Hockey is finally back, but we at Last Word on Hockey are 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 August 11th, featuring Drew Doughty.
Today in Hockey History
Drew Doughty Signs With Kings
2008: The Los Angeles Kings sign the second overall pick of the 2008 NHL Draft to a contract. Doughty leads all rookies in ice time with 23:49 per game. He also gets six goals and 27 points in his first season with Los Angeles.
Doughty becomes a key part of the Kings reversal of fortunes in the 2010’s. He helps Los Angeles win Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014. The London, Ontario native also wins the Norris Trophy for top defenceman in 2016.
Other Notable Events
1914: Hockey Hall of Famer Rudy Pilous is born in Winnipeg. He wins a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks as coach in 1961. Pilous also coaches various junior hockey teams and is general manager and coach for the Winnipeg Jets in the WHA. He is the GM when the Jets win the AVCO World Trophy in 1976, 1978, and 1979.
1920: Former New York Americans and New York Rangers goalie Chuck Rayner is born in Sutherland, Saskatchewan. His best season is in 1949-50 with the Rangers when he wins the Hart Trophy. He goes 28-30 with 11 ties and gets New York into the postseason. Rayner helps the Rangers upset the Montreal Canadiens in the semifinals. He nearly leads the team to the Cup, but Pete Babando‘s overtime-winner helped the Detroit Red Wings win.
1958: Notorious agitator Ken Linseman is born in Kingston, Ontario. He plays in 860 games and earns 1,727 penalty minutes in his long career. “The Rat” also totals 807 points in games with the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
1989: Gord Stellick resigns as general manager of the Maple Leafs after one season. He was the member of the organization for the last 17 years and was the youngest general manager in league history. Stellick is now a co-host on SiriusXM’s NHL Network Radio with Rob Simpson.
Happy Birthday to You
1920: Chuck Rayner
1925: Floyd Curry
1930: Larry Popein
1958: Ken Linseman
1965: Marc Bergevin
1976: Lubomir Visnovsky
1980: Jason Williams
1994: Alexander Kerfoot
