On May 9th in 1965, Stephen Gregory Yzerman was born in Cranbrook, British Columbia. Drafted 4th overall by the Red Wings in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, the pint-sized sparkplug reignited hockey in the Motor City.
In addition to his five 50+ goal seasons ('88-'91, '93) and six 100+ point seasons ('88-'93), including 155 points in 1989 (65 goals, 90 assists) a milestone surpassed only by Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, Yzerman thrice returned the Stanley Cup (1997, 1998, 2002) to Detroit.
Rounding out his resume Yzerman added a Pearson (1989), Conn Smythe (1998), Selke (2000), Masterton (2003), and Patrick (2006), as well as the distinction of being the longest serving captain in North American major league sports history leading the winged-wheels for 19 seasons over 20 years.
On July 3, 2006, when his body could take him no further, Yzerman retired. He left with 1,755 points, 692 goals, and 1,063 assists, finishing 6th, 9th, and 7th overall, respectively. On January 2, 2007, the Wings raised his number 19 to the rafters adding a 'C' in the upper right corner memorializing his captaincy.
Since then Yzerman has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (2009) and won a second Olympic gold medal (2010) serving as GM for Team Canada. Today he manages the Tampa Bay Lightning.
That's today in NHL history.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Today In NHL History - Steve Yzerman
Friday, May 8, 2026
Today In NHL History - Schoenfeld's Yellow Sunday
On May 8th in 1988, replacement referees dressed in New Jersey Devils Cooperalls and yellow jerseys took the ice at Brendan Byrne Arena for Game 4 of the 1988 Conference Finals against the Boston Bruins when NHL officials exited in protest of a court-order injunction staying John Ziegler's suspension of Jim Schoenfeld.
The one game suspension emanated from a post-game altercation between Devils head coach Schoenfeld and Game 3 referee Don Koharski where incidental contact between with the two caused the referee to slip and remark "you're done" to which the bench boss retorted "you fell you fat pig, have another doughnut".
The incident was famously parodied four years later in Saturday Night Live star and renowned hockey fan Mike Myers' movie Wayne's World in which Frederick Coffin played Officer Koharski, a character who frequented the film's fictional coffee shop named Stan Mikita's Donuts.
The Devils beat the Bruins that night by a score of 3-1 but eventually lost the series in Game 7. Shoenfeld was suspended for Game 5 and received a $1,000 fine while the Devils were docked $10,000. Koho and Schony later became good friends despite the doughnut diet indignity.
That's today in NHL history.
Monday, May 4, 2026
Today In NHL History - Bure Elbows Churla
On May 4th in 1994, Vancouver Canucks superstar Pavel Bure blindsided Dallas Stars forward Shane Churla with an unpenalized elbow to the head sending a message to the Stars Goon-In-Chief for his teammates' shenanigans.
The Canucks won Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal 3-0 on the back of Bure's two goals, eventually taking the series 4-1. Churla refused to shake Bure's hand at the end of the series and vowed revenge. The NHL fined Bure $500 but did not suspend him for the incident.
That's today in NHL history.
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Today In NHL History - Luongo's Playoff Poop
On May 3rd in 2007, Vancouver Canucks backup backstop Dany Sabourin surprised everyone, including GM Dave Nonis, starting the overtime period against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals in place of netminder Roberto Luongo.
That's today in NHL history.
* See also Today In NHL History - Luongo's Stick Gets Stuck.
* See also Today In NHL History - Luongo Trade (FLA-VAN).
* See also Today In NHL History - Luongo Trade (NYI-FLA).
* See also Roberto Luongo Interview - 2011 NHL Awards.
* See also Roberto Luongo Interview - 2009 NHL Awards.