The Sports Archives – More Stanley Cup Memories and Fun Facts

Posted on May 15, 2011 by thesportsarchives

The 2011 Stanley Cup semi-finals are gearing up with the Tampa Bay Lightning taking on the Boston Bruins and the San Jose Sharks are up against the Vancouver Canucks.  To get you in the Stanley Cup mood, we thought you would enjoy some more interesting facts about the Stanley Cup and the Stanley Cup playoffs.  (see The Sports Archives – Stanley Cup Memories and Fun Facts).

  • The Boston Bruins have not won the Cup since 1971-72.  The Lightning took home the Cup in 2003-04 just 12 years after joining the NHL and 3 years after posting 4 consecutive seasons of 50 or more losses.
  • The San Jose Sharks have never been in the Stanley Cup finals and the Vancouver Canucks have never won the Stanley Cup in their 40 years of existence.
  • After winning the Stanley Cup in 1947, the Toronto Maple Leafs swept the next two Stanley Cup finals in 1948 and 1949 which gave them 9 consecutive Stanley Cup victories.
  • After just 9 years in the NHL, the New York Islanders eliminated their cross-town rivals, the New York Rangers (who were part of the ‘original six’), four years in a row from 1981 to 1984
  • Lester Patrick was 44 years young and coach of the 1928 New York Rangers when he put himself in for injured goalie Lorne Chabot and helped the Rangers win the Stanley Cup with a 2-1 overtime victory.
  • The player who has been on the most Stanley Cup championship teams is Henri Richard of the Montreal Canadiens.  Between the years 1955 and 1975, Henri Richard and the Canadiens won 11 Stanley Cup finals.
  • The individual who has his name engraved on the Stanley Cup more than anyone else is Jean Beliveau.  His name appears 17 times; 10 times as a player and 7 times for management.
  • There are names of 12 women engraved on the cup.  Charlotte Grahame was added when the Colorado Avalanche won the Cup in 2001 and her son, John Grahame, was added in 2004 as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, making them the only Mother-Son combination with both their names on the Cup.
Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup

Who will hoist the Stanley Cup this year?

A great tradition of winning the Stanley Cup is when the captain of the winning team hoists it overhead and skates it around rink and then each player gets a turn to do the same.  It is said that Ted Lindsay of the 1950 Detroit Red Wings started the tradition of hoisting up the Cup so the fans can get a better look.  Later, the players share a drink of champagne from the bowl on top!

Posted: 05/15/2011

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The Sports Archives – The Players Championship and Signature Hole Number 17

Posted on May 9, 2011 by thesportsarchives

On May 12, 2011, the PGA Tour stops in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida for the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass, also known as The Players Championship and TPC at Sawgrass.  The course is best known for its signature 17th hole.

The 17th hole is par-3 and 132 yards.  What’s so bad about that you ask? The hole is called the “Island Green” and is basically an island, a very small piece of real estate about 15 by 25 yards accessed by a narrow path leading up to it.  The island is built up on bulkheads about 3 feet above the surrounding lake surface.  But there’s more, the lake is infested with alligators… (no not really, we made that last part up, but it is Florida!)

Nevertheless, the hole will give the willies to any golfer; amateur or professional, and making par is reason to celebrate.  Golfers need to consider not only wind and water, but also the firmness of the green and it’s height above the water.  Oh yes, did we mention the golfer needs to consider the surrounding body of water?!

One of the greatest putts on the “Island Green” was a 60 footer executed brilliantly by Tiger Woods in the 2000 Players Championship.  You can see it here.

Still the best highlight of the infamous hole featured Steve Lowery who landed a great shot on the green during the 1998 Players Championship only to see his ball picked up by seagull which eventually dropped it into the water.  See the comical act here.  Lowery was able to play his ball where it had originally landed and a new hazard was announced for the 17th…beware of seagulls!

