Today in history: July 26

Birthdays today

Dalton "Nakina" Smith: Capitals center in 1943-44, where he tallied 11 goals and 23 assists in 34 games. He also had one assist in five playoff games that season. He also played his only 10 NHL games that season with the Red Wings, with a goal and two assists. As WWII began to wind down, he became one of several ex-Caps to play the next season with the new St. Louis Flyers. He moved to the "AA"-level USHL in 1945 and played five more seasons with USHL Minneapolis and PCHL Los Angeles. His highest-scoring pro season came in 1948-49, when he had 34 goals and 28 assists. He also was an All-Star in the American Hockey Association -- which was renamed the USHL after WWII -- in 1939 and 1940, playing with the Minneapolis Millers. His brother Carl (aka "Winky") also played for the Caps in 1943-44, creating one of several brother combos to suit up in Indianapolis. A native of Cache Bay, Ontario, he was born in 1915 and passed away in 1982. 

Sebastien Geoffrion: Forward who played 31 games for the Ice in 2008-09, totaling four goals and four assists. He came over from Lincoln midway through the year, and was a solid, tough player. He also amassed 140 PIMs that season. In the playoffs, he had three goals and two assists to help the Ice win the Clark Cup title. After his time in Indianapolis, he took his talents to the University of Alabama-Huntsville, where he has five goals and four assists in two seasons. Sebastien comes from a hockey pedigree, as his grandfather Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame as a member of the Montreal Canadiens in the 1950s, his father Dan played in the NHL and WHA in the 1970s and early 1980s and his brother Blake plays for the Nashville Predators. His great-grandfather is early NHL great Howie Morenz. A native of Brentwood, Tenn., he is 22.