1980 - Mr. Hockey sets the longevity standard
Hartford Whalers forward Gordie Howe finishes his record 26th NHL season. Defenseman Chris Chelios is the only other player in league history to match Howe's 26 seasons, albeit with 116 fewer games played (1,651).
Howe still holds the record for most career games played (1,767). The Hall of Famer became the first (and still, the only) player to play in five different decades.
1997 - Super Mario announces his (first) retirement
Pittsburgh Penguins star Mario Lemieux announces he will retire once the 1996-97 playoffs conclude. The Penguins would be eliminated in five games by the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Lemieux returns to the league in 2000, playing parts of five more seasons before retiring for good in 2006.
Birthdays
1965 - Gerald Diduck
1970 - Olaf Kolzig
1975 - Hal Gill
1982 - Travis Moen
1985 - Clarke MacArthur
