Vintage Minnesota Hockey - History

1908:  Former NHL right winger Leroy Goldsworthy born in Two Harbors, MN.  Goldsworthy played in the NHL 1929-30 through 1938-39 with the New York Rangers, Detroit, Chicago, Montreal, Boston and the New York Americans.

1951:  Former NHL center Mike Antonovich born in Calumet, MN.  Antonovich played in the NHL 1975-76 through 1983-84 with the North Stars, Hartford and New Jersey.

1961:  Former NHL center John Johannson born in Rochester, MN.  Johannson played in the NHL 1983-84 with New Jersey.

1967:  North Stars faced the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time in team history, and played to a 3-3 tie at the Civic Arena.

1967:  Andy Bathgate scored the first hat trick in Penguins history as Pittsburgh tied 3-3 with the visiting North Stars.

1972:  North Stars' defenseman Tom Reid (playing in a game vs. Atlanta Flames) was hit by the puck 11 times during one game.  Shortly thereafter he helped develop the first light plastic ankle guard for hockey players.  (Maniago got the shutout 6-0).

1972:  Tommy Williams scored the WHA Whalers' first hat trick in New England's 4-1 win at Houston.

1972:  Goaltender Cesare Maniago recorded his 20th career shutout as the N-Stars won 6-0 against the Flames, in Atlanta.  Dennis Hextall scored two goals and two assists, and J.P. Parise had a goal and three assists.

1973:  Jude Drouin scored a goal and added two assists as the North Stars tied 4-4 with the Red Wings at Detroit.

1975:  Former MN Wild left winger Jean-Guy Trudel born in Sudbury, Ont.

1975:  The Carlson Brothers from Virginia, MN - Jack, Jeff and Steve suited up on same line together for Minnesota Fighting Saints at St. Paul Civic Center in 3-1 loss to visiting Edmonton Oilers.  With the line, it was the second time an only brother line suited up in the history of professional hockey - that was later played out in cult classic movie Slap Shot with Hanson Brothers playing on same line - "All right boys, show us what ya' got". (First was Bentley Brothers - Max, Doug and Dick - who played together with Chicago Blackhawks in 1940's) 

1978:  N-Stars traded center Dennis Maruk to the Capitals in exchange for Pittsburgh's #1 pick in 1979 (from an earlier deal).  The N-Stars used the pick to select Tom McCarthy.

1978:  MN rookie Bobby Smith scored the first goal of his NHL career, and added an assist, in the North Stars' 7-2 win over the visiting Vancouver Canucks.

1978:  Tim Young scored a goal and added two assists and Per-Olov Brasar had three assists to lead the N-Stars to a 7-2 win over Vancouver at the Met Center.

1979:  Former MN Wild defenseman Alex Henry born in Elliot Lake, Ont.

1980:  Minnesota's Tim Young scored both goals as the North Stars lost 6-2 in Alberta in their first meeting against the Calgary Flames.

1980:  The US Hockey Hall of Fame enshrined it's eighth-year members since opening in 1973 on this date in Eveleth, MN.  Inducted were:  Administrators: Frank Kahler & Walter Bush Jr.

1983:  Phil Housley scored twice to lead the Sabres to a 3-1 win over the Penguins at Pittsburgh.

1986:  Neal Broten had three assists to lead the North Stars to a 4-1 win over the Canucks, in Minnesota.

1987:  NHL center Casey Wellman born in Brentwood, Calif.  Wellman has played in the NHL since 2009-10 with Minnesota Wild, New York and Washington.

1990:  NHL right wing Ben Hanowski born in Little Falls, MN.  Hanowski has played in the NHL since 2012-13 with Calgary.

2000:  David Mackey officially announced his NHL retirement after six seasons with Chicago, Minnesota North Stars and St. Louis.

2000:  18-year-old rookie Marian Gaborik scored twice in the final 2:28 of the game to lead the MN Wild to their first victory in team history, 6-5 over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning.

2003:  Jim Dowd became the second player to score 100 points as a member of the Wild; he reached the milestone with a goal and an assist in a 2-2 tie vs Vancouver.

2005:  Organizers for the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships announced the 1st annual upcoming pond hockey tournament on the shores of Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, MN with fake snow falling in the background to capture the "winter spirit" in mid October.  Hockey enthusiasts including former Minnesota Governor Wendell Anderson, and then Governor Tim Pawlenty, alongside co-organizer Fred Haberman talked about the pond hockey championships believed by organizers to be "America's largest outdoor pond hockey tournament, that featured 96-teams, four-on-four competition for both men and women of all ages competing for the coveted golden shovel".

2005:  NY Rangers traded Jamie Lundmark to Phoenix for Jeff Taffe.

2006:  Minnesota's Brian Rolston scored the 1,000th goal in team history, and Marian Gaborik scored 25 seconds into overtime, to give the Wild a 2-1 win against the Kings at Los Angeles.  The win gave Minnesota a 6-0-0 start to the season, best in team history.

2008:  Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom got his 10th career shutout, Tampa Bay's Mike Smith got his 7th career shutout and Antti Miettinen scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Wild a 1-0 win over the Lightning, and their first shutout ever in Tampa Bay.

2009:  Minnesota Wild acquired Chuck Kobasew from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Craig Weller, a second round pick in 2011 and the rights to Alexander Fallstrom.