This Day in Hockey History

1997 - Magnificent Mario enters the Hall 

The Hockey Hall of Fame inducts a new class, which includes Mario Lemieux, Bryan Trottier, Glen Sather, Flyers’ announcer Gene Hart, and Hockey News founder Ken McKenzie. 

Lemieux, who retired the previous season but had his standard three-year waiting period waived, will actually return to the ice in 2000 and become the third player in history to play an NHL game as a member of the Hall of Fame.

He finishes his career in 2006, with 690 goals and 1033 assists in 915 total games.

1979 - Gretzky vs. Howe, Part 1

Rookie phenom Wayne Gretzky faces off against legendary forward Gordie Howe for the first time, during the only season in which they both play concurrently.

It's a battle of the soon-to-be Great One and a 50-year-old legend who earned the nickname Mr. Hockey and set a plethora of NHL records, almost all of which Gretzky will go on to shatter. 

The veteran holds the upper hand on this particular day, however, picking up an assist in the Hartford Whalers' 4-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers.

1973 - Orr sets new assist mark

Legendary defenseman Bobby Orr records four assists in an 8-0 win by the Boston Bruins over the Detroit Red Wings, setting a record for career helpers by a player at his position.

The four assists give him 456 for his career, breaking the old mark of 452 set by Doug Harvey. What's amazing about this feat is that Orr needed 458 games to set the new record, while it took Harvey 1,113 to set the old one.

Orr finishes his career with 654 assists in 657 games. Another Bruins defenseman - Ray Bourque - later sets a new standard for defensemen with an NHL-record 1,169 assists.

Birthdays

1955 - Dennis Maruk