September 15th has been a significant date in hockey history, filled with memorable moments, legendary retirements, and thrilling Canada Cup victories.
One of the most notable events on this day occurred in 1960 when Maurice "The Rocket" Richard officially announced his retirement after an illustrious 18-season career with the Montreal Canadiens. Richard, known for his explosive scoring ability and fiery passion, became one of the game's first true superstars, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of hockey players. He retired with a team record of 544 regular season goals and 82 playoff goals.
September 15th also holds a special place in the history of the Canada Cup tournament. In 1976, Canada won the inaugural Canada Cup, defeating Czechoslovakia in a best-of-three series. After a dominant 6-0 victory in the first game, Canada secured the championship with a 5-4 overtime win in the second game, thanks to Darryl Sittler's decisive goal. The game was hard fought, with Czechoslovakia overcoming deficits to take the lead, before Bill Barber forced overtime.
Eleven years later, on September 15, 1987, Canada once again emerged victorious in the Canada Cup, defeating the Soviet Union in a memorable three-game series. After the Soviets won the first game in overtime, Canada responded with an overtime win of their own in game 2. In the deciding game 3, played in Hamilton, Ontario, the Soviets jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. However, Canada mounted a remarkable comeback, eventually tying the game and then taking the lead. With the score tied late in the third period, Wayne Gretzky set up Mario Lemieux for the game-winning goal with just 1:26 remaining, securing the Canada Cup for the home team. This game is considered one of the greatest hockey games ever played. Lemieux finished the tournament with a leading 11 goals, while Gretzky had a tournament-record 21 points.
On September 15, 1981, the Hockey Hall of Fame welcomed four new members: Frank Mahovlich, Allan Stanley, John Bucyk, and referee John Ashley. Mahovlich had an impressive career of 533 goals and 1,103 points in 1,181 games, winning 6 Stanley Cups.
Interestingly, 24 NHL players have been born on September 15th. While there are currently no Hall of Famers born on this day, that is expected to change soon when Patrick Marleau, born on September 15, 1979, is inducted. Marleau holds the record for the most games played in NHL history, with 1,779.
