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This Day in Hockey History

Mike Blake / REUTERS

1962 - Happy birthday, Chris Chelios

Legendary defenseman Chris Chelios is born in Evergreen Park, Ill., on this day in 1962.

Drafted 40th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1981, Chelios' playing career lasted 27 years, setting the record for most NHL appearances by an American-born player and a defenseman at 1651.

Chelios, who also played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and the Atlanta Thrashers, was a winner of three Stanley Cups and three Norris Trophies, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.

He also won an Olympic silver medal with Team USA at the 2002 Winter Games, and helped his country beat Canada at the 1996 World Cup.

1991 - Brett Hull scores 50 in 49 games

St. Louis Blues sniper Brett Hull scores his 50th goal in the 49th game of the season in a 9-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

Hull became only the fifth NHL player to accomplish the feat, following Maurice Richard, Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky (who accomplished the feat three times) and Mario Lemieux.

For his career, Hull scored 741 goals, and sits third on the all-time list behind Gretzky and Gordie Howe.

Birthdays

1955 - Rick Bowness
1965 - Esa Tikkanen
1991 - Jared Cowen

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