This date in Indianapolis hockey history: April 13

April 13 in Indianapolis hockey history
1984: The Checkers tie their first-round series against Colorado at two games apiece with a 6-3 victory. Red Laurence, Kevin Devine and Roger Kortko score in the second to give Indy a 3-1 lead. Bob Hess' shorthanded goal at 8:07 of the third ends up the game-winner, as it gave the Checkers a 4-2 edge at the time. After Colorado scores a power play goal to close to one, Garth MacGuigan scores two empty-netters to seal the win. Gerald Diduck assists on three Checkers goals.
1950: In front of 7,727 fans at the Coliseum, the Indianapolis Capitals clinch their second Calder Cup title, sweeping Cleveland with a 3-2 victory. Terry Sawchuk stops 37 shots, Fred Glover scores twice, Pat Lundy adds a goal with a breakaway tally, and Gerry Reid assists on two goals. It marks the first time in AHL history a team sweeps through the playoffs unblemished, as the Caps win all eight postseason contests.

Today in history: January 5

January 5 in Indianapolis hockey history
1947: Cliff Simpson scores three goals and adds two assists as the Capitals set all kinds of records in a 14-2 victory over Philadelphia. The team sets records for victory margin and goals scored in the win.  

1950: Terry Sawchuk is briefly called up to Detroit when Red Wings goaltender Harry Lumley was injured playing forward in a benefit game. He shuts out the Rangers, with ex-Cap Sid Abel scoring the game’s only goal. He would be return to the Capitals 21 days later and lead the team to the Calder Cup championship.

Birthday

Fred Glover: One of the greatest minor-league hockey players of all time, Glover played for the Capitals from 1948-52. In 202 games with the Caps, he had 110 goals and 119 assists. He also had five goals and five assists in 15 playoff games -- all of those except one assist in the Caps' eight-game sweep of the 1950 Calder Cup playoffs. He led the Caps in scoring with 83 points in 1948-49 (35 goals, 48 assists) and again in 1950-51 with 84 points (48 goals, 36 assists). His 48 goals in 1950-51 tied Cliff Simpson for the team record. He was fourth all-time in Caps history in points and third in goals scored. He did play 92 NHL games with the Red Wings and Blackhawks, and was part of the 1952 Stanley Cup championship team in Detroit. He joined the Cleveland Barons partway through the 1952-53 season and then embarked on a 16-year career with the Barons. He retired in 1968 as the AHL's all-time leader in games played (1201), goals (520), assists (814), points (1334) and PIMs (2402). He became Cleveland's player-coach in 1962, a role he served for six seasons. He was a five-time Calder Cup champion, a three-time AHL MVP and a two-time AHL scoring leader. He is a member of the AHL Hall of Fame and was named by The Hockey News as one of the greatest minor-league players ever. In 1968, he matriculated to the NHL as a coach, and led either the California/Oakland Seals or Los Angeles Kings for six seasons through 1974. A native of Toronto, he was born in 1928, and passed away in 2001.

Today in history: November 4

November 4 in Indianapolis hockey history

1939: The Indianapolis Capitals play the first game in Indianapolis hockey history and beat the Hershey Bears 4-3. The first goal was scored by Joe Carveth (unassisted) at 12:00 of the first period. Byron “Bucko” McDonald had the game-winner, and Jimmy Franks had the win in goal. The game also marks the debut of the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, which would be renamed the Pepsi Coliseum in 1990 and, 72 years later, is still the home of hockey in Indianapolis. 

1943: John Sorrell joins the Capitals as coach in 1943. He had been hired weeks before, and needed to arrange care for his young children, so Carson Cooper coached the first few games. A player/coach, he scored the game-tying goal in a 1-1 draw at Buffalo.

1950: The Capitals break a 9-game winless streak to start the year (0-8-1) by beating the Cleveland Barons 6-1. Gerry Reid would score twice and Fred Glover would have three assists. Two games later, goaltender Bill Brennan would be replaced by 30-year-old veteran “Sugar” Jim Henry, who would lead the Caps to a 38-29-3 record and soon be back in the NHL. 

1956: The Chiefs win their franchise-record seventh straight game, beating the powerful Cincinnati Mohawks 5-2. Marc Boileau scores two goals and adds an assist.