Today's trip back in time sees the Ice clinch a spot in the USHL final four in 2007, Jim Waite making a 12-save shutout in 1990, and the Checkers emphatically clinching a back-to-back title in 1983. Also, birthdays for former Racers Steve Richardson and Dave Morrow, Checker Greg Evtushevski, CHL Ice Joe Gunther and USHL Ice Corey Fienhage.
Showing posts with label Scott Howson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scott Howson. Show all posts
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Friday, May 2, 2014
This date in Indianapolis hockey history: May 2
In today's installment, the 2009 Ice take a big step toward a title, the 2007 Ice take a step toward getting to the league final four, Mike McNeill has a Gordie Howe hat trick in 1990, the 1983 Checkers get to within a game of a championship, and the 1977 Racers are eliminated by the Nordiques. Also, birthdays for former Racer Jim Hargreaves, former Checker Steve Stoyanovich, CHL Ice Ryan Reid and USHL Ice Mike Gurtler and Tristin Llewellyn, as well as a posthumous recognition of ex-Capital "Jud" McAtee.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
This date in Indianapolis hockey history: April 22
Today's entry sees Tony Horacek scoring two goals to lead the Ice to a series win in 1993, the last-ever win for the Indianapolis Checkers in 1987, the first step in a best-of-9 championship series win for the Checkers in 1983, and another big playoff victory for the 1982 champs. Birthday recognition for five players: Jack Hewson, Mike Barron, Marc Dupuis, Jason Carriere and Tyler Andrew.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
This date in Indianapolis hockey history: April 9
April 9 in Indianapolis hockey history
2011: Brian Ferlin assists on four goals and Blake Coleman tallies a goal and two assists as the Ice close out a successful regular season with a 6-1 win in Muskegon. Casey DeSmith stops 24 shots. For Ferlin, it caps a 73-point (25-48) season. Coleman finishes the year 34-58-92 and would later be named the U.S. Junior Player of the Year for his efforts. The Ice finished the season 37-19-4.
1994: Zac Boyer and Rob Cimetta score goals 22 seconds apart late in the first period to give the Ice a 3-2 lead in Fort Wayne, but the Komets explode for four goals in each the second and third periods, and beat the Ice 11-5. Boyer has two goals and Cimetta and Yves Heroux have a goal and two assists each.
1999: Geoff Sarjeant stops 36 shots to post his second shutout as an Iceman, beating Cincinnati 3-0 at the Coliseum. Nathan Perrott, Dave Hymovitz and Craig Mills all score for the Ice.
1989: The Ice conclude their first season with a 26-54-2 record after a 7-3 loss in Fort Wayne. Alain Lemieux and Rick Barkovich each complete strong offensive seasons with goals. Late-season pickup Bruce Rendall also scores for the Ice.
1983: The Checkers' second Adams Cup run gets off to a thrilling start, as Scott Howson scores 6:08 into OT to clinch a hat trick and a 5-4 victory over Salt Lake. He also had an assist in the game.
1982: The Checkers clinch their first-round series, sweeping Tulsa in three games with a 6-1 road victory. Bruce Affleck, Steve Stoyanovich and Lorne Stamler score first-period goals. Darcy Regier tallies a goal and two assists, as does Stoyanovich. Kelly Hrudey makes 22 saves.
1980: The Checkers take a 2-0 playoff series lead by thumping Tulsa 6-1 at Market Square Arena. Neil Hawryliw scores twice and assists on Ed Pizunski's third period goal. Pizunski adds two assists for a three-point game. Dwaine Lowdermilk also tallies a goal and two assists. Richard Brodeur makes 27 saves for his second straight win in net.
1977: The longest game in WHA history is ended when Gene Peacosh slams home a rebound at 8:40 of the third overtime, giving the Racers a 4-3 victory over Cincinnati at Riverfront Coliseum. Paul Hoganson made 56 saves for the Racers. The OT was set up when Reggie Thomas scored with 1:04 left in the third to tie the game. Mark Lomenda, who assisted on the game-winner, scored twice in regulation for the Racers. His overtime shot took a wild carom and was kicked out by Stingers goaltender Norm LaPointe, but the rebound came right to Peacocsh, who buried it at 1:16 a.m. after 108:40 of hockey.
