'DID YOU KNOW' - Tom Bladon

With one of my recent used book purchases, 'Hockey's Book of Firsts' by James Duplacey, I've become inspired to post a few 'Did You Know' posts.

You know........Did You Know?

Maybe not.  After all, it's been well over a year since I last posted one.

But I loved finding a neat story in the book and then trying to hunt down a card that represented the accomplishment.

And if the name Tom Bladon doesn't ring a bell (or what his achievement might be), then this post, and Mr. Duplacey's book, will have served it's purpose.

'Did You Know' - Defenceman Tom Bladon was the first rearguard to register 8 points in a game.

This excerpt comes straight from the book...

"Tom Bladon had a night for the ages and a slot for the record book on December 11, 1977, when he recorded four goals and added four assists in the Philadelphia Flyers' 11-1 whipping of the Cleveland Barons.  Since Bladon finished the season with only 11 goals and 35 points, he collected 25% of his season's output in a single game!"

Wow.  That's quite a night.

Now, why did I show you a Penguins card from a couple years later?

You can clearly see the fast fact on the bottom of the card.  Card backs can actually house some interesting information if you are looking for it.

There have only been a handful of players to ever score 8 points in a game (13 to be exact) and Mario Lemieux is the only one to have done it three times (Gretzky did it twice).  The majority of these 8-point games came in the 80's when scoring was at an all-time high.

That's what makes Bladon's accomplishment even more impressive.  Up until he has his historic night, only three players ever....EVER had scored eight in a game.  Maurice Richard in the 40's, Bert Olmstead in the 50's and Darryl Sittler's incredible 10-point game in '76.

Tom Bladon held the defenceman single game record for almost a decade when Edmonton's Paul Coffey matched the stat on March 14, 1986.

They remain the only two D-men to have scored 8 in a game.

But there was only one to do it first.

Tom Bladon.


note: in doing some additional research, I learned that Bladon was a +10 on the night, a record at the time and one that still stands to this day.  So that's like two Did You Know's for the price of one.  You're welcome.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Ron Tugnutt

Congrats to the Columbus Blue Jackets for winning their first ever playoff game last night. It was an exciting game and could make for an interesting series. I thought I'd share a CBJ flavored post to celebrate.


Most of the time when I see a card that fits into the 'Did You Know' subject it's because of an obscure bit of information virtually hidden on the back of a card.  Or maybe it's because the card itself has some meaning that might not be readily known to the masses out there.

But in this instance, the info it clear as day....right on the front of the card.

But I thought that with the regular season now over and the Stanley Cup playoffs in full effect, it would be an appropriate stat.

Take into account the fact that the Columbus Blue Jackets have returned to the dance for just the second time in team history (although they blew it in game one) and the fact that the card itself contains one heck of a sweet mask.

Yeah....what can I say. I like masks.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Ron Tugnutt holds the record for most wins by a goalie on an expansion team with 22?

Back in the 2000/01 season, the Columbus Blue Jackets entered the NHL and one of their first free agent signings was Tugnutt (who played for Ottawa and Pittsburgh the previous year).  He appeared in 53 games that season and won 22 times.

He tied the longstanding record on the final game of the season.  Who did he tie?  Minnesota North Stars tender Cesare Maniago (who had 22 wins with the first year team back in the 67/68 season).

I just had to throw this card in.  Love it.

Anyways, let's go back to Tugger's (or is that Nutt's) mask for a moment.  I love the splash look that covers the front of his lid.  It's something that he incorporated way back in his Montreal days.

"I was in Montreal and had to make a new mask so I decided a Molson (Canadian beer) splash would be cool.  That is what has given me ideas since.  If you look back to '94, all my masks have a splash effect on them."

Mask painter Frank Cipra has painted many of Ron's mask and has always incorporated this staple Ron Tugnutt look.

From his days after Montreal when he backstopped Ottawa for three seasons...

...to his brief cup of coffee with the Pittsburgh Penguins.  The masks create an instant identity.  The team name along the chin and big splash on the front.

But Ron Tugnutt isn't just remembered for his mask...or his expansion team wins record...

On March 21, 1991 while playing for the Quebec Nordiques, Tugnutt stopped 70 of 73 shots to earn his team a 3-3 tie against the Boston Bruins, the second highest number of saves made in a regular season game in NHL history.  His performance evoked such respect that several Boston Bruins players came over to congratulate Ron after the game ended.



Or how about this one...

Ron Tugnutt was in net for the May 4, 2000 playoff game against the Philadelphis Flyers where he made 70 saves once again.  This time on 72 shots.  The 72nd shot just happened to be Keith Primeau's OT winner (in the fifth extra stanza).  The longest NHL game since the 1930's.



Tungnutt finished his NHL career with 186 wins in 537 games over 16 seasons.  He's more likely to be known for his moments in time as opposed to his overall career.

And his killer mask designs.


Did I just milk this post into a goalie mask love-in or what?

'DID YOU KNOW' - Doug Keans

It was a few weeks ago that I received a quick query regarding a name I haven't heard since my days of card collecting in the 80's.

