September 1st has been a notable date in hockey history, marked by significant transactions, memorable milestones, and moments that have shaped the sport.
One of the most significant events occurred on September 1, 1999, when the NHL Board of Governors approved Mario Lemieux's application to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was a unique moment as Lemieux, a superstar player for the Penguins, transitioned into the role of owner. The Penguins were facing serious financial difficulties at the time, and Lemieux's intervention was crucial in keeping the team in Pittsburgh. He deferred a substantial amount of money owed to him and converted it into equity in the team. This marked the first instance in North American sports history where a former player owned a team. A little over a year later, on December 27, 2000, Lemieux further etched his name in history by becoming the first owner to play for his team. He also joined Gordie Howe and Guy Lafleur as the only players to play after being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
In player transactions, on September 1, 1993, the Buffalo Sabres acquired Craig Simpson, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Jozef Cierny and a fourth-round draft pick. Simpson had a proven scoring record with at least 24 goals in each of the previous seven seasons, including a 56-goal campaign in 1987-88. However, his time with the Sabres was hampered by injuries, limiting him to 46 games and 12 goals over two seasons. On September 1, 1994, Paul Kariya signed a three-year deal with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Kariya, a future Hall of Famer, had been drafted by the Ducks with the fourth overall pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Also, Thomas Vanek signed with the Vancouver Canucks on September 1, 2017.
September 1st also marks the birthdays of several NHL players. Among them is Didier Pitre, a Hall of Famer born on September 1, 1883. Pitre, nicknamed "Cannonball" for his speed and powerful shot, starred for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey Association before they joined the NHL. He was a key member of the Canadiens' first Stanley Cup-winning team in 1916. Brian Bellows, born on September 1, 1964, had a successful NHL career, playing 1,118 games with five teams. Bellows recorded 485 goals and 1,022 points, and won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.
Looking at more recent events on this date, the Indian Men's Hockey team played against Kazakhstan in the Asia Cup 2025 on September 1, 2025. India had already secured a spot in the Super 4s, aiming to finish the group stage with a perfect record.
In 1967, September 1 marked the beginning of daily reports on the 1967-68 hockey season, as teams began preparing for training camps. The Montreal Canadiens signed John Ferguson, while the Detroit Red Wings signed Hank Monteith. Gary Dornhoefer of the Philadelphia Flyers won the NHL golf tournament.
