This day in Indianapolis hockey history: July 12

On July 12, we celebrate two birthdays:
Happy birthday to: 
Pete Leswick: Right wing for the Capitals from 1944-46, with a pair of 29-goal seasons. He played 114 games for the Caps, with 58 goals and 91 assists. He was a Second-Team All-Star in 1945, and a First-Teamer in 1946 with the Caps. He also had three points in eight playoff games those two seasons. He came to the Caps after playing six years before the war in various minor leagues -- and one game for the NHL's New York Rangers. After he returned from the service, he played two games for the Boston Bruins, and went from Indy to a high-scoring career with the AHL Cleveland Barons, where he posted four straight 30-goal seasons. He was a six-time AHL All-Star. He retired after the 1952-53 season. His brother Tony would later make a mark in Indianapolis, coaching the short-lived Capitols team in 1963. A native of Saskatoon, Sask., Pete was born in 1917. He passed away in 2005 at age 88.
Chris Snell: Ice defenseman in 1996-97. He had a strong season from the blueline, with 22 goals and 45 assists in 73 games. He also had 130 PIM in helping lead the Ice to a division championship. He was named an IHL Second Team All-Star for his efforts that season. The Sabres' seventh-round pick in 1991, Snell played six pro seasons in North America, mostly in the AHL/IHL. He played 34 NHL games for the Maple Leafs and Kings, tallying nine points -- both of his goals were scored shorthanded. He played his last six seasons in Germany, retiring in 2003. A native of Regina, Sask., he is 43.

Today in history: July 12

Two birthdays to post: 

Pete Leswick: Right wing who was a big scorer for the Capitals from 1944-46. He had 29 goals each year, totaling 68 points in 1944-45 and 81 the following season -- for a total line of 58-91-149 in 114 games. He also had two goals and an assist in eight playoff games those two seasons. He left the Caps to play four seasons for the Cleveland Barons, where he tallied at least 30 goals each campaign. He was an AHL Second Team All-Star with the Caps in 1945 and a First Team All-Star the following year. He also had First-Team status three times with Cleveland. His brother Tony Leswick would become the Indianapolis Capitols coach in 1963. Pete also played three NHL games with the New York Americans (in 1936-37) and Boston Bruins (in 1944-45), scoring one goal. A native of Saskatoon, he was born in 1917 and passed away in June 2005. 

Chris Snell: High-scoring defenseman for the Ice in 1996-97, where he tallied 22 goals and 45 assists in 73 games. He also had 130 PIMs. Snell helped lead the Ice to a division title that season. Prior to joining the Ice, he played 34 NHL games with the Kings and Maple Leafs. He had two shorthanded goals in the NHL in 1994-95, the only defenseman in the league to do so. He moved to Europe the following year and played six seasons in Germany before retiring in 2003. A native of Regina, Sask., he is 40.