1974: The Indianapolis Racers sign their first player, goaltender Ed Dyck.
1950: The Capitals take a commanding 3-0 lead over the heavily-favored Cleveland Barons in the Calder Cup Final, winning the game 4-3. Pat Lundy breaks a 2-all tie with a shot that deflects off Barons goaltender Johnny Bower's skates. Gordon Haidy adds an insurance goal that becomes the game-winner. 6,922 jam the Coliseum to see the victory.
Happy birthday to ...
Tony Licari: Right wing who played 107 games for the Capitals from 1946-48. Known as a strong scorer, he had 41 goals, 57 assists and just 16 PIMs in those two seasons. He also played nine NHL games for the Red Wings in 1946-47. After one season in the AHL with St. Louis, Licari played several years in Britain in the 1950s. A native of Ottawa, he was born in 1921. He passed away in July 2013.
Michel Parizeau: Left wing who played for the Racers in their final four seasons. He joined the team midway through the 1975-76 season and helped push them to a WHA Eastern Division title, with 13 goals in 23 games. The following year, he had 55 points as the Racers made the playoffs again. In total, he played 190 games for the Racers, scoring 48 goals and assisting on 88. He also was a point-a-game player in the postseason for the Racers, with seven goals and 10 assists in 15 playoff contests. After three minor-league seasons, Parizeau broke into the NHL with St. Louis and Philadelphia in 1971-72 before jumping to the WHA. He played three and a half seasons with Quebec before joining the Racers, and finished his career with the Cincinnati Stingers in 1978-79 after the Racers folded. Parizeau played 567 NHL/WHA games, with 145 goals and 266 assists, and continued as a coach after retiring as a player. A native of Montreal, he is 66.
Scott Howson: Howson played parts of three seasons with the Checkers, and was a critical part of the 1983 Adams Cup championship run. From 1981-84, Howson played 146 games for the Checkers, tallying back-to-back 34-goal seasons in 1982-83 and 1983-84. He had 70 goals and 75 assists in the blue and orange. He remained in the Islanders' system for two years, and played 18 games on Long Island from 1984-86, scoring five goals. He later became one of several former Checkers to enter NHL management, and served as the Columbus Blue Jackets' general manager. He is currently Senior VP of Hockey Operations for the Edmonton Oilers. A native of Toronto, he is 54.
Kerry Toporowski: "Topper" was a fan favorite for the Ice from 1991-94. Never afraid to drop the gloves, Toporowski only played 67 games for the Ice in those three seasons after joining the Ice from junior, but amassed 389 PIMs in those games. The year before turning pro, he had a whopping 505 PIMs in junior for Spokane. He continued to play in the IHL, AHL, UHL, ECHL and Russia through 2004, and had 15 goals and 2,825 penalty minutes in his 13-year pro career. After retiring, he remained in Davenport, Iowa -- where he finished his career -- and is a financial adviser. A native of Paddockwood, Saskatchewan, he is 43.
Derek Young: Defenseman who played two games for the Ice in 2001-02. A native of Whitby, Ontario, he is 38.
Mike Blundon: Defenseman who had 11 assists in 50 games for the Ice in 2006-07. He went from the Ice to Canadian Junior A and Ontario's Concordia University, where he had eight goals and 49 points in four years before graduating in 2012. A native of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, he is 27.
Jacob Pritchard: Ice forward who joined the team in 2013-14. He is committed to play collegiately at St. Lawrence University. A native of Macomb, Michigan, he is 19.
Scott Conway: Ice forward who has posted a 30-goal season in 2013-14. He is committed to play collegiately at Penn State University. A native of Kissimmie, Florida, he is 19.
2011: Brian Ferlin assists on four goals and Blake Coleman tallies a goal and two assists as the Ice close out a successful regular season with a 6-1 win in Muskegon. Casey DeSmith stops 24 shots. For Ferlin, it caps a 73-point (25-48) season. Coleman finishes the year 34-58-92 and would later be named the U.S. Junior Player of the Year for his efforts. The Ice finished the season 37-19-4.
