This Day In Hockey History - October

This day in hockey history, October 2nd 1948, Donald Harold Luce was born in London Ontario. Don played three years of junior hockey for the Kitchener Rangers where he led the OHA in assists with 70 in 1967-68. After turning pro he played on the Rangers farm team the Omaha Knights that won the CHL regular season and playoff titles in 1969-70. Luce was named to CHL All-Star First Team.

In spite of two strong seasons in the CHL (1968-69 22 goals and 56 points in 72 games and 1969-70 with 22 goals and 57 points in 64 games), Luce appeared in only 21 NHL games during that time as the Rangers were a strong team and deep at center with Jean Rattelle, Walt Tkaczuk, Juha Widing and Orland Kurtenbach in an era where team employed only three regular forward lines.





On November 2nd 1970 the Rangers traded Don to the Detroit Red Wings for Steve Andrascik.

While with Detroit, Luce assisted on Gordie Howe’s last goal before he retired from the Red Wings. Then on May 15th 1971, Don was traded to the Buffalo Sabres along with defenseman Mike Robitaille for goaltender Joe Daley.

Luce blossomed in Buffalo where he developed into one of the best two way players of the 1970’s. Don won the Buffalo Sabres' Unsung Hero Trophy and Wilkinson Sword Award as team's Most Improved Player in 1971-72. He recorded the first playoff assist in Buffalo Sabres history on April 4, 1973, at Montreal. He was the inaugural winner of the Buffalo Sabres' Charley Barton Silver Stick Award for dedication and spirit in 1972-73.

Don was named an alternate captain during 1973-74 season and wore the "A" through the 1975-75 season. He won the Wilkinson Sword Award as the Buffalo Sabres MVP in 1973-74. He set a Buffalo Sabres team record for the fastest three goals by one player with three goals in span of 3:49 on Dec. 22, 1974, at Washington. He set a Buffalo record (since tied) for the most shorthanded goals in a game with two on Dec. 22, 1974, at Washington.

Luce was voted the Bill Masterson Trophy winner for the 1974-75 season which is awarded to the NHL player annually who best demonstrates the qualities of perseverance, leadership and dedication to the sport of hockey

Don represented Buffalo in 1975 NHL All-Star Game. He set Sabres single season records for shorthanded goals (8) and highest plus-minus rating (plus-61) in 1974-75. The eight shorthanded goals were also an NHL record (since broken), breaking Dave Keon's previous mark of seven. He scored the first postseason shorthanded goal in Buffalo Sabres history on May 3, 1975, at Montreal and played on Buffalo team that went to 1975 Stanley Cup Finals. H e scored the series winning goal at 14:27 of overtime as Buffalo eliminated St. Louis from the first round of the 1976 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Luce was traded by new Sabres GM/coach Scotty Bowman to the Los Angeles Kings March 10th 1981 for a 1982 sixth round draft pick which he used to draft Jeff Parker 111th overall. He left Buffalo ranked third behind Gil Perreault and Craig Ramsay for most games as Sabre with 766. The Kings later traded Don to Toronto where he finished his career.

Don was named as the head coach of the Pine Bridge Bucks in the ACHL prior to 1983-84 season. He was a pro scout for Buffalo for the 1984-85 season and also served as a part time assistant coach for the Sabres that season. He was an assistant coach for Buffalo for parts of 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons.




Luce was named the director of U.S. Scouting for the Sabres prior to 1985-86 season and remained in position through 1986-87 season. He was named Buffalo’s Director of Amateur Evaluation and Development prior to 1987-88 season and remained in that position through 1989-90 season. Played key role in helping to get Alexander Mogilny out of USSR and into NHL in 1989.

He was then named Buffalo’s Director of Player Personnel prior to 1990-91 season and remained in that position through 2004-05 season. His work was recognized when The Hockey News ranked team's prospects No. 2 in NHL for 1997. He was named Buffalo Director of Player Development prior to 2005-06 season and remained in that position through 2005-06 season. Luce left the Sabres in July 2006, when the team let him go and cut much of its scouting department. Luce had been responsible for bringing in the likes of Alexander Mogilny, Maxim Afinogenov, Martin Biron, Brian Campbell, and Jason Pominville.

Luce was named the Director of Player development for the Philadelphia Flyers in late November 2006. He was a pro scout for the Flyers starting in the 2012-13 season and joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in that same capacity on September 20th 2015. He is now retired from hockey





Don Luce played 894 career NHL games, scoring 225 goals and 329 assists for 554 points. His best statistical season was the 1974-75 when he set career highs with 33 goals and 76 points.

