This day in Indianapolis hockey history: June 20

In addition to a big draft day, there are five birthdays today: Checker Chris Pusey, USHL Ice Chris Darnell, Daniil Tarasov and Cody Gylling, and late former Capital Alex Motter.

June 20 in Indianapolis hockey history
2008: Ice defenseman John Carlson is picked in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. Carlson had led the Ice to a division title. He goes 27th overall in the draft, and becomes a mainstay on the Caps' blueline.

Today in history: November 10

Today in Indianapolis hockey history, November 10

1939: The Coliseum opens and Indianapolis sees hockey played for the first time. A packed house of 9,193 -- including 797 in standing-room seats -- shows up to see this new arena and this new sport. The rink is a bit slow from sawdust from the construction, and Capitals coach Herb Lewis is complaining to rink management that the outer wall that surrounds the rink floor was painted maroon -- therefore making it difficult for goaltenders to see the puck in the air (today, it is painted white, just as Lewis requested 72 years ago). The Capitals defeat the Syracuse Stars 5-1. Jimmy Franks posts the win in net, Ron Hudson scores twice, Joe Carveth has a goal and an assist. Don Deacon scord the first goal in the Coliseum on an assist from Eddie Bush at 9:35 of the first period. Capitals defenseman Alex Motter took the first penalty. Today, the Coliseum -- renamed the Pepsi Coliseum in 1990 -- is one of the oldest buildings still in use by an active hockey team in the United States, as the home of the USHL Indiana Ice. 

Today in history: June 20

Another birthday post ... from one of the original Caps to a current Ice player

Alex Motter: A defenseman who played 17 games for the Capitals in their first two seasons, scoring five goals and four assists in the 1939-40 season, and playing one scoreless game the following year. Motter came to the Caps in the midst of an NHL career that began with the Boston Bruins in 1934-35 and included a stint with the Red Wings through 1943, when he left pro hockey to serve in the military. He helped the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in 1943. After the war, he played three more AHL seasons before retiring in 1948. A native of Melville, Saskatchewan, he was born in 1913 and passed away in 1996. 

Chris Pusey: Checkers goaltender in their final season of 1986-87, playing six games. He is notable for playing one game with the Red Wings in the previous season -- a one-game NHL player, allowing three third-period goals in a 40-minute stint against the Chicago Blackhawks, substituting for the injured Eddie Mio. Pusey played the rest of the year with AHL Adirondack, and played the 1986-87 season in Adirondack, Indianapolis and ECHL Winston-Salem. He played professionally through 1992, and then played senior hockey -- not as a goaltender, but a defenseman. Pusey is a native of Brantford, Ontario. He is 46. 

Chris Darnell: Forward who played 10 games for the Ice in 2007-08, tallying one goal and one assist. He then played two seasons with the Owatonna Express of the NAHL. He was ranked 150th among North American skaters in 2008 by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. A native of Barboursville, Virginia, Chris is 22.

Daniil Tarasov: Forward who played for the Ice this past season and was one of the highest-scoring players in the USHL. He had 37 goals and 38 assists this past season, joining linemates Blake Coleman and Brian Ferlin to finish 1-2-3 in USHL scoring. He led the USHL in goals and was second in both points and plus/minus. He was chosen to the USHL All-Rookie Team. Tarasov also had six playoff points in five games. He came to North America in 2009-10 and played in the International Junior Hockey League on Cape Cod, and broke into the USHL by playing two games for Waterloo. Tarasov is a native of Moscow, Russia, and is 20 today.