1994: Zac Boyer and Rob Cimetta score goals 22 seconds apart late in the first period to give the Ice a 3-2 lead in Fort Wayne, but the Komets explode for four goals in each the second and third periods, and beat the Ice 11-5. Boyer has two goals and Cimetta and Yves Heroux have a goal and two assists each.
1999: Geoff Sarjeant stops 36 shots to post his second shutout as an Iceman, beating Cincinnati 3-0 at the Coliseum. Nathan Perrott, Dave Hymovitz and Craig Mills all score for the Ice.
1989: The Ice conclude their first season with a 26-54-2 record after a 7-3 loss in Fort Wayne. Alain Lemieux and Rick Barkovich each complete strong offensive seasons with goals. Late-season pickup Bruce Rendall also scores for the Ice.
1983: The Checkers' second Adams Cup run gets off to a thrilling start, as Scott Howson scores 6:08 into OT to clinch a hat trick and a 5-4 victory over Salt Lake. He also had an assist in the game.
1982: The Checkers clinch their first-round series, sweeping Tulsa in three games with a 6-1 road victory. Bruce Affleck, Steve Stoyanovich and Lorne Stamler score first-period goals. Darcy Regier tallies a goal and two assists, as does Stoyanovich. Kelly Hrudey makes 22 saves.
1980: The Checkers take a 2-0 playoff series lead by thumping Tulsa 6-1 at Market Square Arena. Neil Hawryliw scores twice and assists on Ed Pizunski's third period goal. Pizunski adds two assists for a three-point game. Dwaine Lowdermilk also tallies a goal and two assists. Richard Brodeur makes 27 saves for his second straight win in net.
1977: The longest game in WHA history is ended when Gene Peacosh slams home a rebound at 8:40 of the third overtime, giving the Racers a 4-3 victory over Cincinnati at Riverfront Coliseum. Paul Hoganson made 56 saves for the Racers. The OT was set up when Reggie Thomas scored with 1:04 left in the third to tie the game. Mark Lomenda, who assisted on the game-winner, scored twice in regulation for the Racers. His overtime shot took a wild carom and was kicked out by Stingers goaltender Norm LaPointe, but the rebound came right to Peacocsh, who buried it at 1:16 a.m. after 108:40 of hockey.
1974: The Indianapolis Racers sign their first player, goaltender Ed Dyck.
1950: The Capitals take a commanding 3-0 lead over the heavily-favored Cleveland Barons in the Calder Cup Final, winning the game 4-3. Pat Lundy breaks a 2-all tie with a shot that deflects off Barons goaltender Johnny Bower's skates. Gordon Haidy adds an insurance goal that becomes the game-winner. 6,922 jam the Coliseum to see the victory.
Happy birthday to ...
Tony Licari: Right wing who played 107 games for the Capitals from 1946-48. Known as a strong scorer, he had 41 goals, 57 assists and just 16 PIMs in those two seasons. He also played nine NHL games for the Red Wings in 1946-47. After one season in the AHL with St. Louis, Licari played several years in Britain in the 1950s. A native of Ottawa, he was born in 1921. He passed away in July 2013.
Michel Parizeau: Left wing who played for the Racers in their final four seasons. He joined the team midway through the 1975-76 season and helped push them to a WHA Eastern Division title, with 13 goals in 23 games. The following year, he had 55 points as the Racers made the playoffs again. In total, he played 190 games for the Racers, scoring 48 goals and assisting on 88. He also was a point-a-game player in the postseason for the Racers, with seven goals and 10 assists in 15 playoff contests. After three minor-league seasons, Parizeau broke into the NHL with St. Louis and Philadelphia in 1971-72 before jumping to the WHA. He played three and a half seasons with Quebec before joining the Racers, and finished his career with the Cincinnati Stingers in 1978-79 after the Racers folded. Parizeau played 567 NHL/WHA games, with 145 goals and 266 assists, and continued as a coach after retiring as a player. A native of Montreal, he is 66.
