Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
In today’s edition, we have a couple “Today in Hockey History” posts, the Flyers best scorers of all time, the fastest skaters in NHL history, a look back at the Patric Hornqvist trade, and why Minnesota is truly the “State of Hockey”.
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Now on to the good stuff…
Today in Hockey History: Sept. 8
One of the legends of the NHL announced his retirement on this date, but he wasn’t able to stay off the ice very long. This date also saw two Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and a memorable postgame speech after a tough international loss. It’s time for our daily journey through the decades to revisit all the best moments Sept. 8 has given us.
Flyers’ Top 20 Goal Scorers All-Time
September 8, 2023 by Colin Newby
Founded in 1967, the Philadelphia Flyers have been one of hockey’s most successful franchises over the last half-century. They have the third-highest all-time points percentage among NHL teams, trailing only the Montreal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights, a team that has yet to play three full seasons.
This is the Flyers’ 53rd season. The Flyers have also won two Stanley Cups and were the first expansion team to win the Cup. Clearly, such a successful organization has had its fair share of goalscorers. Here are the Flyers’ top 20 all-time.
Why Minnesota Is Truly the State of Hockey
September 8, 2023 by THW Archives
The State of Hockey… What does it mean? Where does it come from? It’s hardly a secret that Minnesota has long been a hockey Mecca. The first hockey teams in Minnesota were formed a couple of decades before Henry Ford’s Model-T changed the world. The University of Minnesota first organized a hockey team in 1895 and though unsanctioned by the University, played a game against a team from Winnipeg on February 19, 1895.
Today in Hockey History: Sept. 7
Another class of NHL greats took their rightful places in the Hockey Hall of Fame on this date. Also, one of the biggest tragedies to devastate the hockey world took place in Russia. The THW time machine is warmed up and ready to take us on our daily journey through the years.
12 of the Fastest Skaters Ever in the NHL
September 7, 2023 by Josh Bell
While more and more players in the league are blowing past their opponents, this is nothing the league hasn’t seen before. Throughout the history of the league, there have been players who flew through the neutral zone, circled the offensive zone, and left defenders in their snow.
Speed gives players a big advantage because of this. If no one can catch you, they can’t take the puck from you. With that in mind, let’s take a look back at some of the fastest players in NHL history (alphabetical order).
Pittsburgh Penguins: Revisiting the Patric Hornqvist Trade
September 7, 2023 by Nick Horwat
Patric Hornqvist played 407 regular-season games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring 264 points along the way. Thanks to his efforts beyond point scoring, he became a fan favorite in the city.
Over his six seasons in Pittsburgh, Hornqvist was a player with on-ice tenacity and one of the group’s best personalities off the ice. He was known for motivating his teammates and being one of the best characters in the locker room.