October 4th has been a significant date in hockey history, filled with memorable firsts, milestones, and impactful trades. Here's a look at some of the key events that have occurred on this day:

Firsts and Debuts

October 4, 1990, marked the NHL debuts for three future Hall of Famers. Mats Sundin played his first game for the Quebec Nordiques, scoring a goal in a 3-3 tie against the Hartford Whalers, with an assist from another future Hall of Famer, Joe Sakic. On the same night, Sergei Fedorov skated in his first NHL game for the Detroit Red Wings against the New Jersey Devils, also scoring a goal.

The San Jose Sharks played their first-ever regular-season game on October 4, 1991, against the Vancouver Canucks, losing 4-3. Craig Coxe, a native of Southern California, scored the first goal in Sharks history.

Rookie Mario Lemieux scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game on October 11, 1984.

Significant Milestones

On October 4, 1996, Mike Donnelly achieved a unique NHL record. When he played for the New York Islanders against the Los Angeles Kings, he became the first player to have played for all three New York teams: the Rangers, Sabres, and Islanders.

Eight years later, on October 4, 1999, the San Jose Sharks witnessed a historic offensive outburst. Owen Nolan and Jeff Friesen both scored hat tricks in the same game, leading to a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Nolan also contributed three assists, finishing the night with an impressive six points.

Brendan Shanahan scored a hat trick against the Sharks on October 4, 2001, marking the second time he had scored a hat trick on opening night in his career.

Trades and Retirements

In a move that shook the hockey world, the Edmonton Oilers traded their captain, Mark Messier, to the New York Rangers on October 4, 1991. Messier had been a key part of all five of the Oilers' Stanley Cup championships.

The Boston Bruins retired Ray Bourque's No. 77 on October 4, 2001, in a pregame ceremony. Bourque played 1,518 games for the Bruins, amassing 395 goals and 1,506 points before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 2000. He remains the highest-scoring defenseman in NHL history.

Other Events

The Lindenwood men's hockey team dropped their season opener against No. 20 Wisconsin by a score of 3-0 on October 4, 2025. Miami RedHawks snapped a 342-day streak without a win October 4, 2025.

October 4th continues to be a date filled with exciting hockey action and memorable moments.