 |
8 Odd And Unbelievable Headlines
(listed chronologically)
 |
 DOUG HARVEY COACHES, PLAYS, WINS NORRIS...ALL IN ONE YEAR
After a remarkable 14-year career with Montreal that saw him win six Stanley Cups, Doug Harvey was traded to the Rangers in the summer of 1961 despite having just won his fifth Norris Trophy. He was named head coach of New York and promised to play a regular shift on the team's defence as well for the coming season. Not only did the Rangers make the playoffs under coach Harvey, he won the Norris Trophy again, the first time a coach had won a playing trophy and the only defenceman ever to win back-to-back Norrises with two different teams.
|
 THE IGLOO OPENS (SOMETIMES)
The Civic Arena, as the Igloo is more formally named, was built in 1961 and today is the NHL's oldest arena. The roof is without steel beams and is the largest such retractable roof in the world, though the Penguins have never played a game with the roof open and it has only been open for other events a handful of times in its 40 years.
|
 DAVE DRYDEN STARTS HIS NHL CAREER FROM THE STANDS
A member of the OHA's Toronto Marlies in 1961-62, Dryden was the sub goalie designate at Maple Leaf Gardens the night of February 3, 1962 for the Rangers-Toronto game. When Gump Worlsey got hurt, Dryden was pressed into duty, playing two periods and allowing three goals in a 4-1 Rangers' loss to the Leafs.
|
 EDDIE SHACK MAKES DEBUT PLATTER
Such was his popularity in Toronto that Eddie the Entertainer turned his talents to platters, making "Clear the Track, Here Comes Shack." The song was "covered" by The Secrets in 1966, and many other Leafs from those glory years (Frank Mahovlich, Johnny Bower, and Punch Imlach) also made records of one sort or another.
|
 TORONTO USES THREE GOALIES--IN ONE GAME
On the final game of the 1965-66 season, April 3, 1966, coach Punch Imlach became the first and only man to use three goalies in one game. Johnny Bower played the first period against Detroit, and Terry Sawchuk the second with Bower as his backup. Then Imlach declared Bower had the flu, and he was allowed to dress Bruce Gamble who went in and played the third period while Bower coached from the bench and Imlach watched the game from up high to do a little scouting.
|
 A DEFENCEMAN TAKES CUP-WINNING FACEOFF
It was a preposterous sight, the 41-year old defenceman named Allan Stanley taking a face-off against one of the best forwards in the game, Jean Beliveau. And, the Stanley Cup was on the line. A minute to go, goalie Gump Worsley on the bench for a sixth man, and the Habs trying to tie a 2-1 Toronto game for the ’67 Cup. Stanley won the draw and George Armstrong iced the game with an empty net goal.
|
 THE SPECTRUM CAVES IN
In February 1968, during their first season, the Flyers faced an embarrassing problem when their new home, the Spectrum, lost its roof during a storm. The end of the regular season and playoffs had to be played in New York and Quebec City, but the majority of the games were rescheduled for Toronto.
|
 IIHF FINALLY ALLOWS CHECKING
Believe it or not, international hockey rules prohibited checking in the offensive zone until 1968, when the IIHF brought the game into a modern context. The rule had been implemented to protect defencemen from oncoming forwards wanting to crash heavily into the blueliners who were chasing the puck down. Beginning with the 1968 Olympics, checking was finally permitted anywhere on the ice.
|
|
|
 |
