Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Dale Hawerchuk’s Four-Point Night Not Enough Against the Mighty Oilers

On January 4, 1985, the Winnipeg Jets rolled into Edmonton’s Northlands Coliseum for what turned into one of the most memorable regular season games of the year, at least for Dale Hawerchuk.

By the early minutes of the third period, Hawerchuk had almost single-handedly lifted Winnipeg to a 4-3 lead, scoring three of the team’s goals and setting up another by Perry Turnbull. Unfortunately for the Jets, this was 1985 Edmonton, the era of Gretzky, Kurri, Coffey, and constant comebacks. The Oilers roared back with four unanswered goals to win 7-4.

Hawerchuk was unstoppable early, scoring his 22nd and 23rd of the 1984-85 season in the opening frame, both assisted by Paul MacLean. After two periods, it was literally Hawerchuk 3, Oilers 3. When he netted his 24th goal early in the third, Winnipeg briefly believed they could steal one from the defending Stanley Cup champs.

The Oilers’ offense, however, had other plans. Wayne Gretzky posted three quiet assists, while Jari Kurri and Jaroslav Pouzar each scored twice. Edmonton outshot Winnipeg 42-25, keeping goaltender Andy Moog largely untested while bombarding Brian Hayward at the other end.

For Dale Hawerchuk, that 1984-85 campaign would become his finest. He hit the 50-goal mark for the only time in his career and racked up 130 points, finishing third in NHL scoring, behind only Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky’s unreal 208-point season.

About Dale Hawerchuk 

Dale Hawerchuk played 1,188 regular season and 97 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1981-82 and 1996-97 with the Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers. He was the first overall pick by the Jets at the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. In 2001, Hawerchuk was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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NHL Hockey Trivia: Dale Hawerchuk

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. In what year did Dale Hawerchuk win the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year?






2. Which team selected Dale Hawerchuk first overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft?






3. Hawerchuk reached the 100-point plateau several times in his career. How many seasons did he record at least 100 points?






4. Dale Hawerchuk was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in a blockbuster deal at the 1990 NHL Draft. Which future Hall of Famer was part of the trade going to Winnipeg?






5. Before joining the NHL, Hawerchuk starred in junior hockey with which OHL team?






Monday, October 27, 2025

When Phil Myre and Dan Bouchard Faced Off As Rivals For The First Time

In the early years of the Atlanta Flames, Phil Myre and Dan Bouchard shared goaltending duties and helped build the foundation for the franchise starting in the 1972-73 NHL season. The tandem was split up when, on December 12, 1977, Myre, along with Curt Bennett and Barrie Gibbs, was traded to the St. Louis Blues for Yves Bélanger, Bob MacMillan, and Dick Redmond.

Just over two weeks later, fate brought the two former teammates face-to-face. On December 29, 1977, the Blues visited the Omni in Atlanta for the first meeting between the two teams since the deal. Both Myre and Bouchard got the start, but the night quickly took a twist. After Claude Larose scored to give St. Louis a 3-2 lead early in the second period, Bouchard was pulled and replaced by Yves Bélanger, who had been part of the same trade.

From that point on, it became a showdown between the two goalies traded for each other. Bouchard had allowed three goals on twelve shots, while Bélanger stood tall in relief, stopping 16 of 17 shots. Myre, facing 34 shots from his old teammates, allowed five goals as Atlanta emerged with a 5-4 victory. Curt Bennett added two assists against his former club, while Bob MacMillan picked up one point for his new team.

When the two teams met again on March 15, 1978, this time in St. Louis, the goaltending story flipped. Bélanger, once again in net for Atlanta, was brilliant with 35 saves and even an assist on Bob MacMillan’s opening goal in a 6-2 Flames win. Myre struggled in the opposite crease, allowing six goals on 27 shots.
The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!

NHL Hockey Trivia: Phil Myre & Dan Bouchard

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. In what season did Phil Myre and Dan Bouchard first share goaltending duties for the Atlanta Flames?





2. Phil Myre and Dan Bouchard helped the Flames record their first-ever playoff appearance in which NHL season?





3. Which goaltender recorded more wins for the Atlanta Flames overall before the team relocated to Calgary?





4. What was notable about the goaltending rotation between Myre and Bouchard during their time in Atlanta?





5. Before joining the Flames, which organization originally drafted Dan Bouchard?






Sunday, October 26, 2025

The Rookie Who Stopped Everything: Roger Crozier’s Incredible 1964-65 Season

Sometimes the simplest formula for hockey success is also the hardest to execute: don’t let the puck go in the net. That’s exactly what Roger Crozier did during one of the most remarkable rookie campaigns in NHL history.

Entering the 1964-65 season, Crozier had just 15 games of NHL experience but was trusted to take over as the Detroit Red Wings’ number one goaltender. What followed was a breakout performance that set the tone for his career and made him one of the league’s brightest young stars.

It all began on October 18, 1964, when Detroit edged Chicago 3-2 at home. Crozier gave up a second-period goal to the Blackhawks, but then embarked on a defensive streak that seemed almost supernatural. Between that goal and one scored by Toronto’s Red Kelly five games later, Crozier allowed just a single goal, earning three shutouts in the process.

That lone goal came from Montreal’s John Ferguson in a 1-1 tie on October 24. In between, Crozier blanked the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, turning away 19 shots in a 1-0 win. Across from him, Marcel Paille faced 36 shots, surrendering only a third-period goal by Norm Ullman.

Crozier’s magic didn’t stop there. After the Montreal draw, he went on to record back-to-back shutouts against the Boston Bruins, first a 4-0 win at the Boston Garden, where he made 26 saves, then a 2-0 victory back home at Detroit Olympia with 32 saves. Norm Ullman and Bruce MacGregor provided the goal support, but Crozier was the real story.

That early-season dominance powered Detroit to a ten-game unbeaten streak after dropping their first two contests. Crozier went on to play all 70 games that season, posting a 2.42 goals-against average, six shutouts, and leading the Red Wings to first place overall in the standings. Though Detroit fell to Chicago in a tight seven-game series, Crozier’s impact was undeniable, he captured the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year and even drew Hart Trophy consideration as league MVP.
The PDF versions of some of our hockey books are now available for free download: Take a look!

NHL Hockey Trivia: Roger Crozier

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia
  1. Roger Crozier won the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year in which season?



  2. Which team did Roger Crozier lead to the Stanley Cup Final in 1966?



  3. In 1970, Crozier joined which NHL expansion team and became their first starting goaltender?



  4. Despite losing the 1966 Stanley Cup Final, Crozier was awarded which prestigious individual honor?



  5. Roger Crozier’s final NHL shutout came during his time with which team?