Today in history: April 14

Lots of playoff heorics in today's Today in History

1977:  Paul Hoganson backstops a 5-3 victory over Cincinnati that gives the Racers a 3-0 lead in their WHA playoff series. The Racers would soon complete the sweep at Market Square Arena, their only playoff series victory. 

1984: The Checkers pull out a huge come-from-behind victory to turn the tables against the heavily-favored Colorado Flames in the CHL semifinals. After dropping the first two games, the Chex had won two straight heading into a pivotal Game 5. Trailing 5-2 going into the third, Red Laurence, Roger Kortko and Monty Trottier scored to tie the game. Trottier’s tally, a power-play goal with 1:34 left, sent it into OT. There, perennial Checker Kevin Devine beat Mike Vernon on an assist from Gerald Diduck 8:58 into the extra session to give the Chex a 6-5 victory, and a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series, which they would win in six games. 

2000: Yvan Corbin scores the game-winner as the Ice stun Oklahoma City 3-2 to win the opening game of their CHL Division Finals series. 

2010: Anthony Bitetto scores an unassisted goal 4:09 into overtime to give the Ice a 3-2 victory in both the game and the series over Cedar Rapids in the first round of the USHL Playoffs. Brian Ferlin and Jacob Fallon score first-period goals for the Ice, but Cedar Rapids rallied to send the game into OT. Casey DeSmith stops 37 shots in the victory. The Ice won the last three games to win the series.

Birthdays
Mark Lomenda: Played 58 games for the Racers from 1975-77, all but two in the 1976-77 season. He had an assist on Gene Peacoch's triple-overtime goal in Cincinnati that ended the longest game in WHA history in 1977. Totaled 9-12-21. He also played for the Chicago Cougars and Denver Spurs in the WHA. He turns 57 today. 

Richard Adolfi: Winger who played 21 games for the IHL Checkers in 1985-86, totaling two goals and two assists. A native of Rome, NY, he is 46. 

Dave Allison: Defenseman who played 34 games for the inaugural Ice team in 1988-89, the final season of his 10-year pro hockey career that included a three-game stint with the Montreal Canadiens. He totaled seven assists and 105 PIMs on that team. A native of Fort Frances, Ontario, he is 52 today. 

Lonnie Loach: Winger who played three games for the Ice in 1989-90 -- their Turner Cup season. He is probably best known to Ice fans for his stints in Fort Wayne with the Komets during the same time -- including a 55-goal performance in 1990-91, his best professional season. He also played for San Diego, Detroit, San Antonio and Long Beach in the IHL, and played 56 games in the NHL for the Kings, Ducks and Senators -- the bulk of those with Los Angeles in 1992-93, when he scored 10 goals and was part of a team that advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. A native of New Liskeard, Ontario, he is 43 today.

Brett Peterson: Forward who totaled 12 points and 78 PIMs for the USHL Ice in 2006-07. He went on to play three games at Minnesota State-Mankato the next two seasons. A native of Elk River, Minnesota, he is 23 today.