Seven birthdays on June 7: former Capital Leo Reise, former Racers Hugh Harris and Kevin Nugent, and USHL Ice Brandon Richardson, Gregory Squires and Ryan Obuchowski, as well as late Racer Gilles Marotte.
Leo Reise: A second-generation NHL player, Leo played five games with the Capitals in 1946-47 -- during which he had four assists. He didn't stay long in the AHL -- quickly getting a callup to Detroit and embarking on an eight-year NHL career that saw him play 494 games. He had 28 goals and 109 points in the regular season, but achieved fame for ending the Toronto Maple Leafs' mini-dynasty of the late 1940s and spearheading the Red Wings' dynasty of the early 1950s. His Game 7 double-overtime backhand goal in the 1950 semis eliminated the Leafs and propelled the Wings on to the Stanley Cup. He would also get his name on the Cup when the Wings won it in 1952. A defenseman, he was a second-team NHL All-Star in 1951 and 1952. He was traded to the New York Rangers the following season and played his final two years in Manhattan. He retired to Ontario and owned successful businesses after his hockey career. A native of Stoney Creek, Ont., he is 92.
Hugh Harris: A fan favorite with the Racers from 1975-78, "Hughie" played 106 games in Indy, with 34 goals and 70 assists. He was the team's captain for part of his time with the Racers. He broke into the NHL in 1972 with the Buffalo Sabres, but made the jump the following year to the WHA, where he played for the New England Whalers, Vancouver Blazers, Phoenix Roadrunners, Calgary Cowboys, Racers and Cincinnati Stingers. He played 396 games in the WHA/NHL, with 119 goals. After retiring in 1978, he settled in Indianapolis, and saw his son Casey play for the Indianapolis Ice. A native of Toronto, he is 66.
Gilles Marotte: Defenseman who played 44 games for the Racers in 1977-78, coming at the end of a long 13-year career in the NHL & WHA. He had two goals and 13 assists in Indy. He played 881 major pro games with the Bruins, Blackhawks, Kings, Rangers and Blues in the NHL, and Racers and Cincinnati Stingers in the WHA. His best stint came with the Kings from 1970-73, where he had 33, 34 and 45 points in consecutive years, and played in the 1973 NHL All-Star Game. He's one of the players who was involved in the mega-deal that sent Phil Esposito to the Boston Bruins in 1967 -- going to Chicago in the deal. He was known as a physical defenseman who was also a playmaker. A native of Montreal, he was born in 1945. He passed away in 2005 at age 60 of pancreatic cancer.
Kevin Nugent: Winger who played 25 games with the Racers in their final 1978 season. He had two goals and eight assists. It was the lone pro season for Nugent, who had just completed a four-year career at Notre Dame. After the Racers folded in December, he played four games in the CHL. He has since retired to Connecticut. A native of Little Falls, Minn., he is 59.
Brandon Richardson: Forward with the Ice in the 2008-09 Clark Cup championship season, Richardson had 21 goals, 42 assists and 145 PIM in 55 games. He also had eight goals and eight assists in 10 Clark Cup playoff games, and scored the game-winning goal in the Clark Cup clincher that year. Richardson played two college seasons at Nebraska-Omaha, and recently completed his third minor pro season with the SPHL's Fayetteville FireAntz, where he tallied 22 points and 108 PIM. A native of San Clementa, Calif., he is 26.
Gregory Squires: Right wing for the Ice from 2006-08, he had 36 goals and 66 assists in 113 games. He had three playoff goals to help lead the Ice to the USHL semis in 2007, and had a big 24-goal, 70-point season the following year, leading the Ice to a division championship the following year. He played four collegiate seasons at Western Michigan, and recently completed his second professional season in Germany. A native of White Plains, NY, he is 26.
Ryan Obuchowski: A rugged defenseman for the Ice from 2010-12, he had 12 goals and 42 assists in 114 games with the Ice. He also had five assists in 11 playoff games. "OB" recently completed his sophomore season at Yale University, where he has tallied 32 points in 69 games. A native of Canton, Mich., he is 22.
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