A simple question.....but it brought a smile to my face.

"Have you got any Doug Keans cards?"

Doug Keans.  One of the best backup goalies of the 80's (seriously).  He teamed up with Pete Peeters to post some eye-popping numbers as a number two goalie in the Bruins net.

If it weren't for Andy Moog coming into town...who knows what might have come from Keans.

Anyways, I said I'd take a look.  And while I didn't have any stashed away in my closet, I knew there would be someone out there who would.

Cue the local trade night.  Last night as a matter of fact.  I made an equally simple query to the store owner and after explaining the circumstances, he was off to dig up the treasures.

Oh yeah!  While not his rookie card, this Keans pic is a staple to his cardboard career.  Circling the ice during warmups ready for a solid night of benchwarming.

Remember goalies....pinkies up when carrying your gloves.

Another beauty.  The yellow towel gives the illusion of working up a sweat.  And is it playoff time or what?  Keans is sporting a mighty solid spring beard.

What's with the shifty eyes?

These cards just throw me back to the true fun days of collecting and watching hockey.  Check out that equipment.  I remember those helmets and I always tried to make my own blockers out of cardboard, foam and a spare glove (or not so spare sometimes).

This last of the trio actually shows Keans in some game action.  LOVE the leather pads.  That brown just reeks of 80's.

Doug Keans was drafted in 1978 (6th round, 94 overall) by the Los Angeles Kings but it wasn't until he hit Boston that he put up some respectable numbers.

19W-8L-3T....16W-6L-3T....18W-8L-4T.  Those are stats that'll keep you in the league.  Or so one would think.

Like I said, when Boston brought in Andy Moog, Doug Keans became the odd man out.  After the 1987/88 season, he never played in the NHL again.  He finished with 96 wins in 210 career NHL games.

Oh yeah...before I forget.  5'7" and only 175 lbs.  You'll never see that in an NHL goalie these days.  Boy times have changed.

So...this is a 'Did You Know' post.  So what don't most of you know about Doug Keans?

'DID YOU KNOW' - Doug Keans now coaches for the Tampa Bay Junior Lightning hockey club.  Pee Wee A White if I'm not mistaken.

So to Colin (and his dad) over at The Hockey Life, get ready to add some cards to the collection.  Hope you have a fantastic season and learn a ton.


Now to the bigger question.  Does Doug look more like David Arquette...

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or Luke Wilson?

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He's even got a bit of Dennis Lemieux in him too me thinks...



CLASSIC!!

And a big thanks to Darren over at Maple Leaf Sports for donating these cards.  Know that they will go to a great home and be put to good use.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Mike Rogers

When I was on my way to the good ol' monthly trade night earlier this week, I was listening to my local sports radio station and there was a great interview being conducted with a guy that I'm a big fan of.

note: I'm still trying to track down the audio from the interview as I think it's a quality listen.  If I find it, I'll add it.

For those of you who don't listen to Calgary Flames radio, the name Mike Rogers might not mean much.  But he had been the Flames color guy for the past 12 seasons - and a darn good one if you ask me.

Honest, knowledgeable and most of all zero ego.  Rogers showed that you can have class and professionalism and still be a gravitating force.

It was recently announced that he would be retiring from the color slot next to Hall of Fame broadcaster Peter Maher and they will be big shoes to fill.

But the talk during my drive was less about his broadcasting career (at least the section I was listening to) and more about his hockey career.  Believe it or not, Mike Rogers had a pretty solid pro hockey go.

Born and raised in Calgary, he played his junior hockey for the Calgary Centennials of the WCHL - putting up some very good offensive numbers. Back in the mid-70's, there were options when going pro and for Mike, the road was pointed towards the WHA.  He played 5 seasons splitting his time between the Edmonton Oilers and New England Whalers.

When the WHA folded and four teams were merged into the NHL, Mike found himself (literally) in a whole new league of players.  He was recently at WHA Day here in Calgary and mentioned that transition to me. He said that he was unsure if he could play at that level but decided to just stay the course.

And what ended up happening is something that only three other players in history have done.

'DID YOU KNOW': Mike Rogers is one of only four NHLers to start their career with three straight 100-point seasons?

Four guys - EVER.  Try naming the other three.

Now some may say that it's a bit of a tainted record since he had a handful of seasons in the WHA.  But to me....it's legit.  If the NHL doesn't want to consider the WHA for squat, then in NHL terms Rogers first three seasons sit 105, 105 and 103.

Gotta love the Whalers uniforms eh?  Think about that fact as well.  Can you even name another player from the Whalers at that time?  Ron Francis wasn't drafted yet.  Guys like Dineen and Turgeon weren't on the radar.

How about Pat Boutette?  Blaine Stoughton?  Slim pickings.

To me, that's what makes the accomplishment all the more impressive.  He played for (as he put it) a horrible team.

And to make things even more impressive, he was traded after his second season to the New York Rangers.

Traded...and still hit the century mark.

