We’re normally getting ready for another hockey season, but we’re in different world. 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 29, featuring the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks playing the Premiere Series.
Today in Hockey History
Kings, Ducks Play Premiere Series in London
2007: The Southern California rivals play the first NHL games in London at the O2 Arena. It’s the first of two games to kick off the 2007-08 season between the Ducks and Kings. Rookie goalie Jonathan Bernier makes 26 saves Mike Cammalleri scores twice in a 4-1 Kings win.
Over 17,000 fans attend the event with fans coming from across Europe. Several wore jerseys from their respective national teams.
Other Notable Events
1963: Hockey Hall of Famer Dave Andreychuk is born in Hamilton, Ontario. He plays 1,639 games during his 23 seasons in the NHL and finishes with 640 goals. Andreychuk scores a record 247 power-play goals over his long career. He finally wins his first Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning and reaches the Hall in 2017.
1976: The Kings acquire Dave Schultz from the Philadelphia Flyers for a pair of draft picks. He plays parts of two seasons with the Kings before going to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The enforcer gets 232 penalty minutes in his only full season in Southern California.
1997: The St. Louis Blues name defenceman Chris Pronger as their 16th team captain. He is the youngest captain in their history at 22 years of age. Pronger serves as team captain for six seasons before giving the “C” to Al MacInnis.
The New York Rangers acquire centre Pat LaFontaine from the Buffalo Sabres in a trade. LaFontaine is one of the few players to play for all three New York-based teams. He gets 62 points with 23 goals and 39 assists in 67 games. However,he sustains a career-ending concussion on March 16, 1998. He retires seven months later and is inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.
1999: The Atlanta Thrashers name Kelly Buchberger as their first team captain. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Edmonton Oilers and plays 68 games with Atlanta. His time as captain is short as he’s traded to the Kings in March 2000.
2002: The New Jersey Devils bring back former star player John MacLean as an assistant coach. He serves in that role until July 2009.
Happy Birthday to You
1947: Walt Tkaczuk
1950: Rolf Edberg
1963: Dave Andreychuk
1964: John Tucker
1965: Trent Yawney
1977: Jon Sim
1986: Benoit Pouliot
1998: Kailer Yamamoto
