August 5th is a great day in the history of the National Hockey League. It saw the death of one of the game’s most unknown names and the birth of one of US hockey’s most infamous head coaches. So, let’s take our daily journey back in time to remember all the best memories this date has given us.
The Hockey World Loses a Pioneer
Hockey Hall of Famer Art Ross died, aged 79, on Aug. 5, 1964. Ross began his long hockey career by joining Montreal Westmount of the Canadian Amateur Hockey League (CAHL) in 1905. was heralded for being one of the first defensemen to skate up the ice and go to the offensive zone, rather than just pass it forward.
Although he played just three NHL games for the Montreal Wanderers during the 1917–18 season, he was a member of two Stanley Cup winning teams from the National Hockey Association (NHA). First with the Kenora Thistles in 1907 and again with the Wanderers the following year. In 1911, Ross led an organized players’ strike to raise wages. He resigned when the Wanderers stadium burned down in 1918.
(THW Archives)
After his playing days ended, he worked as an ice official before beginning his coaching career with the Hamilton Bulldogs. He was hired as the first coach and general manager of the Boston Bruins when the team was founded in 1924.
He coached the Bruins three different times, for a total of 17 seasons, amassing a record of 387-290-95. He won the Stanley Cup as a coach in 1929 and 1939. He continued as general manager until his retirement in 1954. The Bruins won three Stanley Cups in their last eight appearances under Ross’ leadership and made the playoffs 24 times.
In addition to leading the Bruins for 30 years, he was responsible for many innovations within the game. He was instrumental in improving the nets and pucks used. He designed the bevel edges that we still see on the puck, which helped reduce bouncing and rolling. He also brought a red line to the game, preventing teams from going through the defensive zone and into the offensive zone. Two-lane passing was illegal until 2006.
In 1947, Ross donated the trophy given to the NHL’s leading scorer at the end of each season. The Art Ross Trophy has been won by great players who have played this game including Gordie Howe, Stan Mikita, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.
Blues Rehire Hall of Famer
St. Louis Blues hired Leo Boivin as their head coach on August 5, 1977. He replaced Emile Francis, who took over for Boivin following the 1975-76 season. This was Boivin’s second spell as Blues coach. He coached the final 43 games of the 1975-76 season, going 17-17-9 and losing in the Preliminary Round of the playoffs.
His second term did not go as planned. He was fired 54 games into the season, with a record of 11-36-7, and was replaced by Barclay Plager. The 1977-78 season marked the only time in the Blues’ 11-season history that they failed to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. Boivin is best remembered for being the Bruins’ hard-hitting Hall of Fame defenseman.
Odds & Ends
The Detroit Red Wings signed free agent Ray Sheppard on Aug. 5, 1991, after spending the previous season with the New York Rangers. He went on to enjoy the best years of the career in Detroit. He scored 36 goals in his first season and a career high of 52 goals in 1993-94. He scored 152 goals and 265 points in 274 games for the Red Wings. Sheppard was traded to the San Jose Sharks, at the start of the 1995-96 season, for center Igor Larionov.
Speaking of the Sharks, they signed free agent Bernie Nicholls, who spent the past two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. Nicholls, who scored 1,209 points in his 18-season NHK career, is playing his final three seasons with the Sharks. Injuries limited him to just 18 goals and 57 points in 135 games.
Former Sharks goaltender Arturs Irbe signed with the Vancouver Canucks on Aug. 5, 1997. Spent last season with the Dallas Stars. Irbe played just one season with the Canucks, going 14-11-6 with a .907 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.73 goals-against average (GAA). He signed with the Carolina Hurricanes the following summer, where he played in 309 games over six seasons.
On August 5, 2020, Jonathan Toews scored two goals, including the game-winner with 1:16 left in regulation, to lead the Blackhawks to a 4–3 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of their Playoff series. Matthew Highmore had a goal and an assist as Chicago took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. Leon Draisaitl had two goals and an assist in the losing effort.
Later that night in Toronto, the Montreal Canadiens scored three unanswered goals to erase a 3-1 second half deficit and beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3. Jeff Petry scored the game-winner in the third period to give the Habs a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
happy Birthday to you
There are 18 current and former NHL players born on Aug. 5. The first was Bobby Walton in 1912, who played four games for the Montreal Canadiens in 1944. The most recent is Bruins forward Anders Bjork, who was born on this day in 1996.
The most successful player celebrating a birthday today is Anton Stastny, who was born on Aug. 5, 1959. He scored 252 goals and 636 points, in 650 career NHL games, for the Quebec Nordiques, where he played with his brothers Marian and Peter. He is Paul Stastny’s uncle.
Perhaps the most famous name born on this day is Herb Brooks, who never played in the NHL. He was born on Aug. 5, 1937 in St. Paul, MN, Brooks is best remembered for being the head coach of the United States’ “Miracle in Ice” team that won the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Brooks played hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he began his coaching career in 1972 and won NCAA national championships. After his Olympic success, he coached 506 NHL games for the Rangers, Minnesota North Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Other notable players born on this day include Herb Raglan (57), Jeff Friesen (48), Mark Bell (44), Dale Weise (36), Jamie McGinn (36), Lukas Radil (34), and Ian McCoshen (29). .
*Originally created by Greg Boysen
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