And the Rangers weren't much better back then.  Ron Duguay and Mark Pavelich.  Names you're not writing home about and have (other than Ron's hair) become a fairly forgettable part of hockey history.

Yet Mike Rogers posted three straight 100-point seasons.

Yeah......this guy.

He finished off his career after the 1986 season with 519 points in 484 NHL games.  One can only imagine where his numbers would be if he would've played his entire career in the NHL.

He soon after was asked by the local Flames radio station if he'd be interested in doing some hotstove lounge work and he found he loved the work.  He was with the Flames for over 20 years in total.

Congrats to Mike Rogers on your retirement.  I'll miss hearing ya'.

So......figure out who the other three guys are?  Two might be easy.

Gretzky & Lemieux.  The third knocks a lot of amazing players off the list.

Crosby?  Nope.  Ovechkin?  Nope.  Orr?  Nope.

Selanne?  Thornton?  Sakic?  Bossy?  Dionne?  Hull?  Jagr?  Lafleur?

Nope.  None of 'em.

Peter Stastny is the other guy.

So let's recap....

Wayne Gretzky

Mario Lemiuex

Peter Stastny
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Mike Rogers

NOW YOU KNOW

'DID YOU KNOW' - Mikko Leinonen

When you think of the records that have held through the annals of time, there are names that become instantly synonymous.

Gretzky, Lemieux, Howe, Orr.  Even guys like Hull, Richard, Esposito and Coffey.  All of them in one way or another have placed their imprint squarely on the NHL record book.

But then there are the occasions where names sneak into the book (or maybe they just barge in) and then that's the last time you ever hear from them.  More so, the record is their one and only imprint on what might otherwise be a forgotten career.

31 years ago today there was just such an instance.  And it even prompted OPC to celebrate it on one of its Record Breaker cards the following season.

'DID YOU KNOW': New York Rangers rookie Mikko Leinonen set the playoff record for assists in one game with six.

Six helpers.  Not Lemieux.  Not Gretzky (at least up until that point).  Not Orr.  Not any of the other Hall of Fame players can say they had six assists in one playoff game.

A decent player from Finland, Mikko represented his country at the 1980 Olympic Games.  He came over to the NHL soon after.  During his first season, he chipped in with 31 points (11G, 20A) in 53 games.  It was in the Rangers' first round loss to the Philadelphia Flyers that Leinonen set the record.

An 82/83 Record Breaker card is the lasting testament to the achievement.  And it's probably a good thing OPC decided to make it.  Only that card and his RC the following season sit as the two official NHL cards in his collection.  That would be an easy set to put together.

As important as Leinonen was to the Rangers in his rookie year, he was soon moved to Washington where he played just 3 games with the Caps.  He went back to Finland during the 84/85 season and never made it back to the NHL.  His career stats are actually pretty impressive (162GP, 31G, 78A, 109PTS).

But most impressive was the six-assist game.  Only to be matched by The Great One five years later.

Some of the names he kicked off the list?
Toe Blake
Maurice Richard
Bert Olmstead
Stan Mikita
Wayne Gretzky (at the time)

Not bad.  Not bad at all.

NOW YOU KNOW.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Sylvester Flis

In my recent "cheap wax breaks" at the local trade night I came across a card that had me asking more questions than I had answers.

So much so that I decided to do a little research.....and thus another installment of 'Did You Know'.

On the weekend of December 6, 2003, In The Game set a first in the NHL trading card industry.  In their 2003/04 Be A Player Memorabilia Series product, they released a card that would truly be a barrier breaker.  A first of its kind.

I thought it was kind of cool and felt the need to share.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Sylvester Flis is the first sled hockey player to be featured in an NHL trading card set.  He is also the first athlete with a disability to be featured on a card.

According to the NCHPAD (National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability), Flis, a defenseman for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's (RIC) Blackhawks, has been playing sled hockey for 8 years (up to that point).  He was born in Poland and moved to Chicago in 1994 for rehabilitation purposes.

In the fall of 1999, Flis was instrumental in the introduction of sled hockey to the RIC Sports Program.  The RIC Blackhawks hold the title of the #1 ranked sled hockey club in the world (again...at that time).  Some of his accolades include...

Led the Hawks at the 2002 Malmo Open in Sweden where they became tournament champions.

Has had the honor of meeting President Bush.

Has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2003 for the most goals and points in a single Paralympic Games.

Has been recognized in a proclamation by Mayor Richard Daley by the City of Chicago in May 2002.


On the back of his card it reads...

"Considered the world's foremost sled hockey player [his card is numbered 99 in the set because of his dominance like Gretzky was to the NHL], Sylvester's contributions both on and off the ice are immeasurable.  Strong and swift with terrific anticipation, he is an offensive force despite the fact he patrols defense."

The RIC Blackhawks Sled Hockey program is supported in part by the Chicago Blackhawk Charities (and the NHL team continues to support them to this day).

Now You Know.

