From the THW Archives, written by former contributor Alli Baker and initially printed Feb. 16, 2015.
So that you assume you understand every thing there may be to find out about hockey, eh? Nicely if you understand greater than half of those unusual info, you’re both a hockey buff otherwise you’ve received an excessive amount of time in your palms.
1. One Greenback Man
In 1993, Kris Draper was traded to the Detroit Pink Wings for simply $1. This led to his nickname in Detroit — the “One Greenback Man.” Draper ended up being value rather more than a greenback, although. He went on to play 17 seasons with the Wings, taking part in 1137 video games and racking up 158 objectives over that interval. Draper additionally received 4 Stanley Cups with Detroit in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008.
2. The Nice One
You need to know Wayne Gretzky is the all-time main factors scorer within the NHL, however do you know The Nice One would nonetheless maintain this file even when he by no means scored a aim? Even with out scoring as soon as in his profession, Gretzky racked up so many assists, he would nonetheless be the NHL’s all-time main point-scorer. That’s numerous assists.
3. The First Objective
The Montreal Wanderer’s Dave Ritchie scored the primary official NHL aim on December 19, 1917. The aim was scored in opposition to the Toronto Arenas.
4. Don’t Neglect the Girls
There are 12 ladies named on the Stanley Cup — all of them being homeowners or staff executives. Marguerite Norris, the president of the Detroit Pink Wings from 1954-55, was the primary girl to have her title engraved on the Cup.
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Sonia Scurfield, the co-owner of the Calgary Flames in 1989, is the one Canadian girl to have her title on the Cup.
5. The Millon Greenback Man
In 1971, the Boston Bruins signed Bobby Orr to a five-year deal, value $200,000 per 12 months. This was the primary million-dollar contract signed within the NHL. Orr ended up scoring 181 objectives over that point and was properly well worth the cash spent.
6. Dimension Doesn’t Matter
Roy Worters, the previous goaltender for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York People and Montreal Canadiens, is the shortest participant to play within the NHL. Waters measured 5-foot-3 tall and performed in 484 video games from 1925-1937.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, Boston Bruins’ defenceman Zdeno Chara is the tallest participant to ever play within the NHL. The Slovak native stands at 6-foot-9 tall, a full foot-and-a-half taller than Waters.
7. The Earliest Puck
Rumor has it that the earliest hockey pucks have been truly simply frozen items of cow dung. I believe it’s secure to say we’re all grateful they got here up with a greater materials for pucks. The trendy model is made from vulcanized rubber and is one inch thick and weighs between 5.5 and 6 ounces.
8. The Cup
The Stanley Cup was initially solely seven inches tall. It’s named after Lord Stanley of Preston, the governor-general of Canada on the time. The Cup was awarded to the top-ranked newbie Canadian hockey staff. The trophy continues to be awarded to the most effective staff, but it surely now stands over 35 inches excessive.
9. Quickest Shot
Bobby Hull reportedly holds the file for the quickest slapshot ever recorded at 118 miles per hour, however that was again when know-how wasn’t very subtle — his wristshot was clocked at 105 mph. Nicknamed “the Golden Jet,” Hull spent 23 seasons within the Nationwide Hockey League and World Hockey Affiliation, taking part in for the Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets and Hartford Whalers.
The quickest slapshot recorded in fashionable occasions with fashionable know-how was Zdeno Chara’s depraved 108.8 mph monster in 2012 on the All-Star Expertise Competitors.
Arguments can nonetheless be made that Al MacInnis had the toughest slapshot of all-time however his radar speeds have been hampered by his use of a wood stick as a substitute of the composite variations everybody makes use of immediately.
10. Goalie Objectives
Billy Smith, the previous netminder for the New York Islanders, is the primary goaltender to be credited with scoring a aim. Smith scored his aim on November 28, 1979.
Michel Plasse, former goaltender for the CHL’s Kansas Metropolis Blues, scored a aim on February 21, 1971, as properly. So if you happen to’re holding observe of all of the completely different leagues, Plasse is technically the primary.
The Philadelphia Flyer’s former goalie Ron Hextall is the second goaltender to attain a aim, however the first to attain by taking a shot of his personal. Together with Hextall and Smith, eleven goaltenders have scored objectives within the NHL. Martin Brodeur has essentially the most objectives by a goaltender with three.
Nicely, there you’ve it. Now you’ve been educated on hockey historical past.
What number of info did you already know? Is there an attention-grabbing hockey incontrovertible fact that you understand that wasn’t listed? Publish it within the feedback beneath.
