1,220th points, which is one more than Beliveau.
1985: New York Islanders forward Bryan Trottier is first player to score 25 goals in each of his first 10 seasons. He scores twice in a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
1988: Mario Lemieux sets an All-Star Game record with six points in a 6-5 overtime win for the Wales Conference over the Campbell Conference. Mats Naslund gets five assists, including on Lemieux’s game-winner to set an assist record.
1992: Mike Gartner becomes the third player in NHL history to score at least 30 goals in 13 consecutive seasons. He gets a third-period goal in a 5-5 tie with the Detroit Red Wings.
2003: New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur to win at least 30 games in eight consecutive season. He gets the win in a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild.
2018: The Islanders become the third team in NHL history to trail by at least three goals in the final 5:26 of the third period and win. They get four power-play goals on a major in a 7-6 win over the Red Wings.
Happy Birthday to You
1894: Bert Corbeau
1907: Dit Clapper
1953: Andre Savard
1958: Chris Nilan
1995: Andre Burakovsky
1997: Mathieu Joseph
2001: Dylan Cozens