'DID YOU KNOW' - A Quick Start

When we think of first goals there is probably none more popular than that of Mario Lemieux.  First shift in the NHL, first shot on goal, big hype, big celebration....what more can you ask for.


Well, there is one player who can say he's done something that even Mario didn't do.  Something that nobody else has ever done in the NHL.  Something that would make your first game absolutely the most memorable event it could be.

And that player had a pretty amazing year leading into his first NHL game in 1980.  He was just a 20-year-old kid when he won an Olympic gold medal as part of that 'Miracle On Ice' team from the United States.  He was drafted 40th overall by the Winnipeg Jets and had 18 points in 15 games during his first year in the big leagues.

But it was his first goal in the NHL that has remained one for the record books.

'DID YOU KNOW': Dave Christian holds the record for scoring the fastest goal to start a career.

Now Mario's goal was fast.....but nowhere close to that of Dave Christian.  Imagine being on the ice to start the game, jitters and nerves.  The puck drops and history is about to happen.

So just how fast did it take for Dave to pot goal number one?

How about 7 seconds.  SEVEN.  In the amount of time it will take you to read this sentence, Dave Christian will have started his NHL career and scored his first NHL goal.

He could retire right then and there and have a pretty solid hockey resume.  But he quietly had himself a very solid 15-year career playing for the Jets, Capitals, Bruins, Blues and Blackhawks.

He only scored 40 goals in the NHL once but over his 1009 career games, Christian would amass 773 points (340 goals, 433 assists).  He played in the 1991 All-Star Game and donned the USA team colors in 3 Canada Cups.

But the Christian name doesn't end there.  Back in the 1970's, Dave father (Bill) along with his uncle (Roger) founded the Christian Brothers Hockey Company.  Their primary product - hockey sticks.

Christian hockey sticks were a staple for Dave, his USA teammates in Lake Placid and for thousands of hockey players around North America.  They were one of the most popular brands throughout the 80's.  In 2002, the brothers sold their business because they could no longer compete with the larger Canadian hockey companies.

A great article on the Christian hockey stick venture.

It'll take you more than 7 seconds to read it though.

Now You Know.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Connie "Mad Dog" Madigan

Tonight was the first night for a new crop of players to skate in their first official NHL game.  And while this group of rookies won't see themselves on cardboard until the 2013/14 season, it's almost assured that they will get their rookie card made before this guy...

Connie Madigan.  This photo believe it or not was taken in his one and only season playing in the NHL.  He doesn't look like a rookie - in fact he looks more like a coach...or even general manager.  Boy times have changed.

But Connie does have a distinction that puts him into hockey history.

'DID YOU KNOW': In January 1973, Connie Madigan at the age of 38 years and 4 months became the oldest rookie in NHL history.

"Mad Dog" Madigan had a very strong minor league career, most notably with the Fort Wayne Komets and the Portland Buckaroos in the 1960's.

He was an 8-time All-Star and won best defenceman honors in 1966.  But he never got the chance to crack the NHL lineups.

In 1967, the NHL had its most notable (and important expansion) which gave many players the chance to break into the league.  During the 1972/73 season, the St. Louis Blues were hit with numerous injuries and ended up buying the rights to Madigan from the Buckaroos.

In January of 1973 he suited up for 20 regular season games as well as 5 in the playoffs.  Believe it or not, his coach (Jean-Guy Talbot) was just a mere 2 years older than him at the time.  It would be the only time he would see NHL ice.  The following season he was back with Portland and retired not long after.

Connie's short stint in the NHL didn't garner him an NHL hockey card.  In fact, it would take until this 2011/12 Panini Certified Freshman Signatures auto card to be released that Madigan would be rewarded with a collectible.

To my knowledge, it's his one and only piece of cardboard officially issued.

Currently, Connie still lives in Portland and was recently honored by the WHL's Winterhawks for his contribution to Portland hockey.

Oh, and just another tidbit.  He is also in the greatest hockey movie ever made - Slap Shot.  He plays legendary goon Ross "Mad Dog" Madison.



Now that's a pretty unique hockey career if you ask me.

'DID YOU KNOW' - The Original Six Tour

Tradebait.  Journeymen.  Throw-ins.  Afterthoughts.

There have been a number of NHL players through the decades who have come and gone with little more than a whimper or dent in the history of the sport.  Not everybody can be a superstar.

That said, I believe there is an intriguing story that sits within every single player to have laced up the skates and played pro hockey.

But when you are bounced from team to team, what creates that interest?  What creates that story?

For Vic Lynn, it was the bouncing itself that made him unique.

He came into the league in the early 40's and although he had exceptional speed, he didn't click right away with any of the teams he played for.  But his determination and fortunate bounces wrote a very memorable 20+ year career.

So what made Vic so special?  What was it about him that was unlike any other player in the league (before...or since)?  What's his story?

DID YOU KNOW: Vic Lynn is the only player in NHL history to play for all six 'Original Six' teams.

Think about that for a second.  He put each of those great sweaters on at one point in his career.  But only by the slimmest of margins did he accomplish the feat.

