Today in history: June 15-16

Birthdays

June 15

Marcel Pronovost: One of the greatest defensemen in the history of the game, Pronovost played 34 games for the Capitals in the 1950-51 season. His talent was evident from the moment he pulled on a blue sweater, and it wouldn't be long before he got the callup to Detroit. In those 34 games, he tallied nine goals and 23 assists -- an amazing pace for a defenseman in any era. He actually played his first NHL game in the 1950 Stanley Cup playoffs, filling in for Red Kelly -- who himself had taken injured Gordie Howe's spot up front. Pronovost was known as a big hitter, a great skater and an effective puckhandler who was the quarterback of five Stanley Cup champion teams -- 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955 with the Red Wings and 1967 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has also had his name etched on the Stanley Cup three times as a New Jersey Devils scout in 1995, 2000 and 2003. He was an NHL First-Team All-Star defenseman twice and a Second-Team All-Star defenseman twice. Pronovost played 20 full seasons (and 1,206 games) in the NHL and 24 years of pro hockey, finally retiring as the player-coach of the Tulsa Oilers in 1971. He coached in several leagues through 1983 -- including a stint as a WHA (Chicago Cougars) and NHL (Buffalo Sabres) head coach, and then embarked on a career as a scout. He is one of a handful of ex-Caps to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. A native of Lac-La-Tortue, Quebec, he is 81.

Dan Cesarz: A forward who played 40 games for the Ice this past season, totaling five goals and three assists. A native of Redford, Michigan, he is 19.

June 16

Steve Toll: Right wing who played 26 games for the Ice in the 1999-2000 season, totaling four goals and five assists. He played four years professionally, his best season coming in 1997-98, where he had 25 goals and 41 assists with both Columbus and Fayetteville in the CHL. A native of Thorold, Ontario, he is 37. 

Kevin Carr: Defenseman who played two games for the Ice in the 2003-04 season, his last season of five in professional/senior hockey. A native of Chicago, he is 33.