Scott Howson: Howson played parts of three seasons with the Checkers, and was a critical part of the 1983 Adams Cup championship run. From 1981-84, Howson played 146 games for the Checkers, tallying back-to-back 34-goal seasons in 1982-83 and 1983-84. He had 70 goals and 75 assists in the blue and orange. He remained in the Islanders' system for two years, and played 18 games on Long Island from 1984-86, scoring five goals. He later became one of several former Checkers to enter NHL management, and served as the Columbus Blue Jackets' general manager. He is currently Senior VP of Hockey Operations for the Edmonton Oilers. A native of Toronto, he is 54.
Kerry Toporowski: "Topper" was a fan favorite for the Ice from 1991-94. Never afraid to drop the gloves, Toporowski only played 67 games for the Ice in those three seasons after joining the Ice from junior, but amassed 389 PIMs in those games. The year before turning pro, he had a whopping 505 PIMs in junior for Spokane. He continued to play in the IHL, AHL, UHL, ECHL and Russia through 2004, and had 15 goals and 2,825 penalty minutes in his 13-year pro career. After retiring, he remained in Davenport, Iowa -- where he finished his career -- and is a financial adviser. A native of Paddockwood, Saskatchewan, he is 43.
Derek Young: Defenseman who played two games for the Ice in 2001-02. A native of Whitby, Ontario, he is 38.
Mike Blundon: Defenseman who had 11 assists in 50 games for the Ice in 2006-07. He went from the Ice to Canadian Junior A and Ontario's Concordia University, where he had eight goals and 49 points in four years before graduating in 2012. A native of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, he is 27.
Jacob Pritchard: Ice forward who joined the team in 2013-14. He is committed to play collegiately at St. Lawrence University. A native of Macomb, Michigan, he is 19.
Scott Conway: Ice forward who has posted a 30-goal season in 2013-14. He is committed to play collegiately at Penn State University. A native of Kissimmie, Florida, he is 19.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Greatest playoff games #2: Checkers 5, Birmingham South Stars 4 (1983)
If we were putting together a list of the greatest teams to grace the ice in Indianapolis, the early-1980s Checkers would be at the top of the list. It was rare to see a minor-league team keep its core together for two or three consecutive years, but the Checkers had most of its core players together for several years -- including some who were here for all five years the franchise was owned by the New York Islanders and operated in the then-"Triple A" level CHL. They were one of the CHL's premier franchises during that entire five-year run, winning two championships, making three appearances in the Adams Cup Finals and carrying a boatload of hardware year-in and year-out.
The 1982-83 season saw the Chex trying to repeat after they beat the Dallas Black Hawks to win the Adams Cup the previous year. They easily won the regular-season title with a 50-28-2 mark. Their 102 points were 17 more than second-place Colorado. The Checkers dispatched the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in a tough six-game series, while the third-place Birmingham South Stars -- an affiliate of the Minnesota North Stars -- knocked off the Colorado Flames in the other.
That set up a final where there was certainly no love lost. The Checkers had a veteran team led by Red Laurence, who had 43 goals and just missed a 100-point season, 40-goal scorer Steve Stoyanovich, Scott Howson and Garth MacGuigan -- who both had 30-goal years -- a veteran presence in captain Kevin Devine and a cadre of strong defensemen led by Bruce Affleck, Darcy Regier and Tim Lockridge and a future NHL mainstay in 19-year-old Gord Dineen. In goal, Kelly Hrudey -- on his way to a long NHL career -- and Checkers mainstay Rob Holland formed a potent 1-2 punch.
Needless to say, this was as well-stocked as a minor-league team could be. But championships are not given, and the South Stars were a strong foe. Led by 108-point scorer Wes Jarvis and goaltender Warren Skoerdinski -- another future NHL regular -- the South Stars were upset-minded. The CHL -- which had constricted to six teams that off-season and chopped a round out of the playoffs as a result -- had an unusual best-of-9 format for the finals. It would last only one year, but it would give the Checkers some legs. Early on, Birmingham had the upper hand. The Checkers won Game 1, but the South Stars stole Game 2 on Jim Dobson's hat-trick goal nine seconds into OT. Back at home, Birmingham won Game 3, and was set to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series in Game 4.
