Hockey is about moments that capture the imagination. You stare open-mouthed in disbelief at what’s just transpired, cheer your lungs out in a seemingly out-of-body experience. Moments turned into memories that will never fade from the collective memory.
It’s usually the superstars such as Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, and Mario Lemieux, the era-defining talents. But it’s also often the underdogs, those who rise above expectation, going from obscurity to immortality in a moment. There are many, but these are the most memorable ones, those that redefined the history of hockey.
The Miracle On Ice (1980)
Just so you know we’re legit, we’re going to start with one of the biggest sporting moments, period. This one goes beyond hockey, hypnotizing an entire nation and making a mark in the tense geopolitical climate of the Cold War.
In 1980, there was no argument about the best team on the planet. The organizers of the Winter Olympics already had the names of the Soviet athletes etched in. There was no way they wouldn’t win the gold and continue to do so.
Except they didn’t. In one of the biggest upsets in the history of sports, the ragtag American amateurs fought back against the Soviet Union to win 4-3. The story is so epic that Hollywood even made a movie out of it, starring Kurt Russell and Noah Emmerich.
The Mighty Ducks Marketing Phenomenon (1993)
We go from a great sporting moment to a classic movie that brought NHL hockey to the masses. We’re talking about the Emilio Estevez-led Mighty Ducks, the story of a collection of losers who would eventually employ the Flying V to deadly efficiency.
In 1993, Disney would come to the NHL, blurring the lines between movie entertainment and elite sports. They would name their team after Coach Bombay’s crew, The Mighty Ducks. This is not just a Hollywood thing, by the way, there seems to be a hockey obsession with naming teams after animals.
But this wasn’t just a publicity stunt. The launch of the team would launch the NHL in SoCal and other ‘hot’ places in the country. It counteracts the presumption that hockey is only for certain (cold) parts of the world. In 2023, the team still exists, albeit rebranded.
Air Bobby? (1970)
Before there was an Air Jordan, we had Bobby Orr. In Game 4 of the 1970 Stanley Cup series, the legend would create the single most famous snapshot in hockey history.
He was the best player of that generation, still a legendary player today. He had already taken the puck past several players, with a last-ditch tackle seemingly ending Orr’s goal-scoring attempt. But flying through the air, the defenseman sealed the series to win the Stanley Cup.
First Televised Hockey Game In Canada (1952)
We’re used to on-demand content. We whip out our smartphones and the entire history of hockey is available to us. But before October 11, 1952, you couldn’t even watch hockey on television.
But once Canadians could turn on their sets at home and watch their favorite hockey players, there just was no going back. The Canadiens beat the Red Wings 2-1; from there, the path to big-money satellite television deals was forged.
Mario Lemieux’s Comeback (1993)
He’s a legend of the sport, perhaps the most naturally gifted hockey player of all time (sorry, Wayne!). But it wasn’t the battle he won on the most significant ice, but the one he had to go through.
Mario Lemieux had to give hockey a backseat when he was diagnosed with cancer. This was when he was the absolute king of hockey, at the absolute peak of his magnificent talents.
People didn’t even know if he would ever play hockey again. But he did. And then some. When he put on his skates to play the Flyers, he even got a standing ovation from fans who would otherwise rather fight him. In true Mario fashion, he scored and gave an assist, once again making moments happen.
50 In 39 (1981)
Most hockey fans know exactly what this means, no explanation is needed. This is when Wayne Gretzky set a record that may never be broken. 50 goals, 39 games. We’re talking video game stats.
When he got to 50 goals, no one had even hit 30 yet. The goalscoring streak was unprecedented, and his final tally of 92 goals still stands to this day. It’s the record that captures the player, his unbelievable efficiency and production.
During this period, he also scored nine goals in two games. He was devastating opponents, making them look like a bunch of kids. When you watch the YouTube video of the game where he set the record, you can just tell by the atmosphere that people knew exactly what they were witnessing.
Dominik Hasek’s ‘Greatest Save’ (1994)
Hockey isn’t just about scoring goals. Defensive plays can be just as impressive. Just ask Dominik Hasek, who pulled off a save that would today have fans believing the video was edited.
During the 1994 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, with the game tied in overtime, Devils forward Bernie Nicholls scored a memorable goal to win the game for his team. Or surely that’s what he was expecting because everyone assumed it was going in.
But Hasek pulled off an impossible save that made his body look like Gumby, a spectacular save that cemented his place amongst the all-time greats. In that game, he pulled off a ridiculous 70 saves, basically single-handedly leading the Sabres to victory.
802 (1994)
Yet another moment for Wayne Gretzky. But we’re not apologizing, because this guy is one of the best to ever do it. On March 23, 1994, he put a marker on his GOAT status, with a record-setting 802 goals for his career.
What sets Gretzky apart from everyone else is that he is beyond human, a seemingly record-setting machine sent from the future. But hey, every record will fall one day, right? We think new hockey names will soon add one of their moments to this list.
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