Today in history: Nov. 5-6

Today in history: November 5

1944: In a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Flyers, Pete Leswick scores three goals, but some of the 7,339 in attendance at the Coliseum reach over the fence to get involved in a fight between the Caps’ Vic Lynn and Moose Sherritt and St. Louis’ John Baby at the end of the second period. Sherritt was badly bloodied. 

1978: Mark Messier makes his debut in Indianapolis, playing the first of a five-game amateur contract with the Racers. He would go scoreless in those five games, but have a strong performance rating. He would later play that season with the Cincinnati Stingers in the WHA and go on to a long NHL career, winning six Stanley Cups and earning a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

Birthdays

Al Karlander: Racers center in their "heyday" from 1975-77, leading the team's two playoff teams. Karlander played 143 games for the Racers, scoring 33 goals and 56 assists. He also had two goals in the 1977 playoffs as the Racers swept favored Cincinnati. All told, he played 481 major-league games for the Red Wings, Whalers and Racers between 1969-77, totaling 96 goals and 167 assists. Karlander's best year was a 20-goal, 41-assist season with the New England Whalers in 1973-74. After retiring from hockey, he began coaching, leading the Cincinnati Stingers in the CHL in 1979-80, and became one of several ex-Indianapolis hockey players to reside in Central Indiana after his hockey career. He has also coached the Indiana University team, one of the top teams in the club-level ACHA. A native of Lac La Heche, B.C., he is 65. 

Mike Vukonich: Ice center in 1995-96, and again in 1998-99. He tallied 20 goals and 32 assists in 120 games as an Iceman. In-between, the Harvard grad had stints in the AHL and Germany. Vuknoich was the Kings' fifth-round pick in 1990. Vuknoich now resides in Phoenix, where he also played in the IHL for the Roadrunners. A native of Duluth, Minn., he is 43. 

Etienne Morin: Right wing for the Ice in 2002-03, where he tallied 25 goals and 15 assists. he also had a goal and five assists in eight playoff games that season. It was the only professional season for the Colgate University grad. A native of Levis, Quebec, he is 33. 

Pat Kenney: Ice forward in 2006-07, where he had two goals and five assists in 24 games. He played four years at Canisius College after his stint with the Ice. A native of Amherst, N.Y., he is 25. 

Today in history: November 6

Birthdays

Marty Pavelich: Member of the Capitals for two brief stints in 1947-48 and 1949-50. He played 32 games for the Caps, with five goals and 17 assists. Regarded as one of the top defensive forwards of all-time in hockey, Pavelich played in the NHL All-Star Game four times. He totaled 252 points in 634 NHL games, all with the Red Wings, between 1947-57. His name is inscribed on the Stanley Cup four times -- in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955. He retired and began working in the plastics industry supplying the auto industry. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., he is 84 and resides in Montana. 

Lloyd "Pete" Durham: Capitals defenseman in 1951-52, where he split the season with the Buffalo Bisons. He had seven goals, 30 assists and 174 PIMs combined that season. Durham played nine minor-league seasons from 1948-57 in the AHL, USHL and WHL, tallying 50 points on two different occasions. A native of Port Arthur, Ont., he was born in 1927. 

Steve Andrascik: Racers right wing for 20 games in 1974-75, where he had two goals, four assists and 16 PIMs. Andrascik made his major-league debut in the 1972 playoffs for the New York Rangers, who lost in the Stanley Cup Finals. He played only one game as a Ranger, then played two seasons in the WHA, starting with the Racers. He was traded for Jacques Locas and Brian McDonald after 20 games. A native of Sherridon, Man., he is 65. 

Brad Rhiness: Racers center for 12 games in 1977-78, totaling three goals and three assists. Rhiness played professionally from 1976-82, breaking in with the San Diego Mariners in 1976-77, where he played 58 games. He was the Mariners' first-round pick and the Vancouver Canucks' seventh-round pick in 1974. He played primarily in the minors after his Racers stint. A native of Huntsville, Ont., he is 55. 

Tim Helmer: Checkers right wing in 1986-87, their final IHL season. Helmer had 17 goals and 17 assists in 74 games. It was his only pro year after a five-year stint in the OHL. He was the North Stars' ninth-round pick in 1985. A native of Woodstock, Ont., he was born in 1966.  

Jim Ballantine: Ice center for two games in 1991-92, where he had one assists. The Michigan grad played four professional seasons, primarily in the ECHL and CHL. A native of Union Lake, Mich., he is 44.