That leads us to No. 2 on our list of greatest hockey games in Indianapolis hockey history -- the pivotal moment on the way to a championship, complete with a dramatic comeback and capped by a dramatic goal.
The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center saw 4,133 fans file through the gates on April 29, 1983, hoping to see their team take a big lead in the series. Mario Lessard -- who had replaced Skoerdinski in Game 1 -- took the nets for the Stars. Kelly Hrudey had played every minute of the series for the Checkers, but Rob Holland took his place in net for the Checkers.
But through two periods, Lessard's net had been untouched. Meanwhile, ex-Checker Frank Beaton scored on a deflection just 152 seconds into the game, and then Jim Dobson scored a close-in goal in the second to give the Stars a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes.
Headed into the second intermission, Birmingham defenseman Dave Richter had 1:10 to serve on an elbowing minor. The Checkers -- whose potent power play had been 0-for-3 so far -- would only need 17 of those 70 seconds to get back in the game, and would only need 44 seconds to tie the game. Bruce Affleck shot, Lessard made the save and then Scott Howson banged home the rebound to make it a 2-1 game. That opened the floodgates for the Checkers. Just 27 seconds later, Dave Simpson tied the game on assists from the young pups -- teenagers Gord Dineen and Ron Handy.
Dobson took advantage of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Checkers' Glen Duncan to temporarily give Birmingham a lead at 6:49, but the floodgates had been opened for Indianapolis. With Richter in the box again, Kevin Devine tied the game on a backhander with 7:24 left. When Devine fed Dineen inside the point for the go-ahead goal with 3:07 showing on the clock, the Checkers looked on their way.
Briefly. With a minute left, Birmingham pulled Lessard for the extra attacker, desperately trying to tie the game. Holland stopped Dan McCarthy's shot, but looked unsure of whether or not to cover it up or clear it. He tried to clear, but Dave DeBol intercepted and buried the puck into the net.
With 25 seconds left, the Checkers' four-goal third period comeback appeared for naught. The game was headed for overtime, and the home team had all the momentum.
The Checkers were OT veterans -- this would be their fourth in 10 playoff games, including their second in the series. The overtime was evenly-played. Holland stopped seven Birmingham shots, Lessard had six saves. Neither team had a power play, and the goaltenders kept every chance at bay.
The game appeared to be headed long into the night. The Checkers had an offensive-zone faceoff to Lessard's right with three seconds left in OT. There's not much time for anything except a draw back and a quick shot -- if there's a clean face-off win, which is difficult in such situations.
But that's exactly what happened. Center Garth MacGuigan leaned in to take the draw. Red Laurence -- the team's leading scorer all season -- set up beyond the top of the circle at the point.
MacGuigan won it cleanly. Laurence whizzed one toward the net.
Score.
The Checkers poured off the bench in pandemonium. There was brief confusion on the ice, as referee Don Koharski emphatically signaled it a good goal, before the horn sounded to end the period. The linesmen -- Jim Kehm and Mark Khedouri -- weren't as sure. They conferenced, but allowed the goal and a dramatic Checkers overtime victory.
Typical of the Checkers, they spread it around. Of their five goals in the 5-4 victory, they came from five different players. Gord Dineen (G, 2A), Bruce Affleck (2A) and Kevin Devine (G, A) each had multi-point nights. Eleven different players registered a point. Meanwhile, Holland stopped 27 shots. Lessard stopped 41 of the 46 shots that came his way.
Propelled by their dramatic OT victory, the Checkers wouldn't lose a game the rest of the series. Returning home to Indianapolis, they won Game 5 by a 5-2 score and Game 6 on Scott Howson's OT power-play tally. By the time the series returned to Birmingham, the Checkers had a commanding 4-2 lead in the best-of-9, and finished it off with an emphatic 7-2 victory, keyed by Glen Duncan's hat trick and finished off by Howson's 12th playoff goal with 11 seconds left.