Posted: 5/9/2011

TPC at Sawgrass 17th Hole

TPC at Sawgrass 17th Hole - Beware of Seagulls

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The Sports Archives – Stanley Cup Memories and Fun Facts

Posted on May 7, 2011 by thesportsarchives

Lord Stanley’s Cup goes to the last NHL team standing after a series of four playoff rounds where each round is best-of-seven.  The playoffs usually run mid-April to early June and are, in my opinion, the toughest 7-8 weeks of any sporting event for the teams that continue on.  For all cuts, bruises, hits and stitches taken on over the season, you can expect twice that in the playoffs.

The following are some interesting facts about the Stanley Cup and the Stanley Cup playoffs.

  • The Stanley Cup is unique in that it has the names of all the previous winning players, coaches, management and staff engraved on it.
  • The first woman to have her name engraved on the cup is Marguerite Norris, president of the 1954 Detroit Red Wings.
  • Still the only team to win the Stanley Cup after being down 3-0 and coming back to win 4 straight in the finals is the Toronto Maple Leafs over the Detroit Red Wings in 1942.
  • From 1995 to 1998 the broom was taken out by the New Jersey Devils, the Colorado Avalanche, and twice by the Detroit Red Wings as these teams swept their opponents in the Stanley Cup finals.  (The NHL must have lost a lot of money those years!)
  • The St. Louis Blues were in the Stanley Cup finals in 1968, 1969 and 1970, but did not win a game.
  • Speaking of shutouts, goalie Frank McCool of the Toronto Maple Leafs scored 3 consecutive shutouts in the 1945 Stanley Cup finals and did not allow a goal in 192 minutes.
  • Last minute heroics were demonstrated in the 1964 Stanley Cup finals between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs.  The first three games were decided by a goal in the final minute.
  • Every game of the 1951 Stanley Cup finals went into overtime with Montreal losing 4 of 5 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
  • Before the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994, opposing fans (especially Islander fans) would shout “1940” at them as a reminder of the last time they had won the cup!

Posted: 5/7/2011

Frank McCool

Toronto goalie Frank McCool cooled off the Detroit Red Wings with 3 consecutive shutouts in the 1945 Stanley Cup Finals.

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The Sports Archives – More Kentucky Derby Memories and Fun Facts

Posted on May 2, 2011 by thesportsarchives

The 137th Kentucky Derby is scheduled to take place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on May 7th, 2011.

We would like to provide more interesting facts and notes that occurred in Derby history:
(See first article: The Sports Archives – Kentucky Derby Memories and Fun Facts ).

  • Swale won the 1984 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes; unfortunately the horse succumbed to a heart attack in June of that year.
  • The first female jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby was Diane Crump in 1970.
  • Willie Shoemaker is the oldest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby when he rode Ferdinand to first place in 1986.  Willie was 54 years young!
  • Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby in 1978 and was ridden by jockey Steve Cauthen who had never raced in the Kentucky Derby before.
  • One of the biggest upsets in Kentucky Derby history was Dark Star’s victory over Native Dancer in the 1953 Derby which was the only defeat suffered by Native Dancer.
  • One of the most successful studs of all time was the horse known as Lexington.  Lexington sired 236 winners who won 1,176 races and was directly and indirectly responsible for 51 of 62 Derby winners!  (This a good name for your next son!)
  • Exterminator won the 1918 Kentucky Derby against 30-1 odds after replacing Sun Briar.  Iron Liege won the 1957 Kentucky Derby after replacing the favorite General Duke who had become lame.
  • Iron Liege won the 1957 Kentucky Derby after passing Gallant Man ridden by jockey Willie Shoemaker who pulled up about 100 yards short of the finish line.

Posted: 05/02/2011

Lexington

Lexington - "The Stud"

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The Sports Archives – Kentucky Derby Memories and Fun Facts

Posted on April 30, 2011 by thesportsarchives

The 137th Kentucky Derby is scheduled to take place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on May 7th, 2011.   The “Run for the Roses” (named for the blanket of 554 roses draped over the winner) is the first leg of the US Triple Crown event and is the most attended and considered the most prestigious of the stake races.  It has been labeled as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”.

