This Day in Hockey History

12 years ago

1877 - Montreal Gazette publishes first formal rules of hockey

As the game of hockey began to become recognized as a formal sport, McGill University students gathered to write out the rules of the game (borrowed largely from field hockey), which were subsequently published in the Montreal Gazette.

Here are the seven original rules, via hockey-history.com.

The game shall be commenced, and renewed by a Bully from the center of the ground. Goals shall be changed after each game.
When a player hits the puck, any one of the same side who at such moment of hitting is nearer to the opponents' goal line is out of play, and may not touch the ball himself, or in any way whatever prevent any other player from doing so, until the ball has been played. A player must always be on his own side of the ball.
The puck may be stopped, but not carried or knocked on by any part of the body. No player shall raise his stick above his shoulder. Charging from behind, tripping, collaring, kicking or shinning shall not be allowed.
When the puck is hit behind the goal line by the attacking side, it shall be brought out straight 15 yards, and started again by a Bully; but, if hit behind by any one of the side whose goal line it is, a player of the opposite side shall hit it out from within one yard of the nearest corner, no player of the attacking side at that time shall be within 20 yards of the goal line, and the defenders, with the exception of the goal-keeper, must be behind their goal line.
When the ball goes off side, a player of the opposite side to that which hit it out shall roll it out from the point on the boundary line at which it went off at right angles with the boundary line, and shall not play it until it has been played by another player, every player being then behind the ball.
On the infringement of any of the above rules, the ball shall be brought back and a bully shall take place,
All disputes shall be settled by the Umpires, or in the event of their disagreement, by the referee.

Of note, these early rules also forbid players from making a forward pass.

1994 - Peter Forsberg scores famous Olympic shootout goal

At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, Peter Forsberg scored a now famous game-winning shootout goal against Corey Hirsch to defeat Canada in the gold medal match.

The goal was later commemorated on a Swedish postage stamp.

1996 - Wayne Gretzky traded to the Blues

The Great One, who had reportedly become unhappy in Los Angeles, was traded by the Kings to the the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Craig Johnson, Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat, the Blues' first round pick in 1997 (Matt Zultek) and fifth round pick in 1996 (Peter Hogan).

Gretzky's tenure with the Blues lasted only 31 games, but he scored eight goals and added 13 assists in 18 regular season games, and added two goals and 14 assists in 13 playoff games.

The Blues fell to the Detroit Red Wings in game seven of the Conference Seminfinals, and Gretzky signed with the New York Rangers that offseason.