The Checkers would clean up when it came to postseason awards and honors. Regier, Hrudey, Stoyanovich, Dineen, Laurence and Holland would be named to either the CHL First or Second All-Star Teams, noting they were the best or second-best at their positions. Hrudey was league MVP. Affleck was Playoff MVP -- which he would win again the following year in a losing effort. Dineen was named the top defenseman and most improved defenseman, while Laurence won the Ironman Award. For the second straight year, Hrudey and Holland shared the Terry Sawchuk Trophy for fewest goals allowed. For the second straight year, coach Fred Creighton would be named the CHL's Coach of the Year.
But the most dramatic moment -- Laurence's OT goal with just one second showing on the clock -- propelled the Checkers to a championship, to date the only back-to-back titles ever won by Indianapolis hockey teams. It was the fifth of what are now eight championship teams to play in Indianapolis.
First period
BIR-Beaton 4 (Bergloff, Martinson), 2:32
Previous entries
The 1982-83 season saw the Chex trying to repeat after they beat the Dallas Black Hawks to win the Adams Cup the previous year. They easily won the regular-season title with a 50-28-2 mark. Their 102 points were 17 more than second-place Colorado. The Checkers dispatched the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in a tough six-game series, while the third-place Birmingham South Stars -- an affiliate of the Minnesota North Stars -- knocked off the Colorado Flames in the other.
That set up a final where there was certainly no love lost. The Checkers had a veteran team led by Red Laurence, who had 43 goals and just missed a 100-point season, 40-goal scorer Steve Stoyanovich, Scott Howson and Garth MacGuigan -- who both had 30-goal years -- a veteran presence in captain Kevin Devine and a cadre of strong defensemen led by Bruce Affleck, Darcy Regier and Tim Lockridge and a future NHL mainstay in 19-year-old Gord Dineen. In goal, Kelly Hrudey -- on his way to a long NHL career -- and Checkers mainstay Rob Holland formed a potent 1-2 punch.
Needless to say, this was as well-stocked as a minor-league team could be. But championships are not given, and the South Stars were a strong foe. Led by 108-point scorer Wes Jarvis and goaltender Warren Skoerdinski -- another future NHL regular -- the South Stars were upset-minded. The CHL -- which had constricted to six teams that off-season and chopped a round out of the playoffs as a result -- had an unusual best-of-9 format for the finals. It would last only one year, but it would give the Checkers some legs. Early on, Birmingham had the upper hand. The Checkers won Game 1, but the South Stars stole Game 2 on Jim Dobson's hat-trick goal nine seconds into OT. Back at home, Birmingham won Game 3, and was set to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series in Game 4.
That leads us to No. 2 on our list of greatest hockey games in Indianapolis hockey history -- the pivotal moment on the way to a championship, complete with a dramatic comeback and capped by a dramatic goal.
The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center saw 4,133 fans file through the gates on April 29, 1983, hoping to see their team take a big lead in the series. Mario Lessard -- who had replaced Skoerdinski in Game 1 -- took the nets for the Stars. Kelly Hrudey had played every minute of the series for the Checkers, but Rob Holland took his place in net for the Checkers.
But through two periods, Lessard's net had been untouched. Meanwhile, ex-Checker Frank Beaton scored on a deflection just 152 seconds into the game, and then Jim Dobson scored a close-in goal in the second to give the Stars a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes.
Headed into the second intermission, Birmingham defenseman Dave Richter had 1:10 to serve on an elbowing minor. The Checkers -- whose potent power play had been 0-for-3 so far -- would only need 17 of those 70 seconds to get back in the game, and would only need 44 seconds to tie the game. Bruce Affleck shot, Lessard made the save and then Scott Howson banged home the rebound to make it a 2-1 game. That opened the floodgates for the Checkers. Just 27 seconds later, Dave Simpson tied the game on assists from the young pups -- teenagers Gord Dineen and Ron Handy.