Don was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 1986 and into the Greater Buffalo Sports hall of Fame in 1997.

Happy Birthday to Glenn Hall, born on this day in hockey history, October 3rd 1931. Glenn earner the nickname “Mr. Goalie” over his 21 year career. He developed the innovative Butterfly Style of goaltending is credited with incorporating the butterfly style of goaltending which was revolutionary in its day where goaltenders played a stand up style primarily because keeping their head above the crossbar protected their faces better. As a result goalies would leave a wide open “Five Hole” between their legs and tended to let in some easy shots along the ice. Tony Esposito further popularized this style in the 1970’s and today most goalies use a modernized butterfly style in a golden era of great goaltenders (But boring hockey).




This day in hockey history, October 3rd,1989, Darryl Sittler, Vladislav Tretiak and Herbie Lewis were inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with "builders" Alan Eagleson and Father David Bauer.




This day in hockey history, October 3rd 1953 ,Wally Hergesheimer of the New York Rangers scored twice within 5:25 of the opening faceoff to set an all star record game for the fastest two goals from the start of a game, as the all stars beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens 3-1. Hergesheimer went on to score a career best 30 goals and 59 points that season.




Happy Birthday to Glenn Hall, born on this day in hockey history, October 3rd 1931. Glenn earner the nickname “Mr. Goalie” over his 21 year career. He developed the innovative Butterfly Style of goaltending is credited with incorporating the butterfly style of goaltending which was revolutionary in its day where goaltenders played a stand up style primarily because keeping their head above the crossbar protected their faces better. As a result goalies would leave a wide open “Five Hole” between their legs and tended to let in some easy shots along the ice. Tony Esposito further popularized this style in the 1970’s and today most goalies use a modernized butterfly style in a golden era of great goaltenders (But boring hockey).

Happy Birthday to “Gentleman” Jean Ratelle, born on this day in hockey history, October 3rd 1940. Over his 21 season career with the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins he averaged almost a point a game. Combining a high level of playing ability with great sportsmanship, he twice won the Lady Byng Trophy.

His greatest success came with the linemates Rod Gilbert and Vic Hadfield to form the GAG line (Goal A Game). He was the annual scoring leader for the Rangers from 1968 and 1973 when the team was a powerhouse and ranked among the best teams in the NHL.




Ratelle’s greatest season was 1971-72 when he led the league’s scorers with 109 points and certainly would have beaten the legendary Phil Esposito for the scoring tittle when he was injured and missed the final 15 games of the season.

At that time only three players had ever scored more than the 109 points in Ratelle’s injury shortend season including Esposito, Bobby Orr and Johnny Bucyk. Ratelle was voted the winner of the Lester Pearson Trophy as the best player in the league as chosen by the NHL players.




In one of the most shocking trades in NHL history, November 1975, Ratelle was traded along with Brad Park and Joe Zanussi to the Rangers hated arch rivals the Boston Bruins for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais. Ratelle Ratelle had started the year relatively slowly going 5-10-15 in 13 games for the blueshirts (1.15 PPG) but picked up the pace with the Bruins with 31 goals and 90 points in 67 games (1.34 PPG). And finished with 105 points, the second best total of his career. He continued his excellent play with the B’s for several more years as the Boston fans marveled at his all around game, slick passing and mastery of the face off circle until he retired in 1981.




Ratelle played twenty one seasons in the NHL scoring 491 goals and adding 776 assists for 1,267 points. ranking him as the sixth all time leading scorer when he retired.. While he never played on a team that won the Stanley Cup championship, he was a member of the 1972 Team Canada squad that defeated the Soviet Union He earned his reputation as a gentlemanly player, finishing in the top-five for the Lady Byng Trophy awarded for sportsmanship and excellence nine times, including a stretch between the 1970 and 1978 seasons where he was in the top three six times and won the trophy twice.

Ratelle was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985. In 2009, Ratelle was ranked No. 7 on the all-time list of New York Rangers in the book 100 Ranger Greats. The Rangers plan to retire Ratelle's No. 19 jersey on February 25, 2018.




This day in hockey history, October 3rd,1959, Jean Beliveau scored two goals, and teammate Doug Harvey added three assists, as the Canadiens beat the All Stars 6-1 at the 13th NHL All Star game, in Montreal.




This day in hockey history, October 3rd 1934 , the Montreal Canadiens traded Howie Morenz, Marty Burke and Lorne Chabot to the Chicago Black Hawks in exchange for Lionel Conacher, Roger Jenkins and Leroy Goldsworthy. Goldsworthy was the first American born player to skate for the Red Wings.