We would like to provide some interesting facts and notes that occurred in Derby history:

  • The 1905 Kentucky Derby had only 3 horses running.
  • Broker’s Tip won the 1933 Kentucky Derby; it was the only race the horse ever won!
  • After the 1933 Kentucky Derby, winning jockey Don Meade was suspended for 30 days for engaging in a fist fight with jockey Herb Fisher.
  • Dancer’s Image won the 1968 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified for illegal use of the drug phenylbutazone which is now regarded as legal to use.
  • Secretariat holds the record by running the 1973 Kentucky Derby in 1.59.4.
  • The traditional drink of the Derby is the Mint Julep served over ice.
  • The song “Run for the Roses” was composed by Dan Fogelberg for the 1980 run.
  • Persistence pays off; Jockey Eddie Arcaro lost his first 250 races but then went on to win 5 Kentucky Derbys and almost 5,000 races.
  • The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978.

Posted: 04/30/2011

Kentucky Derby

America's Kentucky Derby

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The Sports Archives – 1971 Stanley Cup MVP and then 1972 Rookie of the Year!

Posted on April 27, 2011 by thesportsarchives

Winning the Stanley Cup MVP and then being awarded the Rookie of the Year in the following year is something that no one can boast about except goaltender Ken Dryden of the Montreal Canadiens.

It was 1971 and once again the Montreal Canadiens were a dominate force; however, they finished third in the East Division behind the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.  They needed something more to beat the hot-flying Bobby Orr and the Bruins in the playoffs.  That something more came in the form of rookie goalie, Ken Dryden, who was called up late-season and won all six games he played for the Canadiens with a 1.65 goals against average.  His performance earned him a start in the playoffs and the Canadiens never looked back as they upset the Bruins in seven, handled the Minnesota North Stars in six and overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 in the finals to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 for the Stanley Cup.

Ken Dryden out-dueled Chicago’s Tony Esposito and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the series MVP.  The following year Dryden won 39 games and had a 2.24 GAA which earned him the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year.  Although, the Habs did not win the Stanley Cup that year, Dryden would help the Canadiens to five more including four in a row from 1976 to 1979.

Ken Dryden

6 ft. 4 in. Ken Dryden and his trademark pose in front of the goal!

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The Sports Archives – Are the Sedins like the Stastnys of the 80s?

Posted on April 25, 2011 by thesportsarchives

They say history has a way of repeating itself.  Back in the 1980s, three Slovak brothers, Peter, Anton and Marian Stastny, played for the Quebec Nordiques.  Marian Stastny was traded in 1985; however, Peter and Anton had contributed greatly to the Nordiques offense throughout the entire 1980s and helped move Quebec from bottom to top during that time.

In similar fashion, the Swedish Sedin brothers, Daniel and Henrik of the Vancouver Canucks, have been an offensive powerhouse during the first decade of the 21st century and have also assisted in making Vancouver a top contender in the Western Conference.

Daniel Sedin can be compared to Peter Stastny, a consistent and prolific goal scorer with a knack for finishing the play.  Henrik Sedin can be compared to Anton Stastny, a playmaker who racks up a ton of assists.  But the similarities don’t stop there, during the Stastny era, Quebec just couldn’t make it over the top during the playoffs and to-date, the same can be said of the Sedins and the Canucks.  The Chicago Blackhawks have been a thorn in Vancouver’s side and once again, Vancouver is in danger of an early exit to the 2011 playoffs after an amazing season.

The Sedins need a game like the Stastnys had on February 22, 1981 when Peter had 4 goals and 4 assists and Anton had 3 goals and 5 assists for a total 16 points as Quebec defeated the Washington Capitals 11 to 7!

What is different about the Sedins?  Nothing, they are identical twins!