Dobson took advantage of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Checkers' Glen Duncan to temporarily give Birmingham a lead at 6:49, but the floodgates had been opened for Indianapolis. With Richter in the box again, Kevin Devine tied the game on a backhander with 7:24 left. When Devine fed Dineen inside the point for the go-ahead goal with 3:07 showing on the clock, the Checkers looked on their way.
Briefly. With a minute left, Birmingham pulled Lessard for the extra attacker, desperately trying to tie the game. Holland stopped Dan McCarthy's shot, but looked unsure of whether or not to cover it up or clear it. He tried to clear, but Dave DeBol intercepted and buried the puck into the net.
With 25 seconds left, the Checkers' four-goal third period comeback appeared for naught. The game was headed for overtime, and the home team had all the momentum.
The Checkers were OT veterans -- this would be their fourth in 10 playoff games, including their second in the series. The overtime was evenly-played. Holland stopped seven Birmingham shots, Lessard had six saves. Neither team had a power play, and the goaltenders kept every chance at bay.
The game appeared to be headed long into the night. The Checkers had an offensive-zone faceoff to Lessard's right with three seconds left in OT. There's not much time for anything except a draw back and a quick shot -- if there's a clean face-off win, which is difficult in such situations.
But that's exactly what happened. Center Garth MacGuigan leaned in to take the draw. Red Laurence -- the team's leading scorer all season -- set up beyond the top of the circle at the point.
MacGuigan won it cleanly. Laurence whizzed one toward the net.
Score.
The Checkers poured off the bench in pandemonium. There was brief confusion on the ice, as referee Don Koharski emphatically signaled it a good goal, before the horn sounded to end the period. The linesmen -- Jim Kehm and Mark Khedouri -- weren't as sure. They conferenced, but allowed the goal and a dramatic Checkers overtime victory.
Typical of the Checkers, they spread it around. Of their five goals in the 5-4 victory, they came from five different players. Gord Dineen (G, 2A), Bruce Affleck (2A) and Kevin Devine (G, A) each had multi-point nights. Eleven different players registered a point. Meanwhile, Holland stopped 27 shots. Lessard stopped 41 of the 46 shots that came his way.
Propelled by their dramatic OT victory, the Checkers wouldn't lose a game the rest of the series. Returning home to Indianapolis, they won Game 5 by a 5-2 score and Game 6 on Scott Howson's OT power-play tally. By the time the series returned to Birmingham, the Checkers had a commanding 4-2 lead in the best-of-9, and finished it off with an emphatic 7-2 victory, keyed by Glen Duncan's hat trick and finished off by Howson's 12th playoff goal with 11 seconds left.
The Checkers would clean up when it came to postseason awards and honors. Regier, Hrudey, Stoyanovich, Dineen, Laurence and Holland would be named to either the CHL First or Second All-Star Teams, noting they were the best or second-best at their positions. Hrudey was league MVP. Affleck was Playoff MVP -- which he would win again the following year in a losing effort. Dineen was named the top defenseman and most improved defenseman, while Laurence won the Ironman Award. For the second straight year, Hrudey and Holland shared the Terry Sawchuk Trophy for fewest goals allowed. For the second straight year, coach Fred Creighton would be named the CHL's Coach of the Year.
But the most dramatic moment -- Laurence's OT goal with just one second showing on the clock -- propelled the Checkers to a championship, to date the only back-to-back titles ever won by Indianapolis hockey teams. It was the fifth of what are now eight championship teams to play in Indianapolis.
