June 14th holds a special place in hockey history, marked by franchise births, Stanley Cup triumphs, and memorable individual performances. Several significant events have occurred on this date, shaping the landscape of the National Hockey League and creating lasting memories for fans.
One of the most celebrated moments on June 14th occurred in 1994 when the New York Rangers ended their agonizing 54-year Stanley Cup drought. In a thrilling Game 7 against the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers held on for a 3-2 victory, sending the city into a frenzy. Brian Leetch and Adam Graves scored in the first period to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. After a short handed goal from Trevor Linden, Mark Messier scored on the power play to make it 3-1. Linden would score again to make it a one goal game, but Mike Richter held strong and Craig MacTavish won the final face-off, securing the Rangers' first Stanley Cup since 1940. Leetch, who opened the scoring, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs, becoming the first American-born player to win the award. Kirk McLean of the Canucks also set a record for most minutes played in a playoff year with 1,544.
June 14, 1993, marked the official arrival of the Florida Panthers into the NHL. The league officially granted a franchise to the Miami area. This expansion introduced hockey to a new market and expanded the NHL's reach. The Panthers began playing in the 1993-94 season, debuting on October 6, 1993, with a 4-4 tie against the Chicago Blackhawks. Their home debut at the Miami Arena followed on October 12, 1993, where they suffered a 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. H. Wayne Huizenga, the founding owner, announced the team's name on this day, solidifying the Panthers' place in NHL history.
In 2006, June 14th witnessed an exceptional individual performance in a Stanley Cup Final game. Fernando Pisani of the Edmonton Oilers scored a shorthanded overtime goal in Game 5 against the Carolina Hurricanes, securing a 4-3 victory. Pisani's heroics prevented elimination and forced a Game 6, highlighting his clutch ability and etching his name into Stanley Cup lore. Pisani also opened the scoring just 16 seconds into the game. He joined Montreal's Billy Reay (1951) as the only players to score a first-minute goal and an overtime goal in the same Final game.
Beyond these iconic moments, June 14th has also seen other noteworthy events. In 1945, the NHL Board of Governors rejected Philadelphia's application for a franchise, delaying the city's entry into the league until 1967 when the Flyers were established. In 1950, the Chicago Blackhawks appointed Ebbie Goodfellow as their new head coach, succeeding Charlie Conacher.
The Hockey Hall of Fame also announced its newest members on June 14, 2001. The inductees included players Viacheslav Fetisov, Mike Gartner, Dale Hawerchuk, and Jari Kurri, as well as builder Craig Patrick.
