Today in history: June 4

Just a couple of birthdays, including the defenseman who was the cornerstone of the CHL Ice

Bernie John: A defenseman who played nearly every game in the Indianapolis Ice's CHL history, playing with the team from 1999-2004. He is the all-time assists leader among Indianapolis hockey players, with 262 helpers in 301 games. His games played total is ninth-most all-time among Indianapolis hockey players. His 353 points are fifth-most among Indy players, and tops among defensemen who have played in Indianapolis since 1939. In fact, he's the only defenseman in the top 15 in scoring in Indianapolis. John was a key part of the 2000 Miron Cup championship team, as well as a division championship team in 2003. He had 70+-point seasons in 2000, 2001 and 2004, 20-goal seasons in 2000 and 2001, and 50+ assists in four of his five seasons with the Ice. He also was a player/assistant coach to Ken McRae in his final two seasons with the Ice. John had been a veteran of the Colonial/United Hockey League, playing six seasons in that league -- and one game in the IHL for Utah -- before coming to the Ice. After the Ice left the CHL in 2004, he was one of several ex-Icemen to play for the Corpus Christi Rayz. He also played 31 playoff games for the Ice, totaling nine goals and 22 assists. Today, John resides in the Indianapolis area. A native of Sudbury, Ontario, he is 39.
Dan Passero: Defenseman who joined the Ice for seven games in the 2000-01 season after finishing his collegiate career at the University of Prince Edward Island that year. He had a goal and an assist in those games, and equaled those numbers in three playoff games. The next year, he played 11 games with Greensboro in the ECHL. A native of Vaughan, Ontario, he is 32.