This day in Indianapolis hockey history: June 10

Three birthdays today: Checkers mainstay and Indiana Ice coach Charlie Skjodt (58), and Indiana Ice player Ryan Peckskamp (29), as well as late former Capital Leo Gravelle.


Leo Gravelle: Right wing for the Capitals for 15 games in 1950-51, after a midseason trade sent him to the Red Wings organization. He had four goals and six assists with the Caps. He played five years of professional hockey, with 223 NHL games from 1946-51. He had 44 goals and 34 assists in the NHL. A native of Aylmer, Quebec, he was born in 1925. He passed away in 2013.
Charlie Skjodt: One of the premier forwards with the Indianapolis Checkers, Skjodt served two roles in Indianapolis. He played five seasons with the Checkers in two different stints and was one of the most prolific scorers to put on an Indianapolis uniform. Later, he coached the Indiana Ice twice,leading a team that included John Carlson and Paul Carey -- as well as his son Jake --  to a division championship in 2007-08. As a player, Skjodt played 365 games for the Checkers (fifth-most in Indianapolis hockey history, and also fifth-most in Checkers history). His 376 points are second-most by a player in Indianapolis. He also ranks fourth all-time among Indianapolis hockey players in goals (148) and third in assists (228). His best season came in 1981-82, when he had 40 goals and 55 assists to help lead the Checkers to an Adams Cup title. He had four points in the playoffs that season. He returned to the Checkers when they moved to the IHL in 1984, and played two more seasons, finishing his career with a 93-point year and a career-high 65 assists in 1985-86. He began coaching as an assistant to Ron Ullyot with the Checkers in 1986-87. Nearly two decades later, took over the helm of the Ice at the end of the 2006-07 season, and then led the team to a 39-15-6 record and a division title in 2007-08. After yielding the helm of the team to Jeff Blashill for two years, he took back over in 2010-11 and coached the team to a 37-19-4 record. He is the brother of Indiana Ice owner Paul Skjodt. A native of Toronto, he is 58.
Ryan Peckskamp: Forward for the Ice in their first two USHL seasons, 2004-06. He played 113 games for the Ice, with 27 goals and 26 assists. He went from the Ice to a four-year career at St. Cloud State in Minnesota, where he had seven points in 55 games. A native of Sauk Rapids, Minn., he is 29.