The Stastny Brothers

Marian, Peter and Anton...the brothers Stastny!

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The Sports Archives – Stanley Cup Memories – Boston and Montreal Rivalry Fires Up Again

Posted on April 23, 2011 by thesportsarchives

What has proven to be one of the greatest rivalries in sports archives history is the ongoing battle between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins.  They have been fighting it out since the days of the ‘original six’ of the NHL.

Montreal can boast that they have owned the Bruins for most of the 20th century having defeated them in 20 of 22 Stanley Cup playoffs series through 1987.  That run includes victories in 18 straight playoff series from 1946 to 1987.

The modern-day Bruins have performed better winning 6 of the last 10 series since 1987 including a sweep of their last meeting in the 2009 quarter-finals.  Montreal edged them 4-3 in 2004 and 2008.

So far 2011 has proven just as exciting and the series is tied 2-2 at the time of this post.  The last time Beantown won the Stanley Cup was in 1972 when Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr brought the coveted prize to the Boston Garden.

Posted: 04/23/2011

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The Sports Archives – 1936 Stanley Cup Memories – The Longest Game

Posted on April 20, 2011 by thesportsarchives

If someone were to tell us that their goaltender had not given up a goal in 176 minutes and 30 seconds; a quick tally in our heads would conclude that this goalie had been perfect for almost 3 consecutive games.  This is exactly what Normie Smith of the 1936 Detroit Red Wings and Lorne Chabot of the Montreal Maroons did during a single playoff game

The longest NHL overtime game to date was played in the 1936 Stanley Cup championships between the Montreal Maroons and the Detroit Red Wings.   The puck was dropped in the Montreal Forum at 8:30 PM and the match wasn’t over until 2:25 AM when Detroit’s Mud Bruneteau scored the only goal of the game against Chabot at 116:30 of the sixth overtime period!  Smith set an NHL record stopping all 92 shots at him.

To add insult to injury, Smith shut out the Maroons in the following game and Detroit went on to sweep the series 3-0 and ultimately win the 1936 Stanley Cup defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3 games to 1 in a best-of-five.

Now, these are the kind of hockey games I don’t mind spending over $100 a ticket to go and see!  The last overtime game that went into 4 overtime periods was played between the Dallas Stars and the San Jose Sharks on 5/4/2008.  Dallas beat the Sharks 2-1 on Brenden Morrow’s goal at 69:03 of  the fourth overtime stanza.

Posted: 04/20/2011

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The Sports Archives – 1976-1983 Stanley Cup Memories – Canadiens, Islanders Reign Supreme

Posted on April 19, 2011 by thesportsarchives

Will there ever be another time in NHL history where 2 teams win back-to-back 4 consecutive year terms of Stanley Cup championships?  The first question that needs to be answered is ‘Will there ever be another team that will win the Stanley Cup championship for 4 consecutive years?’

If you think about it, the Montreal Canadiens of the late 1970s and the New York Islanders of the early 1980s were truly magnificent teams coached by the best in the business, Scotty Bowman and Al Arbour, respectively.  Yes, the Habs have won the Cup many times including 5 in a row back in the late 50s, but this was when the NHL consisted of only 6 teams.  After the expansion of 1967, and when the Canadiens started their 4 time championship run in 1975, the league consisted of 18 teams; that’s 3 times the number of teams and certainly less of a chance of winning the Cup 4 consecutive years.

The Islanders may have been even more amazing; having joined the NHL in 1972 and winning just 12 games that first year, they started their 4 year term of Stanley Cup ownership in 1980, and immediately after Montreal had ended their reign.  It took the Islanders only 8 years to go from bottom to top and then have the experience and composure to maintain that position for 4 consecutive years!

Since the end of the Islander reign, no team has won more than 2 consecutive Stanley Cup championships.  The last team to achieve this honor was the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.  Nowadays, your franchise maybe considered a dynasty if your team wins two consecutive championships or perhaps three in four years.

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