Yesterday in Hockey History: June 13
Tomorrow in Hockey History: June 15
This is one of the most memorable days ever on Broadway, and it has nothing to do with music. Hockey fans in the Big Apple waited 54 seasons when it happened back on this day in 1994. Also, the NHL officially expanded to the Sunshine State. Let’s jump aboard the THW time machine and take a trip back in time to discover all the best June 14th has to offer.
Rangers End Their Drought
June 14, 1994, is a day that will live in the hearts of New York Rangers fans until the end of time. This was the day the Rangers ended their 54-year championship drought by beating the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The home crowd at Madison Square Garden had plenty to cheer about early on as Brian Leetch and Adam Graves put the Rangers up 2-0 after halftime. Trevor Linden got the Canucks on the board with a shorthanded goal early in the second period, but Mark Messier got it on a power play later in the frame. Linden scored again, early in the third period, but it wasn’t enough as the Rangers held on for the historic win.
“It was an amazing feeling to see generations of fans finally see the Stanley Cup in New York and on the Madison Square Garden ice,” Messier said of the Game 7 win. “It was a lifelong dream for many fans, a lifelong dream for many people in the organization, and most of the players as well. I don’t think words can describe what happened and the feeling that came from that win so many years later. To this day, we are all very grateful for the efforts of everyone – not just the players but the organization, the whole way – that made this tournament a success.”
Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for being named the postseason’s most valuable player. He had 11 goals, 34 points, and a plus-19 average in 23 games to become the first US-born player to win the Conn Smythe.
In the losing effort, Canucks goaltender Kirk McLean set the NHL record for most minutes played in a single playing year, with 1,543:45. He broke Ron Hextall’s record of 1,542:22, set with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987. His mark currently sits in fifth place. Andrei Vasilevskiy currently holds the record after playing 1,708:12 for the Lightning in 2020.
Shorthanded First
The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime on June 14, 2006, in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Fernando Pisani started his big night by putting the Oilers up 1-0 just 16 minutes into the game. After Eric Staal and Ray Whitney scored for the Hurricanes, Ales Hemsky and Michael Peca responded late in the first half to give Edmonton a 3-2 lead. Staal scored the last goal of regulation midway through the second half to tie the game.
Pisani won the game for the Oilers with a shorthanded goal 3:31 into overtime to avoid elimination and force a Game 6.
He became the first player ever to score a short-handed goal in extra time in a final. With his goal in the first half, he became only the second player ever to score in the first minute and extra time of a final game. Sid Smith became the first player to do that for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1951.
Big Day in Florida
On June 14, 1993, the NHL officially granted the Miami area a franchise, thus the Florida Panthers were officially born. The team began playing the following season and made its NHL debut on Oct. 6, 1993, in a 4-4 tie with the Chicago Blackhawks. They made their home debut at the Miami Arena on October 12, 1993, losing 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
One year later, on June 14, 1994, Bobby Clarke returned to the Flyers as general manager, president, and part owner. Clarke served as the Panthers’ first general manager last year.
Odds & Ends
On June 14, 1945, the NHLs Board of Governors rejected a request for a franchise in Philadelphia that would begin in the 1946-47 season. Philadelphia, which had a team in the 1930-31 season, remained without representation until 1967, when the Flyers joined the league.
The Blackhawks named Ebbie Goodfellow as their new coach on June 14, 1950, replacing Charlie Conacher. He won just 30 games in his seasons behind the bench in Chicago.
Most people remember Glen Sather from his days as the most successful coach and general manager of the Oilers and Rangers. However, he enjoyed a long playing career that spanned 10 seasons. On June 14, 1974, he was traded by St. Louis Blues to the Montreal Canadiens to complete the deal made a few weeks earlier that sent Rick Wilson the other way.
The NHL Amateur Draft took place on June 14, 1977, in Montreal. The Detroit Red Wings used the first overall pick to select center Dale McCourt. He scored 134 goals and 337 points in 341 games with the Red Wings.
Other picks from that draft include Doug Wilson (6th, Blackhawks), John Anderson (11).thMaple Leafs), Mike Bossy (15thNew York Islanders), John Tonelli (33rdIslanders), Rod Langway (36thCanadiens), Gordie Roberts (54thCanadiens), Greg Millen (102n.dPenguins) and Pete Peeters (135thFlyers).
On June 14, 1978, the Flyers traded Tom Bladon, Ross Lonsberry, and Orest Kindrachuk to the Penguins for a first-round pick in the 1978 NHL Amateur draft. They use that option (6th overall) to pick defenseman Behn Wilson. His best season in Philadelphia came in 1980-81 when he scored 16 goals and 63 points and had a plus-41 average in 77 games. He was traded to the Blackhawks following the 1982-83 season.
Three years before meeting in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Penguins and Minnesota North Stars both made coaching moves on June 14, 1988. The Penguins fired head coach Pierre Creamer after one year with the team, where they finished with a 36-35-9 record but missed the playoffs. Gene Ubriaco was later hired in his place.
The North Stars fired coach Herb Brooks after one year with the team, where he finished 19-48-13. They also named Jack Ferreira as their new general manager, replacing Lou Nanne.
The Los Angeles Kings named Andy Murray their new coach on June 14, 1999. He replaced Larry Robinson, who was fired after the 1998-99 season. He would go on to win 215 games with the Kings before being released late in the 2005-06 season.
On June 14, 2001, the Hockey Hall of Fame announced its new induction class. Viacheslav Fetisov, Mike Gartner, Dale Hawerchuk, and Jari Kurri all entered as players.
Craig Patrick, former assistant coach of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” US hockey team and former general manager of the Penguins, was voted as a builder.
happy Birthday to you
An impressive group of 28 current and former NHL players were born on this day. The most prominent names on the list are James Patrick (63), Eric Desjardins (57), Sami Kapanen (53), Ryan Johnson (50), Steve Begin (48), Matt Read (40), Andrew Cogliano (39), Devante Smith-Pelly (34), Eric Robinson (31), Parker Kelly (27), and the late Park Day, John Adams, and the late Donald Adams.
*Originally created by Greg Boysen
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