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 27th featuring Elmer Lach.
Today in Hockey History
Elmer Lach Part of 1966 HOF Class
1966: A pair of Montreal Canadiens make the Hall of Fame on this date. Lach and linemate Toe Blake are welcomed into hockey’s hallowed shrine. The duo were part of the famous “Punch Line” along with the great Maurice Richard. Lach won the 1945 Hart Trophy winner and scored 215 goals in 664 games.
Ted Lindsay, Butch Bouchard, Frank Brimsek, Ken Reardon, Babe Pratt, Ted Kennedy and Max Bentley are inducted as players. Former league president Clarence Campbell enters the hal as a builder.
Other Notable Events
1962: Future Hall of Famer Adam Oates is born in Weston, Ontario. He plays in the NCAA after being called too slow. Oates would go to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and lead the Engineers to the 1985 NCAA title. RPI would go 85-19 during his tenure.
He signs with the Detroit Red Wings, but his career blossoms with the St. Louis Blues. The 2012 Hall of Famer would also play with the Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Edmonton Oilers. He finishes with 341 goals, 1,079 assists and 1,420 points in 1,337 NHL games.
1970: The Hall of Fame welcomes more new members. Bill Gadsby, Tom Johnson, and Cecil “Babe” Dye all gain entry to hockey’s shrine.
1974: Detroit acquires former Calder Trophy winner Danny Grant from the Minnesota North Stars. Henry Boucha comes over from the Red Wings in return.
1981: Soviet great Valeri Kharlamov dies in a car accident at the age of 33. He makes it to the IIHF, Hockey Hall of Fame and Russian Hockey Hall of Fame. One of the divisions in KHL is named after him.
1992: Montreal gets Vincent Damphousse from Edmonton in exchange for Shayne Corson and Brent Gilchrist. Damphousse scores at least 38 goals three times with the Habs and wins the Stanley Cup in 1993.
1993: The Los Angeles Kings trade Marty McSorley to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Shawn McEachern comes to the Kings in exchange.
1996: The Tampa Bay Lightning obtain Dino Ciccarelli from the Red Wings for a conditional draft pick 1998. He scores 35 goals with the Lightning in his first season with the club.
Boston signs free agent goalie Tim Cheveldae to a contract. He appears in only two games and then loaned to the Fort Wayne Komets of the International Hockey League.
Happy Birthday to You
1940: Doug Robinson
1962: Adam Oates
1974: Manny Fernandez
1979: Karel Rachunek
