Hockey is finally back, but we at Last Word on Hockey are still going to look back at each date\u2019s historical significance to the game. We\u2019ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here\u2019s our look at this date in hockey history for September 11th, featuring the NHL expansion to 14 teams.<\/p>\n
1969:<\/strong> The league approves the NHL expansion of the league from 12 to 14 teams. Buffalo and Vancouver join the league for the 1970-71 season. The Buffalo Sabres<\/a> and Vancouver Canucks<\/a> are chosen out of a group that includes Atlanta, Baltimore, Kansas City, Cleveland and Washington D.C.<\/p>\n Both teams enter the East Division while the Chicago Blackhawks go out West. The two teams have yet to win the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n 1943:<\/strong> The NHL approves its proposal for a Hall of Fame. A total of 12 charter members are honoured despite having no physical location. The Hall of Fame finds a home at the Canadian National Exhibition in 1961.<\/p>\n 1967:<\/strong> The St. Louis Blues<\/a> open their first training camp at the St. Louis Arena. A total of 29 pros and 28 amateurs attend the camp.<\/p>\n 1993:<\/strong> The New York Rangers<\/a> beat the Toronto Maple Leafs,<\/a> 5-3, in the first of two games at Wembley Arena in London. New York wins the second game and gets the French’s Mustard Cup.<\/p>\n 1995: Larry Robinson<\/a><\/strong> headlines this year’s Hockey Hall of Fame class. Fred \u201cBun\u201d Cook, Bill Torrey, <\/strong>and Gunther Sabetzki<\/strong> also enter the Hall.<\/p>\n Chicago names defenceman Chris Chelios<\/a><\/strong> as its new team captain. He replaces the recently-retired Dirk Graham<\/a><\/strong> in the role.<\/p>\n 1999:<\/strong> The Atlanta Thrashers<\/a> defeat the Nashville Predators,<\/a> 3-1, in their first exhibition game. Atlanta struggles in its opening season in the league with a 14-57-7-4 record to finish last in their division.<\/p>\n 2001:<\/strong> The Los Angeles Kings<\/a> and the hockey world are rocked by tragedy. Scouts Ace Bailey<\/a><\/strong> and Mark Bavis<\/strong> die in the 9\/11 terrorist attack that struck the World Trade Center. Bob Sweeney<\/a><\/strong>‘s sister-in-law Amy Sweeney is a flight attendant that also dies in the attack. Sweeney is a former player and director of the Boston Bruins<\/a> Foundation.<\/p>\n 2002:<\/strong> The Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> name Dave Andreychuk<\/a><\/strong> as the team’s seventh team captain. Andreychuk helps the team win its only Stanley Cup in team history in 2004.<\/p>\n 2003:<\/strong> The Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a> name Luke Richardson<\/a><\/strong> as the third captain in team history. Richardson goes to Toronto in March 2006 after one season-plus as captain.<\/p>\n 1943: Butch Paul<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 1951: Miroslav Dvo\u0159\u00e1k<\/strong><\/p>\n 1966: Craig Billington<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 1980: Mike Comrie<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 1986: Ben Scrivens<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 1994: Teuvo Teravainen<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Main Photo<\/p>\nOther Notable Events<\/h3>\n
Happy Birthday to You<\/h3>\n