Game boxscore
Game 4: April 29, 1983 at Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center
Indianapolis | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | --5 |
Birmingham | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | --4 |
First period
BIR-Beaton 4 (Bergloff, Martinson), 2:32
Penalties: Handy (I) misconduct, 8:20; Martinson (B) misconduct, 8:20; Simpson (I) holding, 15:05; DeBol (B) holding, 18:06
Second period
BIR-Dobson 6 (Homola), 2:22
Penalties: K. Hanson (B) interference, 4:50; Homola (B) tripping, 10:38; Richter (B) elbowing, 19:10
Third period
IND-Howson 9 (Affleck, Stoyanovich), :17 (pp)
BIR-Dobson 6 (Homola), 2:22
Penalties: K. Hanson (B) interference, 4:50; Homola (B) tripping, 10:38; Richter (B) elbowing, 19:10
Third period
IND-Howson 9 (Affleck, Stoyanovich), :17 (pp)
IND-Simpson 5 (Dineen, Handy), :44
BIR-Dobson 7 (McCarthy, Jarvis), 6:49 (pp)
IND-Devine 2 (Regier, Dineen), 12:36 (pp)
IND-Dineen 2 (Devine, Affleck), 16:53
BIR-DeBol 4 (McCarthy), 19:35
Penalties: Duncan (I) unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting, 5:51; Hicks (B) fighting, 5:51; Richter (B) hooking, 10:50
Penalties: Duncan (I) unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting, 5:51; Hicks (B) fighting, 5:51; Richter (B) hooking, 10:50
Overtime
IND-Laurence 10 (MacGuigan), 19:59
Shots on goal: IND 13-12-14-7-46 (Lessard 41 saves), BIR 9-7-8-7-31 (Holland 27 saves)
Power play: IND 2-5, BIR 1-2
Att: 4,133
Officials: R-Don Koharski, L-Jim Kehm, Mark Khedouri
Power play: IND 2-5, BIR 1-2
Att: 4,133
Officials: R-Don Koharski, L-Jim Kehm, Mark Khedouri
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Today in history: April 9
It's a busy day in Indianapolis hockey history
1950: Capitals beat Cleveland 4-3 in front of 6.922 at the Coliseum to take a 3-0 lead in the Calder Cup Finals. Pat Lundy breaks a 2-2 tie with a shot that bounced off Johnny Bower’s skate and into the net. Gordon Haidy later added an insurance goal that begame the game-winner.
1974: The Indianapolis Racers sign goaltender Ed Dyck, their first player.
1977: Gene Peacoch scores at 8:30 of the third overtime -- and at 108:30, ends the longest game in WHA history (and Indianapolis hockey history) by giving the Racers a 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Stingers in the Riverfront Coliseum. The Racers would go on to sweep the heavily-favored Stingers 4-0. Peacosh’s goal was a rebound goal after Mark Lomenda’s shot caromed wildly and was kicked out by goaltender Norm Lapointe. It was 1:16 a.m. when the game ended. Reggie Thomas sent the game to OT with a goal with 1:04 remaining. Paul Hoganson made 56 saves for the Racers.
1982: The Checkers register a three-game sweep of the Tulsa Oilers, winning 6-1, en route to their first Adams Cup title.
1983: The Checkers’ second Adams Cup run gets off to a thrilling start, as Scott Howson scores 6:08 into OT to beat the Salt Lake Golden Eagles 5-4. Howson's goal completed a hat trick on his 23rd birthday. He also had an assist.
Birthdays
Michel Parizeau: Veteran of 190 games with the Racers from 1975-79, and 561 NHL/WHA games. He scored 48 goals in his four seasons in Indianapolis, and was a key part of both of the Racers' playoff teams. A native of Montreal, Parizeau was born in 1948 and is now 63.
Scott Howson: The Toronto native and current Columbus Blue Jackets general manager turns 51 today. He played 146 games for the Checkers over three seasons from 1981-84, and was a part of the 1983 Adams Cup championship team. He scored 12 goals and had 21 points in the 1983 CHL Playoffs, and scored 34 goals in both 1982-83 and 1983-84 with the Checkers. Howson is one of several ex-Checkers currently in NHL management roles, and one of two former Checkers players (Sabres GM Darcy Regier is the other) currently serving as an NHL general manager.
Kerry Toporowski: "Topper" was an Ice tough guy from 1991-94, amassing 389 PIMs and scoring two goals in 67 games for the Ice. A native of Paddockwood, Saskatchewan, he turns 40 today.
Derek Young: Played two games for the Ice in 2001-02. Born in Whitby, Ontario, turns 35.
Mike Blundon: Defenseman who played 50 games for the USHL Ice in 2006-07, totalling 11 assists and 50 PIMs. He went on to play collegiately in Canada for two years. Native of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec. He is now 24.
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