Today in history: January 7

January 7 in Indianapolis hockey history

1958: For the first time in Indy hockey history, a game is televised, as WTTV beams the Chiefs’ 7-1 victory over the Toledo Mercurys. Rene St. Hiliare has a hat trick against future NHLer Les Binkley and Cliff Hicks makes 22 saves. WTTV would televise four games that year. 

Birthdays (and lots of 'em)

Benny Woit: Capitals defenseman from 1948-51. He played 207 games in that span for the Caps, with 18 goals and 51 assists. He was a key part of the 1950 Calder Cup title run with two playoff goals. He joined the Red Wings for the playoffs in 1951 and then stuck in Detroit, winning three Stanley Cups before being dealt to Chicago in 1955. He played his last NHL game in 1956-57, but continued playing pro through 1966, primarily in the AHL and old Eastern Hockey League. He had 33 points in 334 NHL games. He was known as a strong stay-at-home defenseman and a terrific bodychecker. After retirement, he returned to Ontario and worked as a longshoreman. A native of Fort William, Ont., he is 84. 

Jacques Locas: Racers center in 1974-75, their inaugural year, for 11 games. He had one assist in that campaign, his rookie year. He had 119 points in 187 WHA games through 1978, primarily with the Cincinnati Stingers. Upon retirement, he returned to his hometown and became an attorney. A native of St. Jerome, Quebec, he was born in 1954, the son of the former NHL player of the same name. He passed away in 2006 at age 42. 

Rod Buskas: Ice defenseman for 15 games in 1992-93, during which he had three assists. He played 11 NHL seasons between 1982-93, primarily with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but also with Chicago, Los Angeles and Vancouver. He had 82 points in 556 NHL games. He played in the 1992 Stanley Cup Finasl with Chicago. After retiring in 1995, he moved to Las Vegas -- where he played his final two years -- and ran a flight school. He also assisted the IHL Las Vegas Thunder. A native of Medicine Hat, Alb., he is 51.
Bobby House: Right wing for the Ice from 1993-95. He had 12 goals and 11 assists in 68 games. The Blackhawks' third-round pick in 1991, he played professionally in North America from 1993-2002, with three 30-goal seasons. Nearly all of that time was either in the AHL or IHL. He continued to play in Europe after that point. A native of Whitehorse, Yukon, he is 39.
Tim Hogan: Ice defenseman for one game in 1995-96. The Michigan grad played two years with the ECHL Columbus Chill and a third year in Europe. A native of Oshawa, Ont., he is 38.
Jani Hurme: Ice goaltender in 1997-98, splitting time with Jim Waite. The Senators' third-round pick in 1997, Hurme had an 11-11-3 mark in 29 games, with a 3.30 GAA and one shutout. Then a North American rookie, he would stick at the IHL and NHL level. He made his NHL debut in 1999-2000 with Ottawa, allowing two goals in a win. He played 76 NHL games through 2003 with Ottawa and Florida. He also backstopped the Grand Rapids Griffins to the Turner Cup Final in 2000. He was forced out of hockey for two years after 2003 due to illnesses. He moved back to his native Europe in 2006 and played in Finland. A native of Turku, Finland, he is 37.