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 12th, featuring the 2019-20 NHL season being paused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today in Hockey History
COVID-19 Suspended 2019-20 NHL Season
2020: The global COVID-19 pandemic pauses the 2019-20 NHL season with 189 regular season games left. Sports league around the world suspended play, including the NBA and MLB. NCAA conference basketball tournaments also shut down in wake of pandemic.
The league did announce its “Return to Play” on May 26 and resumed play in late July in bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton. NHL officials were able pull a successful Stanley Cup playoffs with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning their second championship.
Other Notable Events
1935: The St. Louis Eagles defeat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in the final home game of the 1934-35 season. It’s the last home game as the team folds and hockey doesn’t come back to the area until 1967.
1961: Chicago Blackhawks winger Bobby Hull scores his 100th career goal in a 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He becomes the third-fastest to 100 goals, trailing Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau.
1966: Hull becomes the first player to score 51 goals in a season with a third-period goal in a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers. He scores his 610th and final goal 14 years later as a member of the Winnipeg Jets in a 4-4 tie with the Hartford Whalers.
1967: Chicago clinches the regular season crown for the first time since entering the league in 1926. They get a 5-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs to get the Prince of Wales Trophy.
1974: Boston Bruins defenceman Bobby Orr scores 100 points for the fifth straight season. He gets the milestone with an assist in a 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
1980: Gordie Howe makes his final visit Detroit in the Whalers’ 4-4 tie with the Wings. He plays on a line with sons, Mark Howe and Marty Howe, and gets an assist.
2015: St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock gets his 700th win in a 1-0 shootout with the Philadelphia Flyers.
2018: Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin gets his 600th goal in a 3-2 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets.
Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury gets his 400th career victory in 3-2 win over Philadelphia.
Happy Birthday to You
1908: Russ Blinco
1930: Bronco Horvath
1931: Danny Lewicki
1976: Deron Quint
1977: Brent Johnson
1983: Mikko Koivu
1987: Vadim Shipachyov
1989: Evgenii Dadonov
