Sports History

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HookedOnHockey.com celebrates May 30 with many pieces of hockey lore like:
1979 - Don Cherry was named coach of the Colorado Rockies (before the franchise moved to New Jersey and became the Devils).
2000 – NJ Devil Defenseman Ken Daneyko, scored his first playoff goal.
plus more...

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ThisDayinHockeyHistory.com remembers the May 29 event of:
1976-Houston Aeros Draft Bobby Orr

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The Hockey Writers website shares a few of the gems of the day for May 26 such as:
1986 - Mario Lemieux won the Lester Pearson Award.
1992 - Mario Lemieux lights the lamp with just 13 seconds remaining for the Penguins to secure a 5-4 win over Chicago, and end their 11 game playoff win streak.
These stories and more await.

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The NHL.com has some great moments in hockey history of the day, like:
1985 - Jari Kurri scored a record-tying 19th goal for Oilers playoffs.
1998 - Craig Berube scores the first playoff goal of his 12-year NHL career.
1999 - Chris Drury ties a rookie playoff record with his fourth game-winning goal.
These items and more!

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Hooked on Hockey has multiple events to share from May 29 such as:
2001 – The Columbus Blue Jackets signed free agent Brett Harkins.

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The NHL.com posts some great items for June 3 Hockey history including:
1982 -Dave Keon retires after 18 NHL seasons
1993 - Eric Desjardins has first hat trick by defenseman in Cup Final.
2000 - Jason Arnott has a goal and an assist, rookie defenseman Brian Rafalski has two assists and the New Jersey Devils defeat the Dallas Stars 2-1 in Game 3 of the Cup Final
2004 - Calgary Flames earn playoff-record 10th road win

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The NHL.com shares these gems of May 28 hockey history:
1999 - Rookie Chris Drury scores at 19:29 of overtime to give the Colorado Avalanche a 3-2 victory against the Dallas Stars
2013 - Justin Williams scored two goals to help the Los Angeles Kings defeat the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

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TedTalksHockey.com tells of the 1989, The Calgary Flames defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 to win the 1989 Stanley Cup.

Gordon Blanchard Keats, better known as "Duke" or the "Iron Duke," wasn't your typical hockey player. He wasn't a flashy scorer or a bone-crushing defenseman. Yet, Duke Keats carved a unique path in hockey history, leaving his mark on the game with his exceptional talent, leadership, and unwavering dedication.

-Early Days and a WCHL Legacy

Born in 1895, Keats began his professional career at the tender age of 14, playing semi-professionally in the Cobalt Mining League. His journey continued with the Toronto Blueshirts of the National Hockey Association (NHA) before taking a break to fight in World War I. Upon his return, he joined the Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) in 1919. This marked the beginning of a dominant era for Keats.

-A Star in the West

For the next five seasons, Keats established himself as a force in the WCHL. He was a complete player, excelling at both offense and defense. His leadership qualities were evident, earning him the captaincy of the Eskimos. Keats led the league in scoring on multiple occasions and was a fixture on WCHL All-Star teams. He helped guide the Eskimos to the league finals in 1923, showcasing his competitive spirit and clutch play.

-The NHL and a Brief, Impactful Stint

Despite his dominance in the WCHL, Keats' arrival in the NHL at the age of 31 was relatively late. He played for the Boston Bruins, Detroit Cougars, and Chicago Black Hawks between 1926 and 1929. Though his time in the league was brief, Keats left his mark. He was known for his strong work ethic, leadership qualities, and ability to elevate the play of his teammates. He even recorded the first hat trick in Detroit Cougars franchise history.

Duke Keats played for Toronto Blueshirts of the National Hockey Association, Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Canada Hockey League, and the Boston Bruins, Detroit Cougars and Chicago Black Hawks of the NHL. He is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Born February 9, 1907, in Newmarket, Ontario, was Hockey Hall of Fame Right Wing/Defenseman Dit Clapper. This legend was a three-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Boston Bruins and a six-time NHL All-Star. Along with teammates Dutch Gainor and Cooney Weiland, they made up the original Bruins line that was called the "Dynamite Line." Clapper set a few scoring record marks during the 1930s. Dit was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1947 as the first member to be alive at the time of induction.