Normally we’d be in the 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 January 3rd, featuring Jaromir Jagr.
Today in Hockey History
Jaromir Jagr is Oldest to Get Hat Trick
2015: The New Jersey Devils forward is the oldest to get a hat trick in league history. Jagr gets the mark with a three-goal game in a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. At 42 years, 322 days old, Jagr is more than a year older than Gordie Howe. Mr. Hockey achieved the feat at 41 years, 216 days on Nov. 2, 1969.
Jagr’s hat trick comes 23 years, 11 months and 1 day after his first three-goal game for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Boston Bruins on Feb. 2, 1991.
Other Notable Events
1929: Bruins defenceman Eddie Shore drives through a blizzard to score the only goal in a 1-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Shore makes his way from Boston to Montreal to make it on time.
1939: Future Hall of Famer Bobby Hull is born on this date in Port Anne, Ontario. He debuts with the Chicago Black Hawks as an 18-year-old in the 1957-58 season. Hull was one of the first players to sign with the World Hockey Association with the Winnipeg Jets. He goes on to score 610 career goals between Chicago and Winnipeg.
1943: The Bentley brothers combine for a goal in the Chicago’s 3-3 tie with the New York Rangers. Reg Bentley tallies on a goal assisted by Doug Bentley and Max Bentley in the first period.
1970: Both Howe of the Detroit Red Wings and George Armstrong of the Toronto Maple Leafs enter their fourth decade of play. Detroit tops Philadelphia 6-1 while Toronto beats Chicago 6-2.
1990: Quebec Nordiques forward Guy Lafleur scores his 545th goal to move post Maurice Richard on the all-time scoring list. Quebec still falls, 5-4, to Toronto.
1991: Los Angeles Kings centre Wayne Gretzky gets three goals as he surpasses 700 in 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders. It’s his 47th career hat trick.
2018: Andreas Athanasiou ties the NHL record for the fastest regular-season overtime goal when he scores six seconds into OT. The Wings forward scores to help them beat the Ottawa Senators, 2-1.
2019: Nikita Kucherov scores a goal and three assists as the Tampa Bay Lightning extend their point streak to 16 games with a 6-2 win over Los Angeles.
Happy Birthday to You
1939: Bobby Hull
1945: Real Lemieux; Mike Walton
1950: Rick MacLeish
1968: Kerry Huffman
1971: Cory Cross
1972: Drake Berehowsky
1978: Mike York
1991: Ryan Ellis
