This Day in Hockey History
1946 - Clarence Campbell becomes NHL president, expands season
On Sept. 4, 1946, legendary former NHL official and long-time league bureaucrat Clarence Campbell (after whom the Campbell Conference is eventually named) succeeds Red Dutton as the president of the NHL.
On the same day, the league decides to increase the length of the regular season from 50 to 60 games. The NHL played only three 60-game seasons before expanding to a 70-game regular season prior to the 1949-50 campaign.
The modern 82-game season comes about nearly 50 years later, as part of the agreement that ends the 1994-95 NHL lockout.
1979 - Boom Boom replaces Bowman
In the wake of Scotty Bowman's departure from the Montreal Canadiens in the summer of 1979, the club is still searching for a new head coach come September. On the 4th, the club finally hires former player Bernie 'Boom Boom' Geoffrion as their new head coach.
Geoffrion, previously the coach of the Atlanta Flames, lasts just 30 games in Montreal before stepping down due to a stomach ailment.
2003 - Mike Richter retires
Legendary New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter retires from the NHL. Richter, probably the greatest American-born goaltender in hockey history, led the New York Rangers to a Stanley Cup victory in 1994 and started for Team USA during their defeat of Team Canada at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
Once he stopped Pavel Bure on a penalty shot in the Stanley Cup Finals. It doesn't get any more badass than that:
Birthdays
1926 - Bert Olmstead
1963 - John Vanbiesbrouck
1964 - Tomas Sandstrom
1965 - Sergio Momesso
1971 - Craig Controy
1979 - Maxim Afinogenov