Today in history: October 29

October 29 in Indianapolis hockey history

1978: Wayne Gretzky plays his final game as a Racer in a 3-3 tie at Winnipeg. The previous night, he played his final game at Market Square Arena, registering no points, but helping the team win 3-2 over the Winnipeg Jets. Rich Leduc, Michel Parizeau and Blaine Stoughton score for the Racers. 

Birthdays

Johnny Mowers: Capitals goaltender for two games in 1947-48. He allowed seven goals in those two games. He had been a regular for the Detroit Red Wings during WWII, playing 152 NHL games, primarily from 1940-43, before enlisting in WWII. He led the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup in 1943 and to a seven-game loss in the finals in 1942. He was also the Vezina Trophy winner and the NHL First Team All-Star Goaltender in the 1943 championship year. He retired after his short stint with the Capitals. A native of Niagara Falls, Ont., he was born in 1916. He passed away in 1995. 

Ed Dyck: Racers goaltender during the 1974-75 season, where he saw the expansion team post a 3-21-3 record in front of him. He had a 4.36 GAA. Dyck played 49 NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks before joining the Racers in 1974, often splitting time between Vancouver and its WHL affiliate in Seattle. Dyck became one of the first players to effectively be traded to a European club -- when the Racers signed Leif Holmqvist from Sweden, they sent Dyck to his Swedish club in return  A native of Warman, Sask., he is 61.