His quest started with the New York Rangers.  And it lasted just one game.  One....single.......game.

In 1943 Vic fell in with the Detroit Red Wings but failed to impress the coaches and management.  He lasted just three games with the parent club before being demoted to the farm.

In Montreal, it was just two tilts.  So that's six games with three teams.  That in itself is pretty incredible.

But his hard work and determination were about to pay off.

In 1946, Lynn would catch the eye of Toronto GM Conn Smythe.  Smythe was looking for some fresh talent and a spark to his Leafs team.

The match would lead to some of his best years in the league.  He was teamed with Howie Meeker and Teeder Kennedy to form the 'K-L-M Line' and the trio clicked.  So much so that the Leafs won the Stanley Cup three years in a row (1947, 48, 49).

In 1950, Lynn was traded to Boston.  A pretty big trade at the time, he was sent along with Fern Flaman and Leo Boivin among others.

After a little more than a full season with the Bruins, he was sent to the minors.

His hard work gave him one more kick at the NHL can.  This time with Chicago.  He registered just a single goal in 40 games for the Hawks often playing games near the end of the year.

In 1953, he was sent down from the NHL for the final time.  The remainder of his career was spent in the minors as a player/coach.

Here's a great little cartoon chronicling Vic's amazing trip through all six teams.

And while there may be a player who plays for all six franchises down the road (after all, they do play a lot of 'revolving doors' in today's NHL), the fact that is was done when all that existed was the Original Six makes this accomplishment quite impressive.

Vic Lynn passed away just a couple short years ago at the age of 85.  I tried to find an interview with him talking about his unique NHL journey, but to no avail.

Now you know.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Tired Legs

Growing up, there were three numbers that stuck with me when it came to the NHL.

396, 21 and 80.

396 was the magic number when it came to the hobby.  That's how many cards were issued in the yearly O-Pee-Chee product release.  I remember making it my single winter goal to come up with all 396.  Most of the time I came up short, but that number was etched.

21 was the number of teams in the NHL at the time.  With the WHA disbanding in the late 70's and four teams coming over to the NHL (Edmonton, Hartford, Quebec and Winnipeg) the league expanded to 21 teams.  I discovered the NHL in 1980 so 21 was all I ever knew (until the 90's arrived and ballooned that number to the current 30).

80 was the number of regular season games a team would play in the NHL.  Why they grew it to 82 is beyond me.  I think that there are too many games played in a year to begin with (with all the preseason and - for some - playoffs) the number could reach close to 100 tilts.

But it's that third number that has lead me to this installment of 'Did You Know'.

DID YOU KNOW: That Bob Kudelski and Jimmy Carson hold the record for most games played in one regular season - a whopping 86!

In both instances, they played a bunch of games for their first team of the year, then was traded mid-season to a team that hadn't played as many games.

While 86 seems like a lot, I'm kind of surprised that the record number isn't even higher.

And for those keeping score, Jimmy Carson comes out slightly on top - in my books anyways - since he was traded to Los Angeles in 1993 (while Kudelski went from Boston to Florida in 1994).

Jimmy went on to suit up for 18 more games in the playoffs, helping the Kings go all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals (sorry Leafs fans).  But we all know what happened in that final series against the Habs (right Mr. McSorley)?

Sadly, that number won't be in jeopardy this season.  Hitting the magic 40 mark might be a task in itself. (hint: let's go guys.....I'm ready to watch some hockey).

And now you know.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Not So Mellow Yellow

I'm gearing up for the biggest week of the year at work.  And while I'm excited to see it come (as it is one of the busiest and most intense work atmospheres......which I like), I'm very much looking forward to Monday, September 10th - the official start of the "homestretch to Christmas".  I can't believe I just said that.

The end of the 'summer lull' didn't come as abruptly as I thought it would have (thanks to my guy not being in Panini's high-end product Prime) but I'm in no rush to jump back in the deep end.  There's still some good chases I'd like to land before then.

Anyways, onto the topic at hand.  Another 'Did You Know' post.

What I like about these are the discoveries (through the hockey cards sitting in boxes in my closet) that I might never have unearthed if not for this blog.  Sometimes it's the photo on the front, other times it's the write-up on the back.

I remember this card catching my eye back in the day and it always stuck out in my mind.  It's easy to have that happen when it shows something that you just never see in the game.

'DID YOU KNOW': Kyle McLaren (then of the San Jose Sharks) ended up wearing his trademark yellow visor as a result of a prank.

There's been a handful of players who have skated with a tinted visor during their time in the NHL.  Eric Weinrich (wore yellow throughout his career), Marian Hossa, Nikolai Zherdev and I think most famously Alex Ovechkin (with the ultra-tinted visor.....later banned).

But Kyle McLaren's story has some uniqueness to it.  With the other guys, the tinted visor was a choice, for Kyle it was due to his crafty teammates.

note: in doing some research on this, there are some slight discrepancies from story to story.  I will do my best to go with what I found the most often and by the most reliable sources (especially interviews with McLaren himself).


