Hockey is back! Normally we’d be closing in on the NHL trade deadline for 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 February 21st, featuring Team Canada winning the women’s hockey gold medal.
Today in Hockey History
Team Canada Takes Women’s Hockey Gold in 2002
2002: The Canadian women get their first Olympic hockey gold after topping the United States, 3-2. Jayna Hefford got the game-winning goal to help Canada beat the U.S. in front of a partisan crowd in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Canada’s win avenges the 1998 loss it suffered to the United States in Nagano, Japan. Both teams have won the gold medal in the seven finals.
Other Notable Events
1928: Brothers square off for the first time behind the benches as the Boston Bruins take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sprague Cleghorn fills in for Art Ross behind the Bruins bench while Odie Cleghorn coaches the Pirates in a 2-0 Boston win.
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1946: Lester Patrick resigns as New York Rangers general manager due to health reasons. Coach Frank Boucher takes over for Patrick, who won three Stanley Cups with the team. However, the Rangers have to wait until 1994 for their next Cup.
1970: Chicago Blackhawks forward Bobby Hull scores his 500th career goal in a 4-2 win over the Rangers. He joins Gordie Howe and Maurice Richard as the only 500-goal scorers.
Howe gets an assist as the Detroit Red Wings beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 7-5. He becomes the first player to get 50 points or more in 21 straight seasons.
1984: Edmonton Oilers centre Wayne Gretzky gets four goals for his 27th career hat trick in a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Blues. r, Gretzky scores four more against the Pittsburgh Penguins to give him eight goals in two nights.
1999: Carolina Hurricanes forward Ray Sheppard scores twice in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders. He becomes the first player to score 20 goals with six different teams.
2001: The Colorado Avalanche defenceman Ray Bourque plays Boston for the first time since the big trade. He gets two assists in an 8-2 rout of the Bruins.
2015: Marian Gaborik helps the Los Angeles Kings beat the San Jose Sharks in a Stadium Series game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Gaborik pots the game-winner 4:04 into the third period.
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Happy Birthday to You
1888: Hap Holmes
1946: Danny Grant
1973: Brian Rolston
1976: Ryan Smyth
1980: Jim Vandermeer
1984: James Wisniewski
1989: Ian Cole; Jake Muzzin
