Today in history: May 9

Some playoff heroics on this date in Indianapolis hockey history: 

1982: Red Laurence scores 2:25 into the second OT to give the Checkers a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Black Hawks and a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 Adams Cup Finals at the Coliseum. It’s Laurence’s second OT winner of the playoffs.

1990: The Ice beat the Muskegon Lumberjacks 5-2 in the L.C. Walker Arena, with Jim Waite shutting the Jacks down, starting a four-game sweep of the Turner Cup Finals. 

Birthdays

Bruce Greig: A big winger who played 21 games for the Racers in their final 1978 season. At 6-2, 220 pounds, he was a strong WHA player who tallied three goals, seven assists and 64 PIMs in those 21 games. He was a veteran of 69 games in the NHL and WHA with the California Golden Seals, Calgary Cowboys, Cincinnati Stingers and the Racers from 1973-78. After his stint in Indy, he played five more seasons in the minors before turning his sights to weightlifting and eventually becoming president of the Canadian Powerlifting Association. A native of High River, Alberta, he was born in 1953. He passed away in 2008 in an auto accident, two weeks after his 55th birthday.

Brent Grieve: The fourth-round pick of the Islanders in 1989, Grieve played 24 games for the Ice in 1995-96, totaling nine goals and 10 assists. Grieve was in his sixth pro season at that point, and split time with the Blackhawks and the IHL's Phoenix Roadrunners that season. He would eventually play 97 games in the NHL with Chicago, Edmonton and Los Angeles between 1993-97, totaling 20 goals and 16 assists. A native of Oshawa, Ontario, he is 42. 

A.J. Panchenko: Defenseman who was one of the original USHL Ice players in 2004-05, and played 59 of the 60 games that season. He totaled three goals, 10 assists and 115 PIMs in that season, ranking second on the team in PIMs. He went on to play three seasons collegiately at the University of St. Thomas. A native of Eagan, Minnesota, he is 26. 

Jon Ammerman: Defenseman who played 25 games with the Ice in 2005-06, splitting the season between Indy and Tri-City. He had three assists in the regular season and one assist in five playoff starts. He went on to play four years at St. Cloud State University. A native of Moorhead, Minnesota, he is 24.

Luke McManus: Defenseman who played 19 games with the Ice in 2008-09, and also appeared in one playoff game in that championship season. He totaled four assists after coming over from Omaha at mid-season. He would play one more USHL season with Tri-City. A native of Apple Valley, Minnesota, he is 21.

Alex Barron: Defenseman who joined the Ice this past season and totaled 14 assists and a +24 plus/minus rating. A native of Glendora, California, he is 20.