This day in Indianapolis hockey history: July 11

Six birthdays today: former Capital Bill Folk (87), Racer Rick Fraser (60), IHL Ice Travis Thiessen (42) & Dave Chyzowski (43) and CHL Ice Duncan Paterson (40), as well as the late former Capital Eddie Bush.



Happy birthday to ...
Eddie Bush: Capitals defenseman in the team's first two seasons, from 1939-41. He had nine goals and 13 assists in 60 games with the Caps, as well as 82 penalty minutes. He was traded for Hal Jackson on Dec. 15, 1940 -- Jackson would later start the Indianapolis Youth Hockey Association. Bush played 26 NHL games, all with the Red Wings, in 1938-39 and in 1941-42. After spending the war years in the Royal Canadian Air Force, he returned to play four years in the AHL, USHL and in senior hockey. He was also a longtime coach, including serving a partial season as head coach of the NHL's Kansas City Scouts in 1975-76. A native of Collingwood, Ont., he was born in 1918. He passed away in 1984 at age 65. 
Bill Folk: Capitals defenseman for two seasons from 1950-52. In 114 games with the Caps, he had eight goals and 40 assists, as well as 114 penalty minutes. He played professionally from 1948-62, primarily at the AHL/WHL level. He played 12 NHL games, all with the Red Wings, from 1951-53. A native of Regina, Sask., he is 87.
Rick Fraser: Defenseman who played four scoreless games for the Racers in 1974-75. They were his only NHL/WHA games. He was drafted by the Racers in the 17th round of the 1974 WHA Draft, and by the Blackhawks in the 10th round of the NHL Draft that year. He spent nearly all of his five-year career in the minor-league NAHL and IHL. He is the brother of former NHL referee Kerry Fraser. A native of Sarnia, Ont., he is 60.
Travis Thiessen: The Penguins' third-round pick in 1992, he played 53 games for the Ice between 1994-97. He totaled two goals, seven assists and 52 penalty minutes in those games. He played 11 professional seasons in the IHL, AHL, Colonial/United, ECHL, WCHL and in Europe, before retiring in 2003. A native of North Battleford, Sask., he is 42.
Dave Chyzowski: Winger who played for the Ice in the 1996-97 season. In 76 games, he had 34 goals and 40 assists, as well as 261 penalty minutes. Picked second overall by the Islanders in 1989, Chyzowski split his first four NHL seasons between the Islanders and various minor-league teams before scoring 78 goals in the AHL and IHL from 1995-97. That earned him a brief callup to Chicago in 1996-97, but that would be his last NHL action. In 126 NHL games, he had 15 goals and 16 assists. He played in the IHL through 2000 -- scoring 37 goals with Kansas City in 1999-2000 -- and then seven more seasons in Europe. He is currently the marketing coordinator for the Kamloops Blazers, the junior team he starred for prior to turning pro in 1989. A native of Edmonton, he is 43.
Duncan Paterson: Defenseman who played 14 games for the Ice in 2000-01. He had one goal and one assist, as well as 30 PIM. He also played three playoff games. They were the only North American professional games for Paterson. A native of Winnipeg, he is 40.