Story of Lorne "Gump" Worsley & Evolution of Europeans in the NHL
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", revisiting the Edmonton Oilers' 2012 Draft, unique jersey numbers for the Calgary Flames, and more.
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
In today’s edition, we have a few “Today in Hockey History” posts, a look back at the career of Lorne “Gump” Worsley, the Edmonton Oilers’ dubious 2012 Draft, the evolution of Europeans in the NHL, and more.
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Today in Hockey History: Jan. 22
Jan. 22 is a very eventful date in the history of the National Hockey League. It has given us everything from big personal milestones, great goaltending, and even a pair of games played under very odd circumstances. Let’s buckle in for our daily trip through time and look back at the best this date has had to offer.
Lorne “Gump” Worsley: The Story of an Icon
Lorne “Gump” Worsley, born and raised in Montreal, was the last NHL goalie to play without a mask. “My face is my mask,” he would say, refusing to don facial protection. He acquired the nickname Gump as a youngster due to his facial resemblance to Andy Gump, a cartoon character of the time.
Revisiting the Edmonton Oilers’ Dubious 2012 Draft After 11 Years
Every year when the draft approaches, little is different than 12 years ago when the 2012 NHL Draft was all anyone in Edmonton talked about for months beforehand. There had been nothing else during the 2011-12 season to get excited about with an Oilers team that finished with the NHL’s second-worst record. Once Edmonton was awarded the first overall pick by winning the draft lottery, anticipation reached a new feverish level.
By the numbers, Edmonton’s performance at the 1990 Draft is the worst of all time. On that day, the Oilers made 11 selections, not one of whom ever skated a single shift in the NHL. That’s a record still untouched, as no other NHL team has had as many picks in a single draft without at least one reaching the NHL.
However, in 1990, the Oilers had just come off winning their fifth Stanley Cup in seven years, and their own pick in the 1990 Draft came towards the end of each round. Considering what was at stake in 2012, and Edmonton’s high-pick positioning, that year’s draft ranks as one of the biggest failures in franchise history, and it started right from the top.
Today in Hockey History: Jan. 21
Two of the greatest goal-scorers in the history of the National Hockey League had milestone moments on this date. Also, new franchise highs were established, memorable All-Star Games were played, and San Jose had a very busy date. Finally, the hockey world lost another great. It is time to fire up the THW time machine for our daily trip through the decades.
They Wore It Once: Flames Players and Their Unique Numbers
The Calgary Flames began as the Atlanta Flames in 1972 and relocated to southern Alberta in 1980. Throughout their 51-year history, including a Stanley Cup championship in 1989, there have been 593 skaters and 58 goalies to don the iconic red jersey.
Rarely in NHL history has a player worn the jersey #0 or #00, and the league retired 99 when Wayne Gretzky hung up his skates in 1999, meaning today’s skaters can pick any number from 1 to 98. If anyone signs in Calgary, there are currently three numbers unavailable that belong to Hall of Famers: Lanny McDonald (#9), Jarome Iginla (#12), and Mike Vernon (#30).
Soon, Miikka Kiprusoff (#34) will join this group with a retirement ceremony planned on Mar. 2, 2024, before the Flames face the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Saddledome. Surprisingly, out of the 98 available numbers, only 15 remain unworn in franchise history, while 17 have been rostered just once. Today, we will examine those unique numbers and the players who donned them.
Today in Hockey History: Jan. 20
Two of the greatest players who ever skated in the National Hockey League had memorable performances on this date. Plus, the number 1,000 was a reoccurring theme, a shortened season began, and a dynamic duo in Chicago hit a pair of personal milestones. Let’s take our daily trip back through time and relive the best hockey moments from Jan. 20.
The Evolution of Europeans in the NHL
European NHL players have played a large part in the development of the National Hockey League over the last three decades – but try to imagine the NHL without all of its European talent.
That’s exactly how it was during the league’s embryonic stages when six teams were made up almost entirely of Canadian talent, but as time continued the league began to change and become as much of a melting pot as the country it was expanding throughout. It was tough for other areas of the world to attempt to compete on the same level as Canada, though – especially Europe.