Hockey is going strong, but we at Last Word on Hockey are still going to look back at each date’s historical significance to the game. We’ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here’s our look at this date in hockey history for September 25, featuring the addition of three Original Six members. These clubs are the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings.
Today in Hockey History
Original Six Members Chicago, Detroit Enter
1926: The league adds teams in Chicago and Detroit for the 1926-27 seasons. This means the league is now 10 teams with two divisions. Detroit takes the name Cougars because it purchases the Victoria Cougars and its players. They turn into the Red Wings in 1932. The club also had the name Falcons for 1930-32. Chicago calls itself the Black Hawks, who names the team in honor of his military unit in World War I.
Detroit, Chicago and the expansion franchise in New York, known as the Rangers, are placed in a new American Division with the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Pirates. The New York Americans join the four Canadian teams in the Canadian Division.
Other Notable Events
1984: Phil Esposito, Jacques Lemaire and Bernie Parent are enter the Hockey Hall of Fame. Jake Milford and Punch Imlach are also part of this year’s class. Imlach is the architect of the Toronto Maple Leafs four Stanley Cups in the 1960s.
1987: New York Islanders defenceman Denis Potvin announces his retirement at the end of the 1987-88 season. The legendary blueliner is a four-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time Norris Trophy winner. Potvin is one of the few holdovers from the Isles’ 1980s dynasty.
1997: The Pittsburgh Penguins sign free agent goaltender Peter Skudra to a contract. Skudra plays in 74 career games and gets 26 wins with a .894 save percentage and 2.71 goals-against-average.
2002: The NHL awards the 2004 NHL All-Star Game to the Twins Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul. That would be the last All-Star showcase until 2007 due to lockouts and the Olympics.
2019: The incoming Seattle franchise hires Cammi Granato as the first female pro scout. Granato played for the gold medal-winning American squad in the 1998 Olympics. The Seattle Kraken are scheduled to start play in 2021-22.
Happy Birthday to You
1945: Carol Vadnais
1977: Toni Lydman
1984: Matt Carle
1991: Calle Jarnkrok
