This Day in Hockey History: Dec 2nd

Rich and Ron Sutter

1909 - The National Hockey Association was formed in Montreal. The NHA was the forerunner of the National Hockey League. Charter members included the Montreal Wanderers, Renfrew Creamery Kings, and the Montreal Canadiens.

1925 - New York Americans played their first NHL game, a 2-1 OT win over the Pirates, in Pittsburgh. Billy Burch scored the first goal in team history, and Charlie Langlois scored the winner at 3:10 of overtime.

1949 - Hockey Hall of Fame inducted it's newest members: Dan Bain and Art Ross.

1969 - NHL Board of Governors announced in New York that expansion franchises had been awarded to Buffalo and Vancouver. The two new teams would begin play in 1970-71.

1977 - Detroit Red Wings obtained veteran Dennis Hull from Chicago in exchange for a future draft choice in the 1980 draft. The Black Hawks later used the pick to select Carey Wilson.

1999 - Chicago Blackhawks fired GM Bob Murray and Coach Lorne Molleken and named Bob Pulford as the G.M. and Head Coach. Molleken was retained as an assistant coach.

2001 - Florida Panthers fired G.M. Bill Torrey and coach Duane Sutter. One day later the team would name Mike Keenan as their new Head Coach and Cliff Fletcher as the new interim General Manager.

Happy Birthday to Rich and Ron Sutter, Paul Holmgren, Kelly Buchberger, Brett Lindros, Sergei Zholtok, Val Fonteyne, Ralph Stewart, Daryl Stanley, Joel Ward, and Kyle Cumiskey.