Back in the 2003/04 season, the big, hard-hitting defenceman was injured when a Sami Salo slapshot caught Kyle right in the noggin.  While the front of his helmet took the brunt of the force, it still left him with a deep cut across his forehead.  He was not wearing a visor at the time.

Before his return to the ice, his teammates thought it would be fun to swap his newly fastened clear visor with a tinted yellow one.  Kyle went out and played the game not knowing the difference.

Turns out - he's colorblind.

McLaren ended up scoring the game-winning goal and quickly decided to keep the lucky visor.

Kyle noted after wearing the yellow visor for a while that the tint takes the glare off the ice from the lights.  Regardless of the on-ice benefits or off-ice enjoyment by his teammates, McLaren's unique look made him instantly stand out in a crowd.

That is until the 2007/08 season.  The Sharks, heading into the playoffs.....and having had little success in past years, decided to switch back to a conventional clear visor in hopes of changing the fortunes of his team in the postseason.

While the Sharks finished first in the Pacific with 108 points, the were ousted in the second round by Dallas 4 games to 2.

Maybe that yellow visor is the curse the Sharks have dangling over their head.

'DID YOU KNOW' - An Unlikely 40

This tidbit of info comes from a custom card creator that has been going about building his own collection of Vancouver Canucks cards to be sent through the mail to be signed.

He was showing off some of his newest successes and mentioned a stat that made me do a double-take.  I was intrigued and thus started digging for more information.


If I asked you to name some of the top snipers in Vancouver Canucks history, who comes to mind?

Pavel Bure?  Markus Naslund?  Daniel Sedin?  Tony Tanti?

Trevor Linden?

OK......I know Trev isn't a guy that put the puck in the net that often (although he did pot 30+ goals in 6 different seasons) but Vancouver has never been known as a team that has that uber-scorer.

note: I don't count Bure.  He needed to have more than just 2 good seasons.

Where am I going with this?  Stay with me.

If I were to ask you who the first Canuck to score 40 goals was, would you be able to name him?

Thomas Gradin?  Stan Smyl?  Andre Boudrias?

Wrong.  It's somebody who never would have entered my brain.

Ron Sedlbauer.  He had one fantastic season in 1978/79 where he scored 40 goals for a Canucks team that seemed to be going nowhere.

It must have been those fancy new "V" uniforms that did it.

But that's not the most interesting part of the story.  With Ron's 40-goal season, a new NHL record was set.

DID YOU KNOW: Ron Sedlbauer holds the NHL record for recording the lowest number of assists in a 40-goal season.

Definitely a one-dimensional player, Sedlbauer contributed just 16 assists to his impressive 40-goal output.  I call 'puck hog'.

That record stood as his and his alone until the 2003/04 season.  Can you guess who tied the record?
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The New York Rangers newest saviour......Rick Nash.

This might just go down as the oddest of odd couples when it comes to an NHL record.


Back to Sedlbauer.....I thought I'd give him the spotlight for a couple moments (since he may never pop up again).

Ron was Vancouver's first draft pick (23rd overall) in the 1974 Amateur Draft.  Some guy named Bryan Trottier was picked 22nd.  Not bad company at all.

He was drafted ahead of Hall of Famer Mark Howe, All-Stars Danny Gare, Charlie Simmer, Mike Rogers and Ron Greshner.  He was also picked ahead of two other Canucks greats - Harold Snepsts and Tiger Williams (who was drafted by Toronto and later traded to the Canucks).

Sedlbauer played a total of 430 games in the NHL and tallied 143 goals and 86 assists.  His (then) team record 40-goal season included 15 on the powerplay (also a team record).

His linemates that year?  Chris Oddleifson and Hillard Graves.  Two more guys who will probably never get any more face time on this (or most other) blogs.

What made that 1978/79 season so special?  Who knows.  But it's one that  still holds a place in the NHL record books.

Now you know.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Fast....Like A Jet

There are a number of different ways to see a hockey card.  You can see it as just a photo on a piece of cardboard, you can see it as a memento of your favorite team or player, you can see it as a card number needed for your set.  A card can sometimes offer interesting pieces of information.....(sometimes) and a card can also identify and represent a historic moment in hockey's history.

But there are times when people see certain hockey cards as 'filler', 'junk' and suitable for the garbage.  The next time you take that stance on a card or cards, keep this post in mind.  It'll show you that there are some pretty neat nuggets of goodness in all cards.

When you hear the name Bill Mosienko what do you think?

I'm guessing one of two things.  "Who?" or "He's the guy who scored a hat trick in 21 seconds".

That amazing feat is one of those records that will never be broken - NEVER.  But it got me thinking about something else.  And with a little searching, I came to find a pretty interesting fact.

DID YOU KNOW: Winnipeg Jets defenceman Deron Quint holds the NHL record for the fastest two goals.  An unheard of FOUR SECONDS.

The year was 1995  and Deron was a rookie with the Winnipeg Jets.  That's right.......rookie defenceman.  He scored just 5 goals during his first NHL campaign but on December 14 he made hockey history.

The Jets were playing the Edmonton Oilers and had the powerplay in the second period.  Quint was open at the point and scored what wouldn't be considered the prettiest goal......but it sure looked better than his second tally.


Hoo boy.  Joaquin Gage.  That'll haunt ya.

Quint's unlikely pair tied him with Nels "Old Poison" Stewart with having the fastest pair of goals in history.  Nels turned the trick 64 years earlier in 1931, is a member of the Hockey Hall Of Fame and is considered one of hockey's all-time greats.

Deron Quint played in 463 NHL games spanning 6 teams.  He scored 46 career goals.  Polar opposites holding on to the same record.  Only in the NHL.

Now you know.

'DID YOU KNOW' - Those Are Some Pretty Skates

Wood sticks, straight blades, tube skates, no helmets.  Those pieces of equipment evoke an certain era in hockey.  How many of you remember Cooperalls?  Banana blades? These days it's visors and 'frying pan' trappers.

It's fun to look at some of the trends that were prevalent during a certain time period.....sometimes it makes me think about the incredible innovations that have been introduced to the sport, but other times it makes me shake my head and do a facepalm.

Case in point.....

'DID YOU KNOW' - The California Golden Seals wore white skates as part of their uniform colors.

You can thank the 70's for some pretty crazy trends, but this one might be one of the worst.  And you can thank a guy named "Charlie O." for it.

Just a quick note.......I stumbled on a couple of 74/75 Loblaws stamps (shown above) and was immediately awestruck by the white skates.  I wanted to see if I could find anything better though in terms of a card to illustrate my point.  Not a single hockey card shows a player in white skates.  I'd say 90% of them are posed shots in front of a blue wall.....and that means either a closeup or a 3/4 body shot.

Anyways, I pulled a couple pics off of a Google search to help out this post.

Yikes!  The word intimidating does not come to mind.

Back to "Charlie O."......better known as Charlie O. Finley.  Before the 1970/71 season, Finley (who was the flamboyant owner of baseball's Oakland A's at the time) became the owner of the then Oakland Seals.  Two games into the new season, he felt the need to change the team name to the California Golden Seals (he was all about the marketing and fan appeal).

Additionally, he changed the team colors to green and gold to match his Oakland A's look.  Apparently those were popular colors back in the day.

Apparently.

But the kicker (literally) was the colored skates, which were actually green and gold to begin with before switching to the all-white look.

Needless to say, the new look was not embraced by the players and were ridiculed for the display.

These days, they look like a very cool piece of hockey history.  At the time, I can only imagine what it would be like to go out there looking like the ugly duckling of the lot.

Those would be a cool pair to have hanging in the den, but that's about it.

Throughout the history of the Oakland/California Golden Seals, there were a number of moments that will forever cement this team as one of the most unique in hockey history.

The skates, the name change mid-season, but how about another little bonus tidbit.

BONUS 'DID YOU KNOW' - The Seals were the first team to re-introduce the trend of putting last names on the backs of players jerseys.

In 1926, the New York Americans experimented with putting last names on the backs of jerseys.  It immediately got the thumbs down.  In the mid-70's, the California Golden Seals decided to bring the look back.  This time it was to stay.  And by the 77/78 season, it was mandatory.

I remember hearing a story about how Toronto owner Harold Ballard would be resistant to putting the names on the backs.  It meant more people would have to buy programs in order to figure out who was who.

Whether it was true or not I don't know.  But when it came to Mr. Ballard, nothing would surprise me.

Yup.........still ugly looking.  I can just hear Reggie Leach cringing in this shot.


Alright.......one more slice of Seals info.

DOUBLE BONUS 'DID YOU KNOW' - The Seals (it is argued) were on the wrong side of one of the most one-sided trades in NHL history.

At the end of the 1970 season, the Seals (in their infinite wisdom) traded their 1st round pick in the '71 Draft to Montreal (along with Francois Lacombe) in return for Montreal's 1st round pick in the '70 Draft (selecting Chris Oddleifson), Ernie Hicke and some cash.

While the Seals continued to play horrible hockey, can you guess who Montreal selected with their newly acquired draft pick?

Like I said......the most one-sided trade in history.


And just to show off those white skates a little more (go to the 3:00 mark)


You welcome Casey!

'DID YOU KNOW' - The Russians Are Coming!

Anyone up with hockey these days knows the names Ovechkin, Malkin, Kovalchuk......the list goes on.

Most of you know the names Fedorov, Larionov and Makarov.

But how many of you know the name Sergei Priakin? Or how about Victor Nechayev?

If you don't, stick with me and you'll get to know them.....and how important they are to the NHL.

DID YOU KNOW: Sergei Priakin was the first Russian player allowed by the Soviet Ice Hockey Federation to play in the NHL.

First of all.....yes, this is a first year Pro Set card.  And yes, you can learn interesting and valuable things from Pro Set.

It was 23 years ago today that NHL history was made. The Calgary Flames gave the 25 year old winger (drafted 252nd overall in 1988) the opportunity to play late in the season after his team (the Soviet Wings) completed their season.  It ushered in a new era of international player to the NHL scene.

In the late 80's, Soviet players were regarded as an outside force.  Russian-born players in the NHL up until Priakin's debut were almost non-existent (some played without permission).  The S.I.H.F. was in a transitional period as the 90's began (it wouldn't take long before more players came over to North America to test their skills in the NHL).  For Priakin, this was an opportunity to prove that not only did he belong ....but so did players of his nationality.

Because it was so late in the season (and the Flames at that time were a powerhouse team), Sergei's impact was not quite as powerful statistically on the ice.  He tallied just 2 penalty minutes (and nearly had an assist) in the pair of games he played in before the playoffs.  He suited up for one post-season tilt.

Remember, it was 1989....the year the Flames won the Stanley Cup.  And although Priakin didn't qualify to get his name engraved on the trophy, he did receive a Championship ring and posed for the official Stanley Cup team photo.

Not bad for a guy with that much pressure on on his shoulders.

In three more seasons with the Flames, Sergei Priakin played in just 46 regular season games scoring 3 goals and adding 8 assists.  And while many see his NHL career as just a blip on the radar, his impact on the league is still felt to this day.

Sergei had a pretty solid overall career (and he had some amazing hockey experiences).  He was a part of the 1982 World Juniors, the 1984 Olympics, won a gold medal in the 1986 World Championships, played in the 1987 Canada Cup and Rendez-Vous '87.  There are a lot pro hockey players that can't read off a resume like that.

He finished off his pro career in the late 90's with Swiss and Finnish teams (and even played a few games for a league in Japan).


Now I said that he was the first Soviet player to play in the NHL with permission from the S.I.H.F., and I mentioned that there have been players before him from Russia to play in the NHL.  So who was the first ever Soviet born player in the NHL?

That distinction goes to Victor Nechayev.

If you haven't heard of Sergei Priakin......you surely haven't heard of Victor Nechayev.

Victor was drafted in the 7th round (132nd overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1982 Entry Draft.  NHL teams in those days would use their late round picks to draft Soviet players on the off chance that they would be able to get permission to play in North America.  A great example of this would be legendary Soviet goalie Vladislav Tretiak.  He was drafted in the 7th round by the Montreal Canadiens in 1983 and then GM Serge Savard travelled to Russia multiple times in an attempt to lure Tretiak over to the NHL (sadly with no success).

Anyways, back to Nechayev.  He was drafted in 1982 and made his debut in 1983 (he was not deemed an elite player in his homeland and as a result there was not a lot of resistance in his move to the Kings.  He played in just 3 games and managed to pop one goal.

It seemed so insignificant at the time, but that goal and his suiting up for the Kings started the trip down the path.  A path that would allow a number of amazing Russian players to play in the greatest league of them all.

Now you know.

'DID YOU KNOW' - "Double O" Davidson

Sometimes, choosing the number you're going to wear on your jersey can be a tough decision. Other times, it's the easiest thing an NHLer will do.

A tip of the hat to an idol from days gone by? A tribute to family or friends? How about a play on words (check out 'Heinze 57' and 'Commodore 64').

Some numbers can evoke a sense of tradition (like goalies choosing 1, or defencemen sticking to low number single-digits) while other numbers reek of cockiness (c'mon.....'66', '88', '99'?).

But there are times where you'll see a number that just really looks odd.


DID YOU KNOW: New York Rangers goalie John Davidson was the first player in the NHL to wear "Double Zero".

You can barely make it out on the card, but Davidson's move the '00' came during the 1977 season. He had worn '30' up until that point, but felt that the zeros looked good to goalies.

By the way....I love the ol' fibreglass mask tucked into the top of John's pad. There's something you don't see anymore.

Davidson ended up with a 14-13-8 record and a 3.18 GAA while wearing this unique choice. In 1978, with new coach Fred Shero at the helm, John returned to a more conventional '30' on his back and ended up leading the Rangers to the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals.

Funny thing....all those zeros on his back resulted in only one shutout during those 35 games.

But he wasn't the only goalie to don the '00'.....


Martin Biron wore it as a rookie with the Buffalo Sabres in 1995-96.

Get this though, after NHL statisticians discovered a bug in their new stat-tracking software, the "Biron rule" was created, restricting jersey numbers to whole numbers between 1 and 99 (later limited to numbers between 1 and 98 after the league-wide retirement of number 99 for Wayne Gretzky).

Rule 9 - Uniforms
9.2 Numbers - Each player and each goalkeeper listed in the line-up of each team shall wear an individual identifying number at least ten inches (10'') high on the back of his sweater. Sweater numbers such as 00, ½ (fractions), .05 (decimals), 101 (three digit) are not permitted. In addition, each player and goalkeeper shall wear his surname in full, in block letters three inches (3'') high, across the back of his sweater at shoulder height.

Biron switched to number 43, a number he has